7240 Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion bicoloris-atrofuscae

European status and distribution

This habitat occurs in the Atlantic, Alpine and Boreal Biogeographical Regions.

UK status and distribution

In the UK this priority habitat is rare and is largely restricted to the Scottish Highlands, where it is relatively widespread. There are southern outliers in northern England and north Wales. The habitat is rarely extensive but is important as a habitat for some of the rarest plant species in the UK, which characterise this habitat type.

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Site accounts

• Beinn a' Ghlo Eastern Scotland
  Beinn a’Ghlo is representative of flushes at moderate altitude in the eastern Highlands. Open flushes of M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire are frequent, and species include yellow saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides, Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, three-flowered rush Juncus triglumis and alpine rush J. alpinoarticulatus. The site is of particular interest because of the transitions between alpine pioneer flushes and 7230 Alkaline fens at moderate altitudes.
• Beinn Dearg Highlands and Islands
  Beinn Dearg is representative of flush communities found at high altitude in the north-west Highlands. Although the extent of the communities present is restricted, they are the most diverse and best-developed alpine pioneer formations in this part of Scotland. M12 Carex saxatilis mire is frequent, with Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, two-flowered rush Juncus biglumis, three-flowered rush J. triglumis and chestnut rush J. castaneus. Open, stony flushes of M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire are also well-represented.
• Ben Alder and Aonach Beag Highlands and Islands
  Ben Alder and Aonach Beag is representative of high altitude flushes in the central Highlands. Both open flushes of M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire and more closed flushes of M12 Carex saxatilis mire are well-represented. The flushes are well-developed but localised and are notable for the occurrence of the rare scorched alpine-sedge Carex atrofusca, which is known to occur in only two other locations in the SAC series. Other characteristic species include three-flowered rush Juncus triglumis, Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, sheathed sedge Carex vaginata, alpine bistort Persicaria vivipara and the moss Blindia acuta. Other uncommon species include hair sedge Carex capillaris and alpine cat’s-tail Phleum alpinum.
• Ben Heasgarnich Eastern Scotland, Highlands and Islands
  Ben Heasgarnich is one of three sites in the Breadalbane range in the southern Scottish Highlands representing the range of variation of alpine pioneer formations up to high altitude. High-altitude mires are frequent on the site and include both open types of M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire and more closed types of M12 Carex saxatilis mire. Rarer species present include scorched alpine-sedge Carex atrofusca, false sedge Kobresia simpliciuscula, variegated horsetail Equisetum variegatum, chestnut rush Juncus castaneus and two-flowered rush J. biglumis.
• Ben Lawers Eastern Scotland
  Ben Lawers is one of three sites in the Breadalbane range in the southern Scottish Highlands representing the range of variation of alpine pioneer formations up to high altitude. Ben Lawers is considered to be the most important site for this habitat type in the UK because the extent and diversity of high altitude mires present here is greater than on any other site in the UK. M12 Carex saxatilis mires are especially frequent, with more open, stony M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mires also common. The site supports the most abundant populations in Scotland of the rarer but characteristic species of the habitat type. These include two-flowered rush Juncus biglumis, bristle sedge Carex microglochin and scorched alpine-sedge C. atrofusca. Chestnut rush Juncus castaneus and hair sedge Carex capillaris are also frequent.
• Ben Lui Eastern Scotland, Highlands and Islands
  Ben Lui is one of three sites in the Breadalbane range in the southern Scottish Highlands representing the range of variation of alpine pioneer formations up to high altitude. High-altitude mires are frequent on the site and include both open types with M11 Carex demissa– Saxifraga aizoides mire and more closed types with M12 Carex saxatilis mire. The rare false sedge Kobresia simpliciuscula, Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, chestnut rush Juncus castaneus and two-flowered rush Juncus biglumis are present. The rare flush bryophytes Catoscopium nigritum, Meesia uliginosa, Timmia norvegica, Harpanthus flotovianus and Tritomaria polita are well-represented.
• Caenlochan Eastern Scotland, North Eastern Scotland
  Caenlochan is one of two sites in the eastern Highlands representing base-rich mires at moderately high to high altitude. These mires are frequent within the site and have high species diversity. There is a well-developed community structure and the rarer species occur frequently. Open flushes of M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire and the closed M10 Carex dioica – Pinguicula vulgaris mire are both widely-developed. Characteristic species include three-flowered rush Juncus triglumis, chestnut rush J. castaneus, alpine rush J. alpinoarticulatus, Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, and sheathed sedge Carex vaginata. Hair sedge C. capillaris, alpine bistort Persicaria vivipara and alpine meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum are also present. An additional interest is the presence of an eastern outlier of the mainly western M12 Carex saxatilis mire.
• Cairngorms Highlands and Islands, North Eastern Scotland
  The Cairngorms is one of two sites in the eastern Scottish Highlands representing alpine pioneer formations of lime and/or base-rich mires at moderately high altitude. Due to the predominance of acidic rocks within the Cairngorms complex this habitat is very restricted in extent, occurring mainly in the Inchrory area, associated with calcareous rocks and occurring alongside 7220 petrifying springs and 7230 alkaline fen. A small representation is also present in Glen Feshie. Despite this restricted distribution, these flushes are well-developed. They contain a range of characteristic species, including yellow saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides, Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla, three-flowered rush Juncus triglumis and alpine rush J. alpinoarticulatus. Sheathed sedge Carex vaginata is also present. The main NVC type present is M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire.
• Moor House - Upper Teesdale Cumbria, Tees Valley and Durham
  This site in northern England is the largest and most diverse example of Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion bicoloris-atrofuscae south of the Highlands. It is a southern outlier with an extensive area of the habitat type, and is a southern outpost for many of the rarer arctic-alpine plants characteristic of this habitat type, with a unique relict mountain flora. Teesdale sandwort Minuartia stricta is restricted to Upper Teesdale, and other rare species found in this habitat type include false sedge Kobresia simpliciuscula, hair sedge Carex capillaris and Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla. The NVC types represented are M10 Carex dioica – Pinguicula vulgaris mire and M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire.
• Morrone Birkwood North Eastern Scotland
  Morrone Birkwood supports a relatively low altitude representation of this habitat in the eastern Scottish Highlands. Although they are not extensive, open flushes of M11 Carex demissa – Saxifraga aizoides mire are frequent, associated with 7220 petrifying springs and more extensive areas of 7230 Alkaline fens. Species such as yellow saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides, Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla and alpine rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus are present.

SACs where this Annex I habitat is a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Beinn Iadain and Beinn na h' Uamha Highlands and Islands
• Ben Nevis Highlands and Islands
• Eryri/ Snowdonia West Wales and The Valleys
• Glen Coe Highlands and Islands
• Trotternish Ridge Highlands and Islands