Thickets of the subalpine zone of the Alps, the Carpathians, the Jura, the Hercynian ranges, dominated by Sorbus aucuparia ssp. glabrata, Sorbus chamaemespilus, Sorbus mougeotii, Sorbus ambigua, Sorbus austriaca or other shrubby Sorbus species, in particular, tree-limit formations with Betula carpatica, Lonicera nigra, Prunus padus ssp. borealis (Padus petraea).