Fróðskaparrit - 31.12.2000, Page 44

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A REVIEW OF PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE FAROE ISLANDS
Fig. 2. Calluna vulgaris heath above Gróthúsvatn on Sandoy
Mynd 2. Heiðalendi við Gróthúsvatn á Sandoynni
Mastigophora woodsii — Herbertus adun-
cus sub-association of the British Calluna -
Vaccineum - Sphagnum damp heath.
The Empetrum - Racomitrium lanugi-
nosum association, the Calluna - Raco-
mitrium lanuginosum association, and the
Empetrum - Hylocomium association are
transitions between the lowland heath and
the alpine Racomitrium heath, as is the
Nardus-Hylocomium association from the
grassland vegetation. The Empetrum -
Vaccinium uliginosum association with
considerable amounts of Dryas octopetala
is very rare and is only found in few places
(Bocher, 1940).
Grass Vegetation
The predominant vegetation in the Faroe
Islands is grassland. It is found from sea
level up to the mountaintops. The most
characteristic grass species are Anthoxan-
thum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa,
Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, F. vivip-
ara, together with herbs such as Bellis
perennis, Prunella vulgaris, Ranunculus
repens, R. acer, Plantago lanceolata, and
Lychnis flos-cuculi. In lower regions, the
grass vegetation is frequently found on
north-facing slopes, while heather-moor is
found on southem slopes, if they are not too
steep. At higher elevations, the grass vege-
tation occurs both on south- and north-fac-