18 



THE STUDY OF PLANT COMMUNITIES " Chapter I 



, 



FIG 1. Communities of contrasting life form as illustrated by vegetation 

 on Roan Mountain in the southern Appalachians. (1) Deciduous forest of 

 beech and maple. (2) Portion of a grassy bald in which grasses and sedges 



of the restricted areas of study in Europe where civilization has 

 long since destroyed or modified most natural communities. In the 

 same way, the vast areas of virgin forest and grassland in America, 



