NVC community H7 (Calluna vulgaris - Scilla verna heath) is one of the heath communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of two communities categorised as maritime heaths.

It is a fairly widespread coastal community. There are five subcommunities.

Community composition

The following eleven constant species are found in this community:

• Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
• Bell Heather (Erica cinerea)
• Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina)
• Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus)
• Common Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata)
• Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
• Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
• Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima)
• Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)
• Spring Squill (Scilla verna)
• Wild Thyme (Thymus praecox)

The following rare species are associated with the community:

• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
• Purple Milk-vetch (Astragalus danicus)
• Cornish Heath (Erica vagans)
• Portland Spurge (Euphorbia portlandica)
• Hairy Greenweed (Genista pilosa)
• Fringed Rupturewort (Herniaria ciliolata)
• Land Quillwort (Isoetes histrix)
• Spring Sandwort (Minuartia verna)
• Scottish Primrose (Primula scotica)
• Autumn Squill (Scilla autumnalis)
• Spring Squill (Scilla verna)
• Autumn Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis)
• Twin-headed Clover (Trifolium bocconei)
• Western Clover (Trifolium occidentale)

Distribution

This community is found all around the coasts of Scotland, western Wales, Devon and Cornwall.

Subcommunities

There are five subcommunities:

• the Armeria maritima subcommunity
• the Viola riviniana subcommunity
• the Erica tetralix subcommunity
• the Empetrum nigrum ssp. nigrum subcommunity
• the Calluna vulgaris 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)