

34 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [january 



would all have to approach the oblong or elongate form, whereas 

 they are irregular where discernible, for the maple-beech forest is 

 not to be considered as either patches of cleanly distinct even-aged 

 trees, or as continuous forest with each generation even-aged 

 throughout. It rather varies between these two ideals as limits. 



Since the seriation is of individuals, the climax is not final, but 

 recurrent, and during the development of each rough area or patch 

 certain ages are to be recognized, each with fairly definite form, 

 height, and spacing. At any one locality they follow each other in 

 regular order, two or more commonly superposed, and adjacent 

 areas independent of each other. 



Definition of these ages is attempted approximately as follows: 



Age Average diameter Average spacing Average height No. per ioosq.m. 



Seedling i 5 mm. 40 cm. 40 cm. 670 



Sapling 2 2 cm. 65 cm. 4 m. 300 



Young adult 3 15 cm. 3 m. 10 m. 10 



Adult 4 50 cm. 6 m. 30 m. 3 



Old tree 5 65-85 cm. 8-20 m. 35-40 m. 1 



Ecological life history. — The flowers and fruits of the 



climax forest are mostly inconspicuous. Undeveloped fertile seeds 

 are always present, as is shown by the abundant germination in 

 clearings. The latter also emphasizes light as a critical factor. 



Since the forest determines the intensity, amount, and continuity 

 of the light penetrating, the number of seedlings (age 1) and their 

 distribution depend largely on the forest's age. Many seedlings 

 die, but are easily replaced They seem rare, but in reality often 

 average 7 per sq. m., forming a scattered layer 20-60 cm. in height. 

 The typical seedling form shows a slender, often branched, 

 stem. The leaves are loosely corymbed or in one or two horizontal 

 layers. The oval foliage outline results from free lateral growth 



(perhaps also 

 most of them 



maximum of light). Apparently 



ft 



ionarv for vears. The taller ones 



appear distorted and dying, as if starved for light, which seems 

 to decrease approaching the base of the sapling foliage. 



Removal of the old trees above (15) permits freer elongation of 

 the saplings. The seedling stratum becomes better lighted and 

 watered, due to recession of foliage above and roots below. More 



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