Gozd bukve in kopjaste podlesnice, znan pod imenom subalpinski bukov gozd, je conalna gozdna združba, ki gradi zgornjo drevesno mejo na predalpskem in dinarskem območju na nadmorskih višinah od okoli 1400 do 1600 metrov. Pojavlja se v vseh legah, čeprav je najpogosteje razširjen na osojnih zmerno strmih do strmih pobočjih, ki so mestoma zelo skalnata. Geološka matična podlaga so predvsem dolomitni apnenci in apnenci. Najpogostejši talni tipi so zelo skeletne rendzine s plastjo surovega humusa. Mestoma so rjava pokarbonatna tla, predvsem na dinarskem območju. Na območju subalpinskih bukovih gozdov pade letno od 1500 do 2000 mm padavin; sneg obleži tudi do 6 mesecev in več. Povprečna letna temperatura je od 4 do 5^o C. Podnebje v subalpinskem pasu je surovo, značilno za višje nadmorske višine.

Diagnostična kombinacija rastlinskih vrst
Drevesna plast: bukev (Fagus sylvatica), beli javor (Acer pseudoplatanus).
Grmovna plast: Clematis alpina, Daphne mezereum, Lonicera alpigena, Pinus mugo, Rhododendron hirsutum, Ribes alpinum, Salix appendiculata.
Zeliščna plast: Aconitum ranunculifolium, Actaea spicata, Adenostyles glabra, Anemone nemorosa, Aposeris foetida, Calamagrostis varia, Cardamine trifolia, Carex ferruginea, Cirsium erisithales, Cyclamen purpurascens, Dentaria enneaphyllos, Doronicum austriacum, Hacquetia epipactis, Homogyne sylvestris, Luzula sylvatica, Mercurialis perennis, Polygonatum vericillatum, Polystichum lonchitis, Ranunculus platanifolius, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Symphytum tuberosum, Valeriana tripteris, Veratrum album, Veronica urticifolia, Vicia oroboides.

Opuščene pašnike na rastišču subalpskih bukovih gozdov zarašča pionirska združba gole in waldsteinove vrbe. Bukovi gozdovi se na teh rastiščih razvijejo šele v daljšem časovnem razdobju.

Neugodne ekološke razmere omogočajo bukvi skromno rast, največ do 15 metrov v višino. Po vrhovih ima celo grmovno razrast. Debla so sabljasta in zelo grčava. Ti gozdovi imajo izrazito varovalni pomen.

Združbo bukve in kopjaste podlesnice uvrščamo v zvezo Aremonio-Fagion.

The Polystichum lonchitis–Fagetum, known as subalpine beech forest, is a zonal forest association forming the upper tree limit in the prealpine and Dinaric regions at an altitude ranging from around 1,400 to 1,600 meters. It grows on all aspects, although it can be found most often on shady moderately steep to steep slopes that are rocky in places. The geological material consists predominantly of dolomite limestone and limestone. The most frequent soil types are very skeletal rendzic Leptosols with a layer of raw humus on top. There is chromic Cambisol in places, in particular in the Dinaric region. In the region of subalpine beech forests, the mean annual precipitation amounts to between 1,500 and 2,000 mm. Snow lasts up to six months and even longer. The mean annual temperatures are 4^o to 5^o C. Generally, climate conditions are harsh and characteristic of higher altitudes.

Diagnostic combination of plant species
Tree layer: Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus.
Shrub layer: Clematis alpina, Daphne mezereum, Lonicera alpigena, Pinus mugo, Rhododendron hirsutum, Ribes alpinum, Salix appendiculata.
Herb layer: Aconitum ranunculifolium, Actaea spicata, Adenostyles glabra, Anemone nemorosa, Aposeris foetida, Calamagrostis varia, Cardamine trifolia, Carex ferruginea, Cirsium erisithales, Cyclamen purpurascens, Dentaria enneaphyllos, Doronicum austriacum, Hacquetia epipactis, Homogyne sylvestris, Luzula sylvatica, Mercurialis perennis, Polygonatum veriticillatum, Polystichum lonchitis, Ranunculus platanifolius, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Symphytum tuberosum, Valeriana tripteris, Veratrum album, Veronica urticifolia, Vicia oroboides.

Abandoned meadows on the sites of subalpine beech forests are covered with the pioneer community of Salix glabra and Salix waldsteiniana. Beech forests gain dominance over the site after a longer period.

Unfavourable ecological conditions result in the moderate growth of the beech tree, to a maximum of fifteen meters in height. The beech trees have a shrub growth, and the trunks are saber-shaped and gnarly. These forests play a significant protective role.

The Polysticho lonchitis–Fagetum is classified in the alliance Aremonio–Fagion.

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Marinček L. 1980: Subalpsko bukovje Škofjeloškega pogorja. Loški razgledi 27: 182–192.
Marinček L. 1987: Bukovi gozdovi na Slovenskem. Delavska enotnost. Ljubljana. 153 s.
Marinček L. 1996: Subalpine Buchenwälder in den Westlichen Dinariden. Annali dei Musei Civici di Rovereto 11: 197–208.