List of constant species in the British National Vegetation Classification
The following is a list of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens which are constant species in one or more community of the British National Vegetation Classification system.
Vascular plants
Grasses
| English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
| Brown bent |
Agrostis vinealis |
H6 |
| Common bent |
Agrostis capillaris |
MG3, MG5, SD12, CG10, W11 |
| Bristle bent |
Agrostis curtisii |
H3, H4 |
| Creeping bent |
Agrostis stolonifera |
MG10, MG11, MG12, MG13, MC10, SD17 |
| Marsh foxtail |
Alopecurus geniculatus |
MG13 |
| Meadow foxtail |
Alopecurus pratensis |
MG4 |
| Marram |
Ammophila arenaria |
SD12, SD19 |
| Sweet vernal-grass |
Anthoxanthum odoratum |
MG3, MG5, MG8, W11 |
| False oat-grass |
Arrhenatherum elatius |
MG1, MG2 |
| Meadow oat-grass |
Avenula pratensis |
CG2, CG6 |
| Downy oat-grass |
Avenula pubescens |
CG6 |
| Tor-grass |
Brachypodium pinnatum |
CG4, CG5 |
| Quaking grass |
Briza media |
CG2, CG5 |
| Upright brome |
Bromus erectus |
CG3, CG5 |
| Crested dog's-tail |
Cynosurus cristatus |
MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8 |
| Cock's-foot |
Dactylis glomerata |
MG3, MG5, MG1, MG2, MC4, CG1 |
| Tufted hair-grass |
Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa |
MG9, H21 |
| Wavy hair-grass |
Deschampsia flexuosa |
H2, W11, H9, H12, H14, H15, H16, H17, H18, H19, H20, H22 |
| Smooth finger-grass |
Digitaria ischaemum |
OV5 |
| Sea couch |
Elymus pycnanthus |
SM24 |
| Common couch |
Elytrigia repens |
OV5 |
| Tall fescue |
Festuca arundinacea |
MG12 |
| Sheep's fescue |
Festuca ovina |
H1, H5, H7, H20, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, CG7, U6, SD12, CG10 |
| Red fescue |
Festuca rubra |
MG2, MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8, MG11, MG12, MC1, MC2, MC3, MC4, MC5, MC6, MC10, CG6, CG10, SD19, MC12 |
| Viviparous fescue |
Festuca vivipara |
H20 |
| Yorkshire-fog |
Holcus lanatus |
MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8, MG9, MG10, H7, MC12 |
| Creeping soft-grass |
Holcus mollis |
W11 |
| Crested hair-grass |
Koeleria macrantha |
CG2 |
| Perennial rye-grass |
Lolium perenne |
MG4, MG6 |
| Purple moor-grass |
Molinia caerulea |
H3, H4, H5 |
| Common reed |
Phragmites australis |
W2 |
| Annual meadow-grass |
Poa annua |
OV4, OV5, OV20 |
| Smooth meadow-grass |
Poa pratensis |
SD12 |
| MG3, rough meadow-grass |
Poa trivialis |
MG2, MG8 |
| Sand cat's-tail |
Phleum arenarium |
SD19 |
| Common saltmarsh-grass |
Puccinellia maritima |
SM10 |
Sedges and rushes
| English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
| Sand sedge |
Carex arenaria |
SD11, SD12, SD19, H11 |
| Stiff sedge |
Carex bigelowii |
H19, H20 |
| Tufted sedge |
Carex elata |
S1 |
| Glaucous sedge |
Carex flacca |
CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, H6 |
| Common sedge |
Carex nigra |
SD17 |
| Flea sedge |
Carex pulicaris |
H5 |
| Bottle sedge |
Carex rostrata |
W3, M4 |
| Deergrass |
Cirpus cespitosus |
H15 |
| Common cottongrass |
Eriophorum angustifolium |
M1, M2, M3, M20 |
| Hare's-tail cottongrass |
Eriophorum vaginatum |
M20 |
| Soft rush |
Juncus effusus |
MG10 |
| Heath rush |
Juncus squarrosus |
U6 |
| Black bog-rush |
Schoenus nigricans |
H5 |
Trees
| English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
| A lady's-mantle |
Alchemilla glabra |
MG3 |
| Bog pimpernel |
Anagallis tenella |
H5 |
| Wild angelica |
Angelica sylvestris |
W3, MG2 |
| Alpine bearberry |
Arctostaphylos alpinu |
H17 |
| Bearberry |
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
H16 |
| Thyme-leaved sandwort |
Arenaria serpyllifolia |
SD19 |
| Thrift |
Armeria maritima |
MC1, MC2, MC3, MC5 |
