Calcareous grassland
Calcareous grassland (or
alkaline grassland) is an
ecosystem associated with thin
basic soil, such as that on
chalk and
limestone downland. Plants on calcareous grassland are typically short and hardy, and include
grasses such as
trefoil. Calcareous grassland is an important habitat for insects, particularly
butterflies, and is kept at a
plagioclimax by grazing
animals, usually rabbits.
There are large areas of calcareous grassland in northwestern Europe, particularly areas of southern England, such as Salisbury Plain and the South Downs.