Vegetation dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum tussocks occurs on bog margins partially supplied by oligotrophic ground water, pool margins, water-saturated bare peat of strip-mined mires, and poor fens isolated from ground water by a thick peat layer. Water is strongly acidic, with pH about 4, and poor in minerals. This vegetation type occurs in the boreal zone and in the mountains of temperate Europe in areas of subcontinental climate. In the Czech Republic it is found in mountain areas.