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Plant association (also called floristic association)
are a kind of plant community in
which the dominant stratum has a qualitatively uniform
floristic
composition and which exhibits a uniform structure as a whole, though
possibly different floristic composition in the lower
stratum which is
in equilibrium through competition and other relationships, capable of
self-perpetuation and whose species composition has a certain stability.
A plant association can be thought of as a terminal or
climax community, identified by
indicator species.
They are assemblages of organisms with
ecologically similar requirements
unique in their composition; occur in particular locations under
particular environmental influences on the site such as
soils,
temperature,
elevation, solar
radiation, slope, aspect, and
precipitation.
The association is therefore a classification system for grouping
plant
species that reoccur on the landscape within particular environmental
tolerances. The vegetation is classified on the basis of species
presence or absence, the stratification of plant forms, and the spatial
distribution of individuals.
The association is named after the
dominant species.
Plant associations are used as indicators of environmental conditions
such as temperature,
moisture,
light, etc.
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