Združbo najdemo na izredno strmih prisojnih in osončenih pobočjih na apnenčasti in dolomitni geološki podlagi v alpskem območju. Uspeva na plitvih in skeletnih tleh na nadmorskih višinah med 600 in 1200 m. Območje je dobro namočeno, saj letna količina padavin presega 2000 mm. Tudi letna razporeditev padavin je za razvoj vegetacije ugodna, saj je rastišče dovolj namočeno tudi v poletnih mesecih, ko so tla zaradi hude pripeke suha in razgreta. Kljub ugodni, na splošno vlažni klimi uspeva na teh rastiščih zaradi izrazito prisojnih izredno strmih in kamnitih pobočij specifična termofilna vegetacija.

Diagnostična kombinacija rastlinskih vrst
Drevesna plast: črni gaber (Ostrya carpinifolia), mali jesen (Fraxinus ornus).
Grmovna plast: Amelanchier ovalis, Cotoneaster tomentosa, Fraxinus ornus, Genista radiata, Ostrya carpinifolia, Rhamnus saxatilis, Sorbus aria.
Zeliščna plast: Allium pulchellum, Anthericum ramosum, Asplenium ruta-muraria, Betonica alopecuros, Buphthalmum salicifolium, Calamagrostis varia, Carduus defloratus agg., Carex humilis, Cotinus coggygria, Cyclamen purpurascens, Erica carnea, Euphorbia cyparissias, Galium purpureum, Lotus corniculatus, Melittis melissophyllum, Peucedanum oreoselium, Polygala chamaebuxus, Polygonatum odoratum, Primula vulgaris, Prunella grandiflora, Silene nutans, Stachys recta, Teucrium chamaedrys, T. montanum, Thalictrum minus, Valeriana wallrothii, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, Viola hirta.
Mahovna plast: Camptothecium lutescens, Tortella tortuosa.

Ti gozdovi imajo grmiščno vzrast, višine od šest do osem metrov. Nadstojno plast sestavljata črni gaber in mali jesen. Grmovna plast je zelo bujno razvita. Združba ima izreden varovalni in biološki pomen. Specifično rastišče nudi zatočišče nekaterim redkim rastlinskim vrstam pri nas.

Združbo črnega gabra in žarkaste košeničice uvrščamo v zvezo Fraxino orni-Ostryion carpinifoliae.

The Cythisantho–Ostryetum appears on extremely steep and sunny slopes on limestone and dolomite bedrock in the Alpine region. It thrives on shallow and skeleton rich soils at altitudes between 600 and 1,200 meters. The area is quite moist since the annual precipitation exceeds 2,000 mm. Furthermore, the annual distribution of precipitation is favourable for vegetation as there is enough precipitation in the summer months when the sites are dry and hot due to the heat. Despite of the relatively wet climate, specific thermophilous vegetation thrives on these sites because of the extremely sunny, steep, and stony habitat.

Diagnostic combination of plant species
Tree layer: Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus.
Shrub layer: Amelanchier ovalis, Cotoneaster tomentosa, Fraxinus ornus, Genista radiata, Ostrya carpinifolia, Rhamnus saxatilis, Sorbus aria.
Herb layer: Allium pulchellum, Anthericum ramosum, Asplenium ruta-muraria, Betonica alopecuros, Buphthalmum salicifolium, Calamagrostis varia, Carduus defloratus agg., Carex humilis, Cotinus coggygria, Cyclamen purpurascens, Erica carnea, Euphorbia cyparissias, Galium purpureum, Lotus corniculatus, Melittis melissophyllum, Peucedanum oreoselium, Polygala chamaebuxus, Polygonatum odoratum, Primula vulgaris, Prunella grandiflora, Silene nutans, Stachys recta, Teucrium chamaedrys, T. montanum, Thalictrum minus, Valeriana wallrothii, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, Viola hirta.
Moss layer: Camptothecium lutescens, Tortella tortuosa.

These forests have a shrub growth of six to eight meters. The upper tree layer consists of Ostrya carpinifolia and Fraxinus ornus. The shrub layer is well developed. The association has considerable protective and biological significance, and the specific site provides a safe haven for some rare plant species.

The Cytisantho radiatae–Ostryetum carpinifoliae is classified in the Fraxino orni–Ostryion carpinifoliae.

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Wraber M. 1961: Termofilna združba gabrovca in omelike v Bohinju (Cytisantho-Ostryetum Wraber assoc. nova). Razprave IV. razreda SAZU 6: 5–50.
Franz W. R. 1980: Das Vorkommen der Kugelginster, Genista radiata (L.)Scop. (=Cythisanthus radiatus (L.) O.F. LANG) in Pflanzengesellscahften unterschiedlicher Höhenstufen am Weissensee (Kärten) und in den Julischen Alpen. Carinthia II 170/90: 451–494.
Franz W. R. 2002: Die Hopfenbuche (Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.) in Österreich und Nord-Slowenien. Naturwissenscgaftliche Verein für Kärten, Klagenfurt, 256 s.