Title
North subatlantic Cephalanthera-beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) with Hepatica nobilis
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Small-scaled on islands in the Baltic Sea. Denmark: Seeland, Møn, Falster; Germany: Rügen (Stubnitz)
area frequency
4 polygons .
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Carici-Fagetum Moor 1952, Hordelymo-Fagetum Kuhn 1937.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Fagus sylvatica dominates in the tree layer. The herb layer is interspersed and features a species-rich vegetation consisting of herbs and grasses. A spring aspect with Anemone nemorosa, Anemone ranunculoides, Hepatica nobilis, locally Corydalis cava. At sun-exposed steep slopes there are orchids.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica dominating, locally with Fraxinus excelsior, on steep slopes with Sorbus torminalis, Pyrus pyraster, Malus sylvestris, Taxus baccata
Shrub layer
Young growth of trees
Herb layer
Anemone nemorosa, Anemone ranunculoides, Cardamine bulbifera, Corydalis cava, Cephalanthera longifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Cephalanthera damasonium, Epipactis leptochila, Hepatica nobilis, Hordelymus europaeus, Mercurialis perennis, Primula elatior, Elymus caninus, Sanicula europaea, Viola mirabilis
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Anomodon spp., Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium praelongum, Fissidens taxifolius, Thamnobryum alopecurum
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica, Sorbus torminalis, Taxus baccata; Cephalanthera rubra, Cephalanthera damasonium, Epipactis leptochila, Hepatica nobilis
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
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Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Melico-Fagetum, Fraxino-Fagetum, Deschampsio-Fagetum, Carici remotae-Fraxinetum, Alnetum glutinosae, spring swamps with Equisetum telmateia, chalk cliff coasts with Beta vulgaris.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
species-rich beech forests (F108).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Low forest, coniferous plantations (Pinus, Abies, Picea, Larix, Pseudotsuga).
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
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arable land (characteristic weed communities)
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settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
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Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
Steep chalk cliff coastlines and hills in the lowlands.
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; 0-150 m
Geology (bedrock)
Upper Cretaceous
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
mull-rendzines, lime-rich brown soils; (rendzic leptosols; calcic cambisols)
soil texture
loamy, clayey
soil moisture, water balance
moderately dry
soil reaction
neutral to alkaline
soil fertility
meso-eutrophic, eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI1, VI2
average annual temperature
7-8 EC
average annual precipitation
500-700 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
16-17 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
-1 to " 0 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
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Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
At clifflines and neighbouring plateaus they are relatively well preserved in the form of semi-natural beech forests.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Nearly-natural stands due to natural dynamics and floristic rarities of great importance to conservation.
causes of endangerment
Tourism.
required measures for protection and restitution
No details
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Denmark: forest of Møns Klint; Allindelille Fredsskov; Germany: national park “Jasmund” (Rügen, Mecklenburg-Hitherpomerania).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Böcher 1969; Föderation der Natur- und Nationalparke Europas Sektion-Deutschland 1997; Jeschke 1964; Kielland-Lund 1981; Klötzer 1992; Kutscher 1991; Lindgren 1970; Lindquist 1931; Sissingh 1970
Compiled by
P. Vestergaard; H. Schlüter, revised by U. Bohn
