The alliance Vaccinio uliginosi-Pinion includes peatland forests dominated by Betula pubescens, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris or P. uncinata subsp. uliginosa. Their herb layer contains chamaephytes typical of peatlands (Rhododendron tomentosum, Vaccinium oxycoccos and V. uliginosum), ericoid dwarf shrubs of mesic soils (Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea) and acidophilous graminoids typical of both peatlands and mineral soils. The well developed moss layer contains various species of Sphagnum and other peatland mosses as well as bryophytes typical of wet soils. This alliance occurs in peatland complexes across the boreal and temperate zones of Europe. Betula pubescens more frequently dominates in the west of its range, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in the east, and Pinus uncinata subsp. uliginosa in the mountain ranges of central Europe.