The Calthion palustris wet meadows are dominated by broad-leaved tall forbs, especially species of the genus Cirsium. They occur in floodplains or around springs on rather wet, nutrient-rich soils and in habitats experiencing shallow spring floods. Although the ground water table usually decreases slightly in dry periods in summer, soils never dry out completely. The Calthion palustris meadows are most frequent in precipitation-rich areas at higher altitudes, but may also occur at water-logged sites with impeded draining in the lowlands. The typical Calthion palustris meadows are regularly mown, while abandoned stands are quickly overgrown by broad-leaved tall forbs such as Filipendula ulmaria. This alliance is widespread in oceanic and suboceanic regions of temperate Europe; scattered occurrences were recorded also from subcontinental Europe.