Short-sedge fens, spring fens and fen grasslands kept continually wet by base-rich, nutrient-poor waters, occurring through the lowlands and mountains of temperate Europe and more locally in the boreal zone. They are most common, rich and diverse in the limestone massifs of Central European mountains, especially the Alps and Carpathians. The soil is rich in organic matter and has high pH, often with precipitation of carbonate or tufa. Small basiphilous sedges dominate the vegetation with rich associated flora and a patchy carpet of fen bryophytes while sphagna are absent.