This association includes stands dominated by Stipa pennata or S. pulcherrima, rarely also by S. smirnovii and S. zalesskii. It is found on south-facing slopes in warm, dry areas of northern and central Bohemia and southern Moravia. It occurs on shallow to moderately deep soils, mainly over base-rich rocks, such as basalt, limestone, calcareous sandstone or conglomerate. At some sites it is the natural vegetation of forest-steppe vegetation complexes, while elsewhere it has developed after deforestation. Some Stipa stands rapidly regenerate after burning or spread into abandoned fields or landslides. More intensive grazing leads to an increase of cover of Stipa capillata, forming transitions to the association Festuco valesiacae-Stipetum capillatae.