This alliance occurs in wetter and cooler areas than the alliance Coronopodo-Polygonion arenastri. In Europe it is more common in oceanic to suboceanic areas, while in the Czech Republic it is more frequent in colline to submontane areas than in the lowlands. In many cases soils are wetter, nutrient-poorer and more acidic than in the previous alliance, and these conditions support occurrence of more bryophytes and perennial vascular plants, although annual vascular plants predominate in this vegetation type.