Dwarf shrub hummock communities of nemoral Europe and of the lowland and hill bogs of boreal Europe, west to Fennoscandia and the Baltic States, dominated by, or rich in, Betula nana. In nemoral Europe they are limited to isolated enclaves on hills of the Germano-Baltic plains and to rare stations within the greater Hercynian ranges and the Alps, where they represent relict outposts of the communities of unit D1.114, with which they share, in particular, besides Betula nana, Vaccinium microcarpum, Rubus chamaemorus, Chamaedaphne calyculata.