The alliance Cynosurion cristati includes mesic pastures and disturbed perennial grasslands of trampled or frequently cut sites. Soils are well supplied with nutrients, enabling fast regeneration of plants after disturbance. In addition to species shared with mesic meadows, Cynosurion cristati pastures contain more unpalatable and disturbance-adapted species. Depending on management, Cynosurion cristati pastures may change into Arrhenatherion elatioris meadows and vice versa. The geographic range of this alliance is probably very similar with that of the class of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, including the entire temperate zone of Europe and some adjacent regions.