Fróðskaparrit - 31.12.2000, Page 47

EITT YVIRLIT YVIR FØROYSK PLANTUSAMFELØG
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whereas Caloplaca marina, Xanthoria
parietina, Anaptychia fusca, and Ramalina
siliquosa are character species in the zones
farther away from the sea (Fosaa, 1989).
Mosses like Schistidium maritimum and
Weissia maritima are common on rocky
shores. Ostenfeld (1905-1908) described
one Ramalina siliquosa association and
one Schistidium - Weissia association.
In crevices where rocks have eroded,
soils are formed and make it possible for
higher plants to establish themselves. The
most common of the species that can toler-
ate the salt spray are Matricaria maritima,
Plantago maritima, Cochlearia officinalis,
and Ligusticum scoticum. Ostenfeld
(1905-1908) described the Ligusticum
scoticum association. The Martensietum
maritimae association from rocky shores
was described by Tannhauser (1995).
In bays where sand beaches are formed,
Cakile arctica and Honckenya peploides
are the most common species closest to the
sea, whereas Leymus arenarius, Atriplex
glabriuscula, and Potentilla anserina are
more common at slightly higher sites. Os-
tenfeld (1905-1908) described the
Honkenya association dominated by
Honkenya peploides, Cakile arctica, and
Atriplex glabriuscula, and the Leymus as-
sociation dominated by Potentilla crantzii,
Carex maritima, and Leymus arenarius in
several places in the Faroe Islands. At the
littoral fringe, Tannhauser (1995) described
the Matricario ambiguae - Atriplicetum
glabriuscula association with Matricaria
maritima and Atrilplex glabriuscula as
character species.
Sand dunes are only found in one place
in the Faroe Islands, on the island Sandoy.
The dominant plants here are Ammophila
arenaria together with Agropyron jun-
ceiforme and Agrostis stolonifera, and oth-
er species commonly found on sand beach-
es. Starting from the high tide zone and
moving inland, Tannhauser (1995) de-
scribed four associations: the Cakiletum
arctica association with Matricaria mariti-
ma, Atriplex glabriuscla, and Cakile arcti-
ca as character species closest to the sea;
the Leymo - Agropyretum boreoatlanticum
association; the Honcenya diffusae - Ley-
mo arenariae association farther inland;
and, on the tops of the dunes, the Leymo -
Ammophiletum association. This last as-
sociation is equivalent to the Ammophila
arenaria association with character species
such as Ligusticum scoticum, Leymus are-
narius, Agropyron repens, and Cakile mar-
itima (Ostenfeld, 1905-1908).
Shore meadows are formed in the pro-
tected areas in the innermost region of the
fjords. They occur on clay soils, which are
waterlogged and salty due to frequent inun-
dation by seawater. Here, species like
Plantago maritima, P. coronopus, Tri-
glochin maritima, Cochlearia offtcinalis,
and Armeria maritima are common. Os-
tenfeld (1905-1908) defined three associa-
tions in salt marshes, the Glycerietum -
Glycera maritima association, the Carex
salina association, and the Plantago mariti-
ma association. The Glycerietum - Glyc-
era maritima association has species such
as Glyceria maritima, Plantago maritima,
Festuca rubra, and Triglochin palustre that
dominate. This association forms a contin-
uous carpet only interrupted by the Carex