Meall na Samhna

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (1%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (21.5%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (41.5%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (23%)
  
• Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (2%)
  
• Alpine and sub-Alpine grassland (9%)
  
• Non-forest areas cultivated with woody plants (including Orchards, groves, Vineyards, Dehesas) (1%)
  
• Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (1%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 4080 Sub-Arctic Salix spp. scrub

  Meall na Samhna is one of four sites selected in the Breadalbane Hills of the southern Highlands for Sub-Arctic Salix spp. scrub and represents W20 Salix lapponum – Luzula sylvatica scrub on highly calcareous schist at moderately high altitude (around 750 m). The wide range of species present is characteristic of calcareous schistose rock, and includes woolly willow Salix lanata, downy willow S. lapponum, whortle-leaved willow S. myrsinites, mountain willow S. arbuscula and net-leaved willow S. reticulata, which are mixed together. The willows are confined to rock ledges and occur in two main patches across a series of crags. They are mainly associated with 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels and 6170 Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands, with exceptionally rich suites of associated arctic-alpines.

• 6170 Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands

  Meall na Samhna is one of four sites selected in the Breadalbane Hills of the southern Highlands to represent high-altitude Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands. The CG12 Festuca ovina – Alchemilla alpina – Silene acaulis dwarf-herb community is moderately extensive, and there are some well-developed areas of CG14 Dryas octopetala – Silene acaulis ledge community on steep, rocky slopes. The habitat supports an outstanding arctic-alpine flora, which includes alpine bartsia Bartsia alpina, alpine mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum, alpine saw-wort Saussurea alpina, hair sedge Carex capillaris and net-leaved willow Salix reticulata. There are transitions to 6230 Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in continental Europe) and other alpine communities.

• 6230 Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on silicious substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in Continental Europe)  * Priority feature

  Meall na Samhna is an example of species-rich Nardus grasslands characteristic of the Breadalbane range of the southern Scottish Highlands. Species-rich Nardus grassland occurs widely below crags at moderately high to high altitude on calcareous-schist rocks. CG11 Festuca ovina – Agrostis capillaris – Alchemilla alpina grassland is the main community present. The site supports a rich flora of characteristic arctic-alpine species, including alpine meadow-rue Thalictrum alpinum, alpine bistort Persicaria vivipara, purple saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia, alpine mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium alpinum, lady’s mantle Alchemilla filicaulis, mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides, sibbaldia Sibbaldia procumbens and dwarf cudweed Gnaphalium supinum. There are widely-developed transitions to 6170 Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands and species-poor forms of Nardus grassland.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• 6150 Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands
• 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels
• 8210 Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Not Applicable