system proposed by Dansereau^^ includes six series of characters, 

 as follows: 



(1) Life-form: trees, shrubs, herbs, bryoids, epiphytes, and 

 lianas 



(2) Size: tall, medium, and low 



(3) Function: deciduous, semideciduous, evergreen, ever- 

 green-succulent, and evergreen-leafless 



(4) Shape and size of leaf: needle or spine, graminoid, 

 medium or small, broad, compound, and thalloid 



(5) Leaf texture: filmy, membranous, sclerophyll, succulent, 

 and fungoid 



(6) Coverage: barren or very sparse, discontinuous, in tufts or 

 groups, and continuous 



This system has been used in comparing and contrasting vegeta- 

 tion in different regions and in various stages of succession. 

 Finally it may be added that wide use has been made of phys- 

 iognomic classification in depicting vegetation types on maps.^^^ 



Geographical Characteristics 



Communities may be classified on the basis of geographical dis- 

 tribution (synchorology), in which various terms such as regional 

 vegetation types, formations, zones, and belts are used (Figures 

 1-1 and 5-2). Physiognomy is the chief characteristic employed, 

 but other criteria, including species composition and habitat, 

 may also be used. For example, Schimper and von Faber^^^ 

 classified the vegetation of the world into 15 formations, namely: 

 tropical rainforest, monsoon forest, temperate rainforest, summer- 

 green deciduous forest, needleleaf forest, evergreen hardwood 

 forest, savanna woodland, thorn forest and scrub, savanna, half 

 desert, heath, dry desert, tundra, cold woodland, and cold desert. 

 Another example is Dice's classification,^^ in which North 

 America was divided into 28 biotic provinces, each characterized 

 by peculiarities of vegetation type, ecological climax, flora, 

 fauna, climate, physiography, and soil. The biotic provinces 

 were subdivided into biotic districts and life belts; and ecologic 



186 • Classificatioxm oC CoMiKzirnvrnMExties 



