Alpine and subalpine grasslands developed over crystalline rocks and other lime-deficient substrates or on decalcified soils of mountains. On boreal mountains, Carex bigelowii and Juncus trifidus often dominate. The acid alpine grasslands of central Europe are more mixed, with Armeria alpina, Armeria alliacea (Armeria montana), Euphrasia minima, Gentiana alpina, Geum montanum, Juncus trifidus, Lychnis alpina, Pedicularis pyrenaica, Phyteuma hemisphaericum, Pulsatilla alpina ssp. sulphurea, Ranunculus pyrenaeus, Sempervivum montanum, Botrychium lunaria.
Mostly closed Carex curvula, Festuca spp., Oreochloa spp. or Juncus trifidus grasslands on siliceous soils of the alpine level of the Alps, the Carpathians and the Pyrenees, with very local outposts in the great Hercynian ranges and the Cantabrian Range. Androsace obtusifolia, Androsace carnea ssp. laggeri, Campanula barbata, Juncus jacquinii, Juncus trifidus, Silene exscapa, Gentiana alpina, Achillea erba-rotta, Euphrasia minima, Luzula lutea, Luzula spicata, Luzula hispanica, Lychnis alpina, Minuartia recurva, Minuartia sedoides, Pedicularis kerneri, Pedicularis pyrenaica, Phyteuma globulariifolium, Phyteuma hemisphaericum, Potentilla frigida, Armeria alpina, Senecio incanus, Trifolium alpinum, Veronica bellidioides, Ranunculus pyrenaeus are characteristic.