| Spear-leaved orache |
Atriplex prostata agg. |
MC6 |
| Sea beet |
Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima |
MC6 |
| Wild cabbage |
Brassica oleracea |
MC4 |
| Sea rocket |
Cakile maritima |
SD2 |
| Heather |
Calluna vulgaris |
H1, H2, H3, H4, H7, H8, H9, H10, H11, H12, H13, H14, H15, H16, H17, H21, H22 |
| Marsh-marigold |
Caltha palustris |
W3, MG8 |
| Harebell |
Campanula rotundifolia |
CG10 |
| Cuckooflower |
Cardamine pratensis |
W3 |
| Carline thistle |
Carlina vulgaris |
CG1 |
| Black knapweed |
Centaurea nigra |
MG5 |
| Sea mouse-ear |
Cerastium diffusum ssp. diffusum |
MC5 |
| Common mouse-ear |
Cerastium fontanum |
MG3, MG4, MG6, MG8 |
| Corn marigold |
Chrysanthemum segetum |
OV4 |
| Pignut |
Conopodium majus |
MG3 |
| Dwarf cornel |
Cornus suecica |
H22 |
| Smooth hawk's-beard |
Crepis capillaris |
OV5 |
| Rock samphire |
Crithmum maritimum |
MC1 |
| Crosswort |
Cruciata laevipes |
MG2 |
| Ivy-leaved toadflax |
Cymbalaria muralis |
OV42 |
| Sea carrot |
Daucus carota ssp. gummifer |
MC4 |
| Round-leaved sundew |
Drosera rotundifolia |
M2 |
| Crowberry |
Empetrum nigrum ssp nigrum |
H13 |
| Mountain crowberry |
Empetrum nigrum ssp hermaphroditum |
H20, H22 |
| Broad-leaved willowherb |
Epilobium montanum |
MG2 |
| Bell heather |
Erica cinerea |
H2, H3, H4, H6, H7, H8, H10, H15, H16 |
| Cross-leaved heath |
Erica tetralix |
M2, H3, H4, H5 |
| Cornish heath |
Erica vagans |
H5, H6 |
| Common stork's-bill |
Erodium cicutarium |
OV5 |
| Meadowsweet |
Filipendula ulmaria |
W3, MG4, MG2, H6 |
| Cleavers |
Galium aparine |
SD3 |
| Common marsh-bedstraw |
Galium palustre |
W1, W3 |
| Heath bedstraw |
Galium saxatile |
W11, H18, H20, |
| Dove's-foot crane's-bill |
Geranium molle |
OV5 |
| Wood crane's-bill |
Geranium sylvaticum |
MG3 |
| Water avens |
Geum rivale |
MG2, W3 |
| Yellow horned-poppy |
Glaucium flavum |
SD1 |
| Common rock-rose |
Helianthemum nummularium |
CG5 |
| Common hogweed |
Heracleum sphondylium |
MG2 |
| Mouse-ear hawkweed |
Hieracium pilosella |
CG1, CG2, CG5, CG7 |
| Sea sandwort |
Honkenya peploides |
SD2 |
| Common cat's-ear |
Hypochaeris radicata |
H7 |
| Meadow vetchling |
Lathyrus pratensis |
MG4 |
| Autumn hawkbit |
Leontodon autumnalis |
MG4, MG8 |
| Rough hawkbit |
Leontodon hispidus |
CG2, CG5, CG7 |
| Scots lovage |
Ligusticum scoticum |
MC2 |
| Fairy flax |
Linum catharticum |
CG2 |
| Honeysuckle |
Lonicera periclymenum |
W10 |
| Bird's-foot trefoil |
Lotus corniculatus |
MG5, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG5, CG6, H7 |
| Sea mayweed |
Matricaria maritima |
MC6, SD3 |
| Bogbean |
Menyanthes trifoliata |
M1 |
| Dog's mercury |
Mercurialis perennis |
MG2, W8, W9 |
| Wood-sorrel |
Oxalis acetosella |
W9, W11 |
| Pellitory-of-the-wall |
Parietaria diffusa |
OV41 |
| Buck's-horn plantain |
Plantago coronopus) |
MC5, MC10 |
| Ribwort plantain |
Plantago lanceolata |
MG3, MG4, MG5, CG1, CG2, CG3, H7, MC10, CG10 |
| Sea plantain |
Plantago maritima |
H7, MC10 |
| Knotgrass |
Polygonum aviculare |
OV4 |
| Silverweed |
Potentilla anserina |
MG11, SD17 |
| Tormentil |
Potentilla erecta |
W11, H4, H5, H7, CG10, H10, H15, H21 |
| Self-heal |
Prunella vulgaris |
CG10 |
| Meadow buttercup |
Ranunculus acris |
MG3, MG4, MG8 |
| Creeping buttercup |
Ranunculus repens |
MG10 |
| Roseroot |
Rhodiola rosea |
MC3 |
| Cloudberry |
Rubus chamaemorus |
H22 |
| Bramble |
Rubus fruticosus agg. |
W8, W10 |
| Common sorrel |
Rumex acetosa |
MG3, MG4, MG8, MC3, MC12 |
| Curled dock |
Rumex crispus |
SD1 |
| Procumbent pearlwort |
Sagina procumbens |
OV20 |
| Annual species of glasswort |
Salicornia spp. |
SM10 |
| Salad burnet |
Sanguisorba minor |
CG1, CG2, CG3, CG5 |
| Great burnet |
Sanguisorba officinalis) |
MG3, MG4 |
| Small scabious |
