British NVC community OV17

British NVC community OV17 (Reseda lutea - Polygonum aviculare community) is one of the open habitat communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. Although classed with communities OV15 and OV16 as an arable weed community of light lime-rich soils, it also shares many features with the communities classed as arable weed and wasteland communities of fertile loams and clays.

This community is not found elsewhere in Europe, and in Britain is found only in East Anglia. It was first described by Silverside (1977), who labelled it the Descurainio-Anchusetum arvensis association.

There are no subcommunities.

Community composition

The following constant species are found in this community:

• Bugloss (Anchusa arvensis)
• Black-bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus)
• Fat-hen (Chenopodium album)
• Flixweed (Descurainia sophia)
• Common couch (Elymus repens)
• Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)
• Wild mignonette (Reseda lutea)

There are no rare species associated with the community.

Distribution

This community is found only in East Anglia, where it is an ephemeral community among arable crops on dry, sandy soils. It is characterised by the presence of D. sophia, A. arvensis and R. lutea.

References

Rodwell, John S, ed. (March 2000). Maritime communities and vegetation of open habitats. British Plant Communities. Vol. 5. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-39167-2.

Silverside, A J (1977). A phytosociological survey of British arable weeds and related communities (PhD thesis). Durham University. [cited in Rodwell, op cit]