Discover the River

River banks and the areas around them have their own plant life, which is called riparian vegetation. It forms a characteristic border that follows the course of the river. Riparian woods include a wide range of flora and fauna. This plant life has an important role in the ecosystem, and acts as:

A refuge for animals and plants
A biological corridor or ecological connector
A source of food for the ecosystem
A filter for water pollutants
A stabiliser for the banks and a barrier in times of flooding (slowing rising water and retaining sediments, etc.)
A means to aid the re-filling of aquifers
A regulator for the amount of sun on the river and of water temperature

The resource page has an identification key to help you identify riparian vegetation.

Trees

White poplar
Populus alba

Black poplar
Populus nigra

Aspen
Populus tremula

White willow
Salix alba

Grey willow
Salix atrocinerea

Bitter willow
Salix elaeagnos

Purple willow
Salix purpurea

Whitebeam
Sorbus aria

Checker tree
Sorbus torminalis

European ash
Fraxinus excelsior

Field Elm
Ulmus minor

Common alder
Alnus glutinosa

Common hazel
Corylus avellana

Field maple
Acer campestre

Italian maple
Acer opalus

Montpellier maple
Acer monspessulanum

Large-leaved lime or linden
Tilia platyphyllos

Shrubs

Common hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna

Dog rose
Rosa canina

Blackberry
Rubus sp

Elder
Sambucus nigra

Common ivy
Heredera helix

Bloody dogwood
Cornus sanguinea

European box
Buxus sempervirens

Blackthorn or sloe
Prunus spinosa

Herbaceous Plants

Bulrush
Tyhpa latifolia

Common reed
Phragmites australis

Yellow iris
Iris pseudacorus

Vegetation of river headwaters

The river headwaters have species adapted to cold temperatures and steep slopes.

Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus

Norway maple
Acer platanoides

Silver birch
Betula pendula

Wild cherry
Prunus avium

Pussy willow
Salix caprea

Almond willow
Salix triandra

Rowan or mountain-ash
Sorbus aucuparia

Scots elm
Ulmus glabra

Vegetation specific to Mediterranean River Areas

Riparian vegetation specific to Mediterranean areas is characterised for its ability to survive very dry summers and highly variable precipitation throughout the year, and even over several years.

Narrow-leafed ash
Fraxinus angustifolia

Bay tree
Laurus nobilis

Lesser bulrush
Tyhpa angustifolia

Redoul
Coriaria myrtifolia

The Riparian Vegetation of Rain-fed and Ephemeral Rivers

Species adapted to extreme drought situations are found in rain-fed and ephemeral rivers, due to their ability to cope with a prolonged lack of water and their resistance to sudden rainstorms.

Chaste tree
Vitex agnus-castus

Oleander
Nerium oleander

Round-headed clubrush
Scirpus holoschoenus

Saltwater-specific Vegetation

Plant life that has adapted to high levels of saltwater may be found in some wetland areas and lower river stretches.

Samphire
Arthrochemun fruticosum

African tamarisk
Tamarix africana

French tamarisk
Tamarix anglica

Invasive Species

Human intervention (wood cutting, earthmoving, etc.) and other disturbances give invasive species the opportunity to settle on river banks. These species are a significant threat, as they replace native species and may cause important changes to the riparian environment. They sometimes form mono-specific populations without any natural value. Invasive species need to be controlled and more importantly, new introductions need to be prevented.

*Invasive species are considered to be those that proliferate in an area in which they are not native and where they have appeared due to the actions of Man.