Mraziščni gozd smreke in gorske zvezdice naseljuje kraške depresije na nadmorskih višinah od 1020 do 1100 m. Prevladujejo blagi nagibi od 5 do 15^o. Apnenčasta matična podlaga je prekrita z nanosom apnenega preostanka in kremenčevega skeleta. Mozaično se prepletajo distrična rjava tla in opodzoljena rjava tla. Na območju združbe prevladujejo klimatske razmere visokih kraških planot z obilnimi padavinami, nizko povprečno letno temperaturo ter reliefno pogojenimi mrazišči, koder je možnost pojavljanja zmrzali v vsakem letnem času.

Diagnostična kombinacija rastlinskih vrst
Drevesna plast: navadna smreka (Picea abies), bela jelka (Abies alba).
Grmovna plast: Daphne mezereum, Lonicera nigra, Rosa pendulina, Rubus idaeus, Sorbus aucuparia var. glabrata.
Zeliščna plast: Adenostyles glabra, Anemone nemorosa, Astrantia carniolica, Athyrium filix-femina, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Cardamine trifolia, Chrysosplenium alternifolium,Doronicum austriacum, Gentiana asclepiadea, Gymnocarpinum dryopteris, Luzula luzuloides, L. pilosa, Maianthemum bifolium, Milium effusum, Oxalis acetosella, Paris quadrifolia, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Scrophularia nodosa, Stellaria montana, Vaccinium myrtillus.
Mahovna plast: Ctenidium molluscum, Dicranum polysetum, Plagiochila asplenioides, Polythrichum formosum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus.

Po večjih posegih v lesno zalogo ali celo golosekih se zelo razširijo razne trave, predvsem Calamagrostis arundinacea, in nastane zelo dolgotrajen stadij, ki je za razvoj gozda zelo neugoden.

Mraziščni smrekovi gozdovi so enodobni oziroma enomerni, redkega sklepa od 40 do 70 %. Gozdovi te združbe imajo visoko lesno zalogo in dober prirastek in so kljub nekoliko slabši kakovosti gospodarsko zanimivi.

Združbo smreke in gorske zvezdice uvrščamo v zvezo Vaccinio-Piceion.

The Stellario montanae–Piceetum grows in dolines where temperature and vegetation inversions occur at altitudes of 1,020 to 1,100 meters and where gentle slopes (5% to 15%) dominate. The limestone bedrock is covered by deposits of insoluble limestone residium and shert. A mosaic of acid Cambisol.and Podzoluvisols is developed. The climate conditions in the area of the association are characteristic of high karst plateaus with abundant rainfall, low average annual temperatures, and a land configuration where frost can occur in the dolines during any season of the year.

Diagnostic combination of plant species
Drevesna plast: Picea abies, Abies alba.
Shrub layer: Daphne mezereum, Lonicera nigra, Rosa pendulina, Rubus idaeus, Sorbus aucuparia var. glabrata,
Herb layer: Adenostyles glabra, Anemone nemorosa, Astrantia carniolica, Athyrium filix– femina, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Cardamine trifolia, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Doronicum austriacum, Gentiana asclepiadea, Gymnocarpinum dryopteris, Luzula luzuloides, L. pilosa, Maianthemum bifolium, Milium effusum, Oxalis acetosella, Paris quadrifolia, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Scrophularia nodosa, Stellaria montana, Vaccinium myrtillus.
Moss layer: Ctenidium molluscum, Dicranum polysetum, Plagiochila asplenioides, Polythrichum formosum, Rhytidiadelphus loreus.

After intensive encroachments in these forests or after major clear-cutting has been carried out, various species of grass expand, particularly Calamagrostis arundinacea. The regeneration of the forest is a long process because these site conditions are very unfavourable for forest development.

Spruce forests in frost sites are even-aged and of even height, with a crown canopy from 40 to 70%. The forests of this association have a sound growing stock and a high level of progeny. They are economically very interesting forests in spite of their somewhat inferior quality.

The Stellario montanae–Piceetum is classified in the alliance Vaccinio–Picceion.

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Zupančič M. 1980: Smrekovi gozdovi v mraziščih dinarskega gorstva Slovenije. Dela SAZU 24(7), 262 s.
Zupančič M. 1999: Smrekovi gozdovi Slovenije. Dela SAZU 36, 222 s.