Herbaceous snow-patch swards of the Alpids, characteristic of calcareous soils under snow for long periods, with Arabis caerulea, Carex atrata, Ranunculus alpestris, Saxifraga androsacea and other calciphile snowfield, snowbed and snow-patch communities of boreal and arcto-alpine mountains formed by small herbs, grasses or mosses. Dwarf, underground-stemmed willows may also be present but not dominant (c.f. unit F2.12).