F28
Irish pedunculate oak-ash forests (Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus robur) on rich basiphilous soils with Corylus avellana, Circaea lutetiana, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Veronica montana and ferns
Description
Mixed forests with dominant Fraxinus excelsior and Quercus robur; the tree layer on deeper soils is up to 20 m and taller; Ulmus glabra is a companion which has been substantially decimated by Dutch elm disease, Fagus sylvatica (often cultivated and naturalised). Also scattered Betula pubescens, Betula pendula, Prunus avium and locally Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus aria, Malus sylvestris, that sometimes form a second tree layer. The shrub layer is dominated by Corylus avellana, with Crataegus monogyna, Ilex aquifolium. The species-rich herb layer contains numerous prevernal bloomers and ferns, sometimes with dominating Hedera helix. The moss layer as features few species and a small degree of coverage, but increases to the west.
Tree Layer
Fraxinus excelsior (Common Ash), Quercus robur (Common Oak), Ulmus glabra interspersed (Elm), Fagus sylvatica (introduced) (Beech), Betula pubescens (Downy Birch), Betula pendula (Silver Birch), Prunus avium (Common Linden (small-medium)), Malus sylvestris (Crab Apple), Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan), Sorbus aria (Whitebeam)
Common Ash, Common Oak, Elm interspersed, Beech, Downy Birch, Silver Birch, Common Linden (small-medium), Crab Apple, Rowan
Shrub Layer
Corylus avellana (Hazel), Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Ilex aquifolium (Holly), Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn), Euonymus europaea (Spindle), Viburnum opulus (Linden Bush), Rubus fruticosus agg. (Fruiting Bramble), Salix caprea (Goat Willow)
Oak, Apple, Alder, Downy Willow and Willow saplings
Lianas
Hedera helix, Lonicera periclymenum
Herb Layer
Arum maculatum (sweet_woodruff), Circaea lutetiana (sweet_woodruff), Hedera helix, Geum urbanum (wild_parsley), Hyacinthoides non-scripta (ABSENT), Primula acaulis (wild_parsley), Viola riviniana (ABSENT), Anemone nemorosa (ABSENT), Brachypodium sylvaticum (lush_grass), Sanicula europaea (oxeye_daisy), Oxalis acetosella (alpine_bearberry), Veronica chamaedrys (sweet_woodruff), Fragaria vesca, Potentilla sterilis (bilberry_bush), Geranium robertianum (melancholy_thistle), Dryopteris filix-mas (fern_1, bracken, fern), Dryopteris dilatata (fern_1, bracken, fern), Polystichum setiferum (bracken), Asplenium scolopendrium (harts_tongue_fern), Athyrium filix-femina (fern_1, bracken, fern)
Forests in central Eriador, north of the Shire and Bree
