British NVC community M2

NVC community M2 (Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community) is one of the mire communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.

It is a fairly widely distributed community in northern western Britain, and is also found in Norfolk. There are two subcommunities.

Community composition

The following constant species are found in this community:

• Cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix)
• Common cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium)
• Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)
• Feathery bog-moss (Sphagnum cuspidatum)
• Flat-topped / flexuous bog-mosses (S. recurvum)

Three rare species are associated with the community:

• Bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)
• Tall bog-sedge (Carex magellanica)
• Golden bog-moss (Sphagnum pulchrum)

Distribution

This community is found in various locations in Wales, southern and northeastern Scotland, and northern England, with an outpost in Norfolk.

Subcommunities

There are two subcommunities:

• the Rhynchospora alba subcommunity
• the Sphagnum recurvum subcommunity

References

• Rodwell, J. S. (1991) British Plant Communities Volume 2 - Mires and heaths ISBN 0-521-39165-2 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-62720-6 (paperback)