Gozd gradna in senčnega šaša porašča zaobljene hrbte, široke grebene in zgornje dele pobočij valovitega gričevnatega sveta. Nižje mejijo na gozdove asociacije Ornithogalo pyrenaici-Carpinetum betuli. Matična podlaga je nekarbonaten eocenski fliš, na katerem se razvijejo srednje globoka do globoka, blago do zmerno kisla, sveža distrična rjava tla. Povprečna letna temperatura je 12° C, povprečje padavin pa je 1500 mm na leto.

Diagnostična kombinacija rastlinskih vrst
Drevesna plast: graden (Quercus petraea).
Grmovna plast: Castanea sativa, Frangula alnus, Fraxinus ornus, Robinia pseudacacia, Rubus hirtus, Sorbus torminalis.
Zeliščna plast: Avenella flexuosa, Betonica serotina, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Carex digitata, C. montana, C. umbrosa, Euphorbia dulcis, Fraxinus ornus, Galium laevigatum, Hedera helix, Hieracium sylvaticum, H. racemosum, Molinia arundinacea, Polygonatum multiflorum, Prunus avium, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus petraea, Ruscus aculeatus, Salvia glutinosa, Serratula tinctoria, Solidago virgaurea, Vinca minor, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, Viola reichenbachiana.

V drevesni plasti je dominantna vrsta graden. Drevesa so visoka približno 20 m in imajo premere okrog 30 cm, ponekod pa dosežejo tudi 50 cm. Kljub tem, da se ponekod obilno pojavlja robinija, so gozdovi gradna in senčnega šaša večinoma razmeroma dobro ohranjeni.

Združbo gradna in senčnega šaša uvrščamo v zvezo Erythronio-Carpinion.

The Carci umbrosae–Quercetum petraeae grows on rounded ridges, wide mountain crests, and the upper parts of slopes in the rolling hills. These forests border on forests of the Ornithogalo pyrenaici–Carpinetum betuli association. The geological bedrock consists of non calcareous Eocenic flysch where medium deep to deep, gentle to moderate acidic, moist dystric Cambisol develops. The average annual temperature amounts to 12^o C, and the mean annual precipitation is 1,500 mm.

Diagnostic combination of plant species
Tree layer: Quercus petraea.
Shrub layer: Castanea sativa, Frangula alnus, Fraxinus ornus, Robinia pseudacacia, Rubus hirtus, Sorbus torminalis.
Herb layer: Avenella flexuosa, Betonica serotina, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Carex digitata, C. montana, C. umbrosa, Euphorbia dulcis, Fraxinus ornus, Galium laevigatum, Hedera helix, Hieracium sylvaticum, H. racemosum, Molinia arundinacea, Polygonatum multiflorum, Prunus avium, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus petraea, Ruscus aculeatus, Salvia glutinosa, Serratula tinctoria, Solidago virgaurea, Vinca minor, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, Viola reichenbachiana.

In the tree layer, the dominant tree species is sessile oak. Trees are around 20 meters high and have a diameter of 30 cm or even 50 cm in some places. Here and there, false acacia (Robinia pseudacacia) is found, but the communities of the Carici–Quercetum are relatively well preserved.

The Carici umbrosae–Quercetum petraeae is classified in the alliance Erythronio–Carpinion.

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Dakskobler I. 1987: Carici umbrosae-Quercetum petraeae Poldini 1982 var. geogr. Sesleria autumnalis na Goriškem. Biološki vestnik 35: 1–18.
Zupančič M. 1999: Novosti o gozdno-grmiščni vegetaciji slovenskega submediterana. Razprave IV. razreda SAZU 40: 195–313.
Marinček L. & A. Čarni 2000: Die Unterverbände der Hainbuchenwälder der Verbandes Erythronio-Carpinion betuli (Horvat 1938) Marinček in Walnöfer, Mucina et Grass 1993. Scopolia 45, 20 s.