Flahault : Phytogeographic Nomenclature 407 



Good common sense has distinguished by special terms the 

 sum of biologic characters appropriate to each of these types. 

 Science has but to accept them. Trees with deciduous leaves, 

 trees with persistent leaves, shrubs, lianas, mangroves, epiphytes, 

 fleshy plants, herbs, mosses, lichens, algae (independent of all 

 systematic consideration) are types of vegetation. These ecologic 

 groups represent biologic units of the first order. As we have 

 done for geographic and topographic units, let us enumerate the 

 series of phytogeographic terms of biologic order such as it ap- 

 pears possible for us to establish. 



i. TYPE OF VEGETATION ecologic, denominated as in 

 ordinary usage. 



2. Ecologic series of Groups of associations expressed by a 



3. GROUPS OF 



(W 



Warm 



ing, 1894= Formations, Schimper, 1898, Grisebach, in part). 



4. Associations (Al. de Humboldt, 1807. A. P. de Can- 



dolle, 1820 = Formations, Grisebach, 1872). 



5. Biologic form ; this is the simplest ecologic unit, as sta- 

 tion is the elementary topographic unit. 



I will have attained my aim if the suggestions which I have 

 endeavored to group provoke discussion and influence all those 

 who are inconvenienced by the disorder of phytogeographic no- 

 menclature to agree to put an end to it. 



The botanical congress will, perhaps, deem it expedient to com- 

 mit the care of studying this question to a commission composed 

 of the principal phytogeographers of different countries and invite 

 them to pursue an inquiry, the conclusions of which could be 

 submitted to a subsequent congress. Phytogeographers are unani- 

 mous in recognizing the importance of an agreement as soon 

 as possible ; we entreat them to be willing to unite their good 

 offices with that object in view. 



Bibliography. 



L. Adamovic— Die Vegetationsformationen Ostserbiens (Englers botan. Jahrb., 



XXVI. 1898). 

 Edm. Boissier. — Voyage dans le midi de l'Espagne, I., 1839-1845. 

 John Briquet.— Recherches sur la flore du district savoisien et du district jurassique 



franco-suisse (Engler's botan. Jahrb., XIII. 1890). 



