Synonymy

Vaccinio-Callunetum Smith 1905 p.p.; Vaccinium-Chamaepericlymenum nodum Poore & McVean 1957 p.p.; Vaccineto-Callunetum suecicosum McVean & Ratcliffe 1962; Vaccinetum chionophilum McVean & Ratcliffe 1962p.p.; Mountain Vaccinium heaths Gimingham 1972p.p.; Rubus chamaemorus-Vaccinium myrtillus nodum Huntley & Birks 1979.

Constant species

Calluna vulgaris, Cornus suecica, Deschampsia flexuosa, Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum, Rubus chamaemorus, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Sphagnum capillifolium, Cladonia arbuscula.

Rare species

Lycopodium annotinum, Plagiochila carringtonii, Scapania ornithopodioides.

Physiognomy

Like the Calluna-Vaccinium-Sphagnum heath, the Vaccinium myrtillus-Rubus chamaemorus heath has a mixed cover of sub-shrubs over a moist carpet of bryophytes. However, the canopy here is generally somewhat less tall than in that community, mostly between 1 and 3 dm high, and Calluna vulgaris is not invariably the dominant: indeed, in one sub-community, it becomes quite patchy in its abundance, with Vaccinium myrtillus usually having greater cover. Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum is also constant and locally subor codominant, V. vitis-idaea rather less frequent and almost always sparse. V. uliginosum occurs rarely, though it can be quite extensive. In contrast to the Calluna-Vaccinium-Sphagnum heath, Erica cinerea is not found in this community.

Other distinctive features can be seen among the vascular associates because, along with constant Deschampsia flexuosa, there is very frequently a little Rubus chamaemorus and Cornus suecica, species which figure only occasionally in other montane heaths. Eriophorum vaginatum can sometimes be found, too, with local abundance in some stands, and there are records for Potentilla erecta, Melampyrum pratense, Listera cordata, Juncus squarrosus and Nardus stricta. Galium saxatile, Carex bigelowii and Huperzia selago are only occasional overall but show preferential frequency in the different sub-communities.

Bryophytes are always a conspicuous feature of the vegetation and in some stands are very abundant. Dicranum scoparium and the hypnaceous mosses, Pleurozium schreberi, Hylocomium splendens and Rhytidiadelphus loreus, provide the most consistent and often the most extensive element, although Sphagna, too, can have high cover, with Sphagnum capillifolium especially common, S. quinquefarium occasional, S. subnitens, S. russowii and S. fuscum more scarce, though locally abundant.