Subalpine beech stands with Hairy Alpenrose (Rhododendron hirsutum) were phytosociologically studied on Mt. Snežnik (Dinaric Mts). They thrived on stony and steep slopes of northern exposure. Comparisons with other subalpine Beech stands (Polysticho lonchitis-Fagetum s. lat.), Dinaric Fir-Beech stands with Hairy Alpen-rose (Omphalodo-Fagetum s. lat. rhododendretosum hirsuti), and prealpine fir-beech stands with Hairy Alpenrose (Homogyno sylvestris-Fagetum s. lat. rhododendretosum hirsuti), stands of Hairy Alpenrose and Beech (Rhododendro hirsuti-Fagetum s. lat.), as well as Austrian subalpine beech stands (Saxifrago rotundifoliae-Fagetum s. lat.) showed their unique floristical composition due to ecological conditions, and thus distinct syntaxonomical position within the association Polysticho-Fagetum. Therefore, a new subassociation Polysticho-Fagetum rhododendretosum hirsuti subass. nova was described, and - as differential species for the subassociation - Rhododendron hirsutum, Rubus saxatilis, Rosa pendulina, and Clematis alpina were chosen.
