Stratification (vegetation)

The vertical stratification of a community is determined largely by the life forms of plants their size, branching and leaves which is influenced by the vertical gradient of light. Vertical classification of vegetation in a forest showing the tree, shrub and herb layers and the forest floor. This can be seen from the different heights different plants grow to reach and the stratazones they form in their respective niches.

Forest with canopy, shrub and herb layers of vegetation

View of the canopy and understory beneath

Stratification in the field of ecology refers to the vertical layering of a habitat; the arrangement of vegetation in layers.

- Stratification (vegetation)

84 related topics

Plant community

Collection or association of plant species within a designated geographical unit, which forms a relatively uniform patch, distinguishable from neighboring patches of different vegetation types.

For example, a forest (a community of trees) includes the overstory, or upper tree layer of the canopy, as well as the understory, a layer consisting of trees and shrubs located beneath the canopy but above the forest floor.

Groundcover

Any plant that grows over an area of ground.

Groundcover in a forest in Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Microstegium vimineum, an invasive groundcover

In an ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as the herbaceous layer.

Forest

Area of land dominated by trees.

The Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York form the southernmost part of the Eastern forest-boreal transition ecoregion.

Since the 13th century, the Niepołomice Forest in Poland has had special use and protection. In this view from space, different coloration can indicate different functions.

Temperate rainforest in Tasmania's Hellyer Gorge

Even, dense old-growth stand of beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) prepared to be regenerated by their saplings in the understory, in the Brussels part of the Sonian Forest.

Spiny forest at Ifaty, Madagascar, featuring various Adansonia (baobab) species, Alluaudia procera (Madagascar ocotillo) and other vegetation

A dry sclerophyll forest in Sydney, which is dominated by eucalyptus trees.

Proportion and distribution of global forest area by climatic domain, 2020

Taiga forest near Saranpaul in the northeast Ural Mountains, Khanty–Mansia, Russia. Trees include Picea obovata (dominant on right bank), Larix sibirica, Pinus sibirica, and Betula pendula.

Redwood tree in northern California redwood forest, where many redwood trees are managed for preservation and longevity, rather than being harvested for wood production

Priest River winding through Whitetail Butte with lots of forestry to the east—these lot patterns have existed since the mid-19th century. The white patches reflect areas with younger, smaller trees, where winter snow cover shows up brightly to the astronauts. Dark green-brown squares are parcels

Proportion of forest in protected areas, by region, 2020

Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia

Latvian Pine Forest in Ķegums Municipality

However, in botany and in many countries (Germany, Poland, etc.), a different classification of forest vegetation is often used: tree, shrub, herb, and moss layers (see stratification (vegetation)).

Rainforest

Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire.

Worldwide tropical rainforest climate zones.

General distribution of temperate rainforests

Temperate rainforest in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in Canada

The canopy at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia showing crown shyness

Rainforest in the Blue Mountains, Australia

Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest, taken from a plane.

Satellite photograph of the haze above Borneo and Sumatra, 24 September 2015

View of the temperate rain forest in Mount Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia, Canada

A Kermode bear from the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada

A Bengal tiger in Mudumalai National Park, India

A jaguar in the Amazon Rainforest, South America

Western lowland gorilla in the African rainforest

Yellow anacondas reside in the Amazon basin

Lion-tailed macaque in Silent Valley National Park, India

This layer can be called a shrub layer, although the shrub layer may also be considered a separate layer.

1 Utama

Shopping mall in Bandar Utama, Selangor, Malaysia, with an area of 5,590,000 sqft and containing 713 stores.

First phase or Old Wing section of the mall

A covered bridge linking the Old Wing and New Wing was opened during the soft opening on December 13, 2003

It was done by extracting a Tabebuia rosea tree from a nearby forest carried into the mall to create the forest canopy, whereas an additional 200 samplings of other species such as Alocasia, wild banana, Johanesteijsmannia, Aglaonema and Phyllagathis will be used as shrub layer.

Permaculture

Approach to land management and settlement design that adopts arrangements observed in flourishing natural ecosystems.

The viewpoint of a chicken through the eyes of permaculture design

Suburban permaculture garden in Sheffield, UK, with different layers of vegetation

Mycorrhizal fungi usually function in a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with plants.

Ladybugs are seen as beneficial insects in permaculture because of their help with aphid control.

Photos of the Village Building Convergence event (2020)

Permaculture Action Day in Denver (2016)

Agroforestry in Burkina Faso, with maize under trees

South Central Farm was one of the largest urban gardens in the United States before its demolition in 2006.

Healthy population of red wigglers in a vermicomposting bin

Rainwater collection is a common practice of permaculture.

Conservation grazing Longhorn Cattle manage the national nature reserve at Ruislip Lido.

Harvesting of seaweed in Jambiani, Tanzania

Soil surface/groundcover: Overlaps with the herbaceous layer and the groundcover layer; however plants in this layer grow much closer to the ground, densely fill bare patches, and typically can tolerate some foot traffic. Cover crops retain soil and lessen erosion, along with green manures that add nutrients and organic matter, especially nitrogen.

Magellanic subpolar forests

The Magellanic subpolar forests (Bosque Subpolar Magallánico) are a terrestrial ecoregion of southernmost South America, covering parts of southern Chile and Argentina, and are part of the Neotropical realm.

Windswept tree, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile – "The wind only blows from the west".

In the better established forest stands, a species-rich shrub layer may develop.

Acacia aneura

Shrub or small tree native to arid outback areas of Australia.

Mulga acacia (Fabaceae) Flowers and leaves at Kaumalapau Hwy, Lanai, Hawaii.

Mulga woodland in Southwestern Queensland. The tallest trees in this photograph are close to 7 m.

Mulga grows as a widely spaced shrub in Southwestern Queensland. The tallest plants are about 2.5m high.

In more open stands, the herbaceous layer consists of wire grasses (Aristida spp.)mulga is long-lived, mulga oats (Monocather sp.), mulga mitchell (Thyridolepis sp.), wanderrie (Eriachne spp.), finger grasses (Digitaria spp.) and love grasses (Eragrostis spp.).

Forest gardening

Low-maintenance, sustainable, plant-based food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields directly useful to humans.

Robert Hart's forest garden in Shropshire

3) ‘Shrub layer’ of fruit bushes such as currants and berries.

Harz

Highland area in northern Germany.

The Eurasian lynx – once again found living wild in the Harz

Prospecte des Hartzwalds (View of the Harz Forest)

The Oker with white water. A footpath is on the right bank.

The B 4/B 242 Harz high road near Braunlage

The herbaceous layer is similar to that of the better-nourished beech woods.