This alliance comprises forests of Pinus sylvestris with a poorly developed shrub layer and species-poor herb layer, which contains acidophilous dwarf shrubs such as Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea and oligotrophic graminoids and other herbs. The moss layer is well developed. This alliance is distributed across western, central and eastern Europe on nutrient-poor, acidic soils, where deciduous trees are disadvantaged and pine can attain dominance, especially if the stands are occasionally disturbed, e.g. by fires. In the Bohemian Massif, these forests are found on rock outcrops, sandy soils and serpentines.