This alliance includes species-poor vegetation of both open and wooded bogs in continental to subcontinental areas. Communities are dominated by hummock-forming Sphagnum species, small shrubs and species of Cyperaceae. Open bog vegetation is restricted to deep peat with a stable water regime and to suboceanic regions with high precipitation, whereas wooded bog vegetation is more common on shallow peat with fluctuating water level. Wooded bogs are characterized by a semi-open canopy made up of Pinus species, more rarely by Picea abies and Betula species.