Fens developed on open substrates constantly flushed by icy, base-rich water alongside small rivers, springs or glaciers in the alpine belt of European mountains and in the Arctic. Constant disturbance by moving water and freeze-thaw, aeration with turbulent flow and low productivity prevent peat accumulation. Consequently, this fen typically occurs as small unstable patches colonising bare ground. The vegetation consists of small basiphilous sedges, rushes and herbs, brown mosses and liverworts.
Chytrý M., Tichý L., Hennekens S.M., Knollová I., Janssen J.A.M., Rodwell J.S. … Schaminée J.H.J. (2020) EUNIS Habitat Classification: expert system, characteristic species combinations and distribution maps of European habitats. Applied Vegetation Science 23: 648–675. https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12519
Version 2021-06-01, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4812736.
For the official presentation of the EUNIS Habitat Classification from the European Environment Agency, please see: EUNIS Terrestrial Habitat Classification 2021. The FloraVeg.EU presentation may show modifications and partial updates to the habitat classification.