Scabiosa columbaria |
CG2 |
| Biting stonecrop |
Sedum acre |
MC5 |
| English stonecrop |
Sedum anglicum |
MC5 |
| Groundsel |
Senecio vulgaris |
OV5 |
| Saw-wort |
Serratula tinctoria |
H5 |
| Red campion |
Silene dioica |
MG2 |
| Corn spurrey |
Spergula arvensis |
OV4, OV5 |
| Greater sea-spurrey |
Spergularia rupicola |
MC1 |
| Common chickweed |
Stellaria media |
MC7, OV5 |
| Annual sea-blite |
Suaeda maritima |
SM10 |
| Devil's-bit scabious |
Succisa pratensis |
H5 |
| Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale agg. |
MG4, CG6 |
| Wild thyme |
Thymus praecox |
CG1, CG2, CG5, CG7, H7, CG10 |
| Large thyme |
Thymus pulegioides |
CG7 |
| Red clover |
Trifolium pratense) |
MG4, MG5 |
| White clover |
Trifolium repens) |
MG3, MG4, MG5, MG6, MG8 |
| Common gorse |
Ulex europaeus |
H6 |
| Western gorse |
Ulex gallii |
H4, H5, H6, H8 |
| Dwarf gorse |
Ulex minor |
H2, H3 |
| Stinging nettle |
Urtica dioica |
MG2 |
| Bilberry |
Vaccinium myrtillus |
H12, H18, H19, H20, H21, H22 |
| Cowberry |
Vaccinium vitis-idaea |
H16, H19, H22 |
| Marsh valerian |
Valeriana dioica |
W3 |
| Common valerian |
Valeriana officinalis |
MG2 |
| Common dog-violet |
Viola riviniana |
W9, W11, H6, CG10 |
Other monocotyledons
Ferns
Clubmosses
| English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
| Fir clubmoss |
Huperzia selago |
H17 |
Bryophytes
Mosses
| English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
| Pointed spear-moss |
Calliergon cuspidatum |
W3, SD17 |
| Yellow starry feather-moss |
Campylium stellatum |
H5 |
| Broom fork-moss |
Dicranum scoparium sensu lato |
H1, H12, H16, H18, H21, H22 |
| Common feather-moss |
Eurhynchium praelongum |
W8, W9 |
| Common striated feather-moss |
Eurhynchium striatum |
W9 |
| Swartz's feather-moss |
Eurhynchium swartzii |
MG2 |
| Silky wall feather-moss |
Homalothecium sericeum |
OV39 |
| Glittering wood-moss |
Hylocomium splendens |
CG10, W11, H16, H20, H21, H22 |
| Cypress-leaved plait-moss and allied species |
Hypnum cupressiforme sensu lato |
H1, CG7, H14, H15, H21 |
| Heath plait-moss |
Hypnum jutlandicum |
H12, H16 |
| Swan's-neck thyme-moss |
Mnium hornum |
W3 |
| Hart's-tongue thyme-moss |
Plagiomnium undulatum |
MG2, W9 |
| Dented silk-moss |
Plagiothecium denticulatum |
MG2 |
| Waved silk-moss |
Plagiothecium undulatum |
H21 |
| |
Pleurozium schreberi |
H12, H16, H18, H20, H21, H22 |
| Nodding thread-moss |
Pohlia nutans |
H9 |
| Common haircap |
Polytrichum commune |
M4, U6 |
| Neat feather-moss |
Pseudoscleropodium purum |
W11, CG6 |
| Woolly fringe-moss |
Racomitrium lanuginosum |
H13, H14, H15, H17, H19, H20 |
| Little shaggy-moss |
Rhytidiadelphus loreus |
H20, H21, H22 |
| Springy turf-moss |
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus |
W11 |
| Dotted thyme-moss |
Rhizomnium punctatum |
W3 |
| Seaside grimmia |
Schistidium maritimum |
MC2 |
| Cow-horn bog-moss |
Sphagnum auriculatum |
M1 |
| Acute-leaved bog-moss |
Sphagnum capillifolium |
H21, H22 |
| Feathery bog-moss |
Sphagnum cuspidatum |
M1, M2, M4 |
| Flat-topped / flexuous bog-mosses |
Sphagnum recurvum |
M2, M4 |
| Common tamarisk-moss |
Thuidium tamariscinum |
W9, W11 |
Liverworts
| English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
| Bifid crestwort |
Lophocolea bidentata sensu lato |
MG2, U6 |
| Purple spoonwort |
Pleurozia purpurea |
H15 |
| Wall scalewort |
Porella platyphylla |
OV39 |
Lichens
| English name |
Scientific name |
Communities |
| |
Alectoria nigricans |
H13 |
| Iceland moss |
Cetraria islandica |
H13, H19 |
| |
Cladonia arbuscula |
H13, H14, H17, H19, H22 |
| |
Cladonia impexa |
H16 |
| Reindeer lichen |
Cladonia rangiferina |
H13 |
| |
Cladonia uncialis |
H15, H17, H19, H20 |
| |
Cornicularia aculeata |
SD11, H13 |