The vegetation of road verges in the coastal dunes of the Netherlands

The vegetation of road verges in the coastal dune area of the Netherlands was surveyed phytosociologically. Nine plant communities have been distinguished. They belong to the Ammophiletea, Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Plantaginetea majoris and Artemisietea vulgaris. Most plant communities appear to be fragmentarily developed and have thus been described by the so-called deductive method. Vegetation in road verges often appears to be heterogeneous. Species composition is influenced by man, distance from the sea, fertility and moisture content of the soil. It is clearly correlated with total nitrogen, magnesium and organic matter. Therophytes are preponderant; these and sclerophytes indicate the dry environment. The majority of the species are apophytes.