British NVC community MG4 (Alopecurus pratensis - Sanguisorba officinalis grassland) is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of four such communities associated with well-drained permanent pastures and meadows.

This community is a localised community of central England. There are no subcommunities.

Community composition

The following constant species are found in this community:

• Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis)
• Common Mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum)
• Crested Dog's-tail (Cynosurus cristatus)
• Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
• Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus)
• Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)
• Autumn Hawkbit (Leontodon autumnalis)
• Perennial Rye-grass (Lolium perenne)
• Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
• Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
• Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
• Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.)
• Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
• White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Seven rare species are associated with this community: Snake's-head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) and six species of dandelion, Taraxacum fulgidum, T. haematicum, T. melanthoides, T. sublaeticolor, T. subundulatum and T. tamesense.

Distribution

This community, although widespread in the past, now has a scattered distribution in the Midlands and southern England.

References

• Rodwell, J. S. (1992) British Plant Communities Volume 3 - Grasslands and montane communities ISBN 0-521-39166-0 (hardback), ISBN 0-521-62719-2 (paperback)

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