British NVC community W17


NVC community W17 is one of the [Woodland and scrub Terminology used in connection with the British National Vegetation Classification|communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system|woodland] communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of the six communities falling in the "mixed deciduous and oak/birch woodlands" group.
This is a widely distributed community in northern and western Britain and represents mossy deciduous woodland of the uplands. There are four subcommunities.

Community composition

Two constant species are found in the tree canopy of this community:
Eight constant species are found in the field and ground layers of this community:
Rare species associated with the community include Hymenophyllum wilsonii and a number of oceanic bryophytes.

Distribution

This community is widespread throughout upland areas of Britain. The subcommunities show some geographical localisation with W17a predominantly western and W17d predominantly eastern.

Subcommunities

There are four subcommunities:W17a : the Isothecium myosuroides-Diplophyllum albicans subcommunityW17b : the so-called typical subcommunityW17c : the Anthoxanthum odoratum-''Agrostis capillaris subcommunityW17d : the '''Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus'' subcommunity'''