This association includes open stands of Equisetum fluviatile occurring mainly in shallow, mesotrophic still wetland habitats such as fishpond margins with accumulation of organic muddy sediment. Water depths are usually 30–70 cm, but this vegetation type can also develop in permanently wet but not inundated habitats such as depressions in meadows, brook alluvia or around springs. It does not tolerate complete substrate desiccation. In the Czech Republic this association occurs mainly in cool colline and submontane areas with acidic bedrock.