Mesophile, often luxuriant, shrub communities of Western Europe and western and northern Central Europe east to Poland, northern Moldavia, Slovakia and Austria, characteristic of Carpinion forest edges and substitution formations with, among others, Prunus spinosa, Carpinus betulus, Crataegus spp., Sambucus nigra, Rosa spp., Viburnum opulus, Rubus spp. Included are species-poor Prunus spinosa thickets, such as British Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub and corresponding mainland formations with Rubus fruticosus, Rubus elegantispinosus, Rubus bifrons, Rubus armeniacus.