The forest vegetation in the lower part of the Fagetea crenatae region in Japan - On Fagus japonica forests -
Suzuki, Shin-ichi; Miyawaki, Akira
The communities of the Fagus japonica forest in the lower part of the Fagetea crenatae region in Japan have been phytosociologically analyzed in this paper. The result shows that the Japanese Fagus japonica forest may be recognized as a part of Fagetea crenatae and classified into five associations. These Fagus japonica forest communities occur in the lower part of the mountains on the Pacific coast from the southern part of Kyushu Island to the northern part of Honshu Island. Geological and climatic features, and floristic regions are reflected in the way each association is distributed. Vertically, they occur between 130 m and 1540 m above sea level. In central Honshu and northward, the Fagus japonica forest occurs widely and is recognized as zonal vegetation. In Southeast Japan, its distribution area is small and it may be characterized as edaphic climax vegetation.