British NVC community OV15
British NVC community OV15 (Anagallis arvensis - Veronica persica community) is one of the open habitat communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of two arable weed communities of light lime-rich soils.
It is a widely distributed community in south-east England, but is found only locally, its distribution being restricted to areas of suitable soils.
There are four subcommunities.
Community composition
[edit]The following constant species are found in this community:
- Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
- Black-bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus)
- Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)
- Common field-speedwell (Veronica persica)
Two rare species are associated with the community:
- Ground-pine (Ajuga chamaepitys)
- Shepherd's-needle (Scandix pecten-veneris)
A distinctive feature of most occurrences of this community is the presence, in mid- to late-summer, of Kickxia, represented by one or both of K. spuria and K. elatine, and Euphorbia exigua.
Distribution
[edit]This community occurs widely across south-east England, but, being dependent on lime-rich soils, it occurs only locally, typically as a weed community of cereal crops.
It is essentially the same as the Kickxietum spuriae assemblage described by Kruseman and Vlieger.
Subcommunities
[edit]There are three subcommunities:
- the Stellaria media - Convolvulus arvensis subcommunity
- the Legousia hybrida - Chaenorhinum minus subcommunity
- the Agrostis stolonifera - Phascum cuspidatum subcommunity
References
[edit]Rodwell, John S, ed. (March 2000). Maritime communities and vegetation of open habitats. British Plant Communities. Vol. 5. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-39167-2.
Kruseman, G; Vlieger, J (1939). "Akkerassociaties in Nederland". Nederlandsch Kruidkundig Archief. 49. Utrecht: Nederlandsche Botanische Vereeniging: 327–98.