Open lowland and hill formations of sub-oceanic climates, formed mostly by annuals and succulents or semi-succulents on decomposed rock surfaces of edges, ledges or knolls, with calcareous or siliceous soils frequently disturbed by erosion or rabbits. They comprise a great variety of distinct and often very local, isolated communities harbouring many characteristic species, among which numerous rare forms including both relict and evolutionarily recent taxa.