These are managed, usually even-aged forests of Pinus sylvestris on serpentine bedrock, with a herb layer dominated by ericoid dwarf shrubs and grasses. Unlike the serpentine pine forests assigned to Vaccinio myrtilli-Pinetum sylvestris, this community is characterized by the frequent occurrence of Silene vulgaris, which locally prefers serpentine soils. Also characteristic is the serpentine specialist Asplenium cuneifolium as well as herbs indicating past forest grazing, some of them slightly thermophilous. Especially at higher altitudes the soil surface is covered by a distinct layer of poorly decomposed pine needle litter, which acidifies soils on base-rich serpentine substrate. The occurrence of pine on serpentine soils is probably natural, but forest structure has been modified by forest management. These forests are best developed in serpentine areas of western and southern Bohemia, but also occur in other serpentine areas of the Bohemian Massif, except on the driest and wettest sites.