Planar to montane Molinia meadows on base-rich to calcareous as well as acidic wet or alternately wet/humid sites. These have mostly evolved under extensive management and late mowing regimes (for bedding). Species-poor degenerative stages of drained peatlands are excluded. Molinia meadows are very sensitive to fertilizer applications and to changes in land use (mowing regime). There may be slight similarities to primary Molinia grasslands under special local climatic conditions (impeded cold air flow).

In its assessment meetings the European Commission has clearly pointed out that this habitat type includes Molinion communities not only on calcareous but also on neutral and acidic soils.