The class Artemisietea vulgaris includes thermophilous vegetation of sunny and dry habitats and is composed mainly of biennial and perennial species, although some annuals are also present. It occurs chiefly in ruderal habitats in human settlements and their surroundings, but some types are also found in semi-natural habitats. This vegetation type usually follows and replaces annual communities of Stellarietea mediae during secondary succession. In comparison with the class Galio-Urticetea, the Artemisietea vulgaris contains fewer mesophilous species and more alien plants, both archaeophytes and neophytes.