Synonymy

Angelico-Phragmitetum typicum sensu Ratcliffe & Hattey 1982 p.p.

Constant species

Phragmites australis, Urtica dioica.

Physiognomy

The tall-herb fen vegetation included in this community is very variable in its floristics and physiognomy. Apart from the two constants, Galium aparine is the only species that is at all frequent throughout. Moreover, although both Phragmites and U. dioica are generally abundant and often dominant, the various sub-communities are marked by the characteristically patchy local prominence of a variety of other tall dicotyledons or monocotyledons, most notably Epilobium hirsutum, Filipendula ulmaria, Oenanthe crocata, Calystegia sepium, Solanum dulcamara, Glyceria maxima, Arrhenatherum elatius and, less frequently, Carex riparia or Phalaris arundinacea. These form a typically chequered canopy usually 1-2 m in height which is often dense and so tangled by climbers and sprawlers as to be virtually impenetrable.

Stands are frequently species-poor and, even in more open vegetation, associates are rather varied. There are sometimes scattered plants of species characteristic of richer fens, e.g. Lythrum salicaria, Lysimachia vulgaris, Angelica sylvestris, Cirsium palustre, Iris pseudacorus and Rumex hydrolapathum and, beneath these, occasional Pulicaria dysenterica, Equisetum fluviatile, Scutellaria galericulata and Silene dioica. In other cases, there may be a grassy understorey with Poa trivialis, Holcus lanatus and Dactylis glomerata. Sprawling Galium palustre, Lotus uliginosus and Rubus fruticosus agg. sometimes add to the tangle. Bryophytes are very sparse and there are very rarely any invading shrubs or trees.

Sub-communities

Filipendula ulmaria sub-community: Epilobium-Urtica-Galium-Filipendula fen Haslam 1965; Phragmites-Urtica community Wheeler 1980c; Angelico-Phragmitetum typicum sensu Ratcliffe & Hattey 1982 p.p. In the often very tall, dense and species-poor vegetation of this sub-community either Phragmites or U. dioica or F. ulmaria can be dominant with, less frequently, a local abundance of Eupatorium cannabinum. Apart from G. aparine, no other species occurs with even’ occasional frequency.

Arrhenatherum elatius sub-community: Peucedano-Phragmitetum arrhenatheretosum Wheeler 1980a p.p. Phragmites is usually dominant here with varying amounts of U. dioica and G. aparine and, beneath, tussocks of Arrhenatherum elatius. Scattered plants of Cirsium arvense and Heracleum sphondylium are very characteristic of this vegetation and there is occasionally a little Calystegia sepium and Angelica sylvestris.