Dwarf shrub heaths and espaliers of the alpine and subalpine belts of the Alps, formed by prostrate or near-prostrate Salix alpina, Salix breviserrata, Salix reticulata, Salix retusa, and occasionally very small forms of Salix species characteristic of unit F2.3211; snow patch communities dominated by Salix reticulata or Salix retusa (unit F2.1211) are excluded.