Schoenus ferrugineus-dominated communities of rich fens of nemoral and boreonemoral Europe, mostly restricted to Alpine and peri-Alpine regions and to the Baltic periphery, with isolated outposts, in particular in eastern Scotland.
Schoenus ferrugineus-dominated formations of Alpine and peri-Alpine regions, with a predominance of Schoenus ferrugineus among the gramineous growth which is often overwhelming, imparting to the fens a distinctive brown tone in summer. Schoenus ferrugineus may be accompanied by Schoenus nigricans, Eriophorum latifolium, Carex hostiana, Carex davalliana, Carex panicea, Carex flacca, Carex lepidocarpa, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Molinia caerulea; non-gramineous herbs include Pinguicula vulgaris, Gentiana utriculosa, Drosera anglica, Primula farinosa, Parnassia palustris, Dactylorhiza traunsteineri, Dactylorhiza lapponica, Tofieldia calyculata; the rich moss layer is formed by Drepanocladus intermedius, Drepanocladus revolvens, Campylium stellatum.