British NVC community MG3

British NVC community MG3 (Anthoxanthum odoratum - Geranium sylvaticum grassland) is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of four such communities associated with well-drained permanent pastures and meadows.

This community is a localised community of northern England. There are three subcommunities.

Community composition

The following constant species are found in this community:

• Common Bent (Agrostris capillaris)
• The lady's-mantle (Alchemilla glabra)
• Sweet Vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)
• Common Mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum)
• Pignut (Conopodium majus)
• Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata)
• Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
• Wood Crane's-bill (Geranium sylvaticum)
• Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus)
• Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
• Rough Meadow-grass (Poa trivialis)
• Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
• Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
• Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
• White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Five rare species of lady's-mantle Alchemilla are associated with this community: A. acutiloba, A. glomerulans, A. monticola, A. subcrenata and A. wichurae.

Distribution

This community, although widespread in the past, is now almost confined to a few upland valleys in County Durham, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Subcommunities

There are three subcommunities:

• the Bromus hordaceus ssp. hordaceus subcommunity
• the Briza media subcommunity
• the Arrhenatherum elatius subcommunity

References

• Rodwell, J. S. (1992) British Plant Communities Volume 3 - Grasslands and montane communities ISBN 0-521-39166-0 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-62719-2 (paperback)