Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 63. (Budapest 1971)
Fekete, G. ; Szujkó-Lacza, J.: A survey of the plant life-form systems and the respective research approaches III. Rankiaer's life-form conception. The application of life-forms in the characterization of phytoclimate and in vegetation analysis
(warm —temperate climates), a good agreement will be obtained (CAIN, 1950). This agreement is not to be rejected even if total floras are compared. The better was the conformity, the more natural floras and spectra, referring to geographic units, have been treated. Noteworthy results emerge if, within one geographic unit (Carpathian Basin), the life-form composition is discussed per areal type (MÁTHÉ, 1942); by such treatments the geographic respects of the given life-forms become more obvious. The recognition is also manifest that an even better agreement is obtained in the identical climatic zone if identical formations are compared. Differences in the biological spectra may appear also between identical formations if, for instance, their position differs as to geographical latitudes, as shown by CAIN (I.e.) on North American examples. If all these "deteriorating" causes (sampling problems!) are eliminated, we arrive at the nearly optimum dimension in which most information can on the "phytoclimate" be received by the biological spectra based on RAUNKIAER'S main types of life-forms. The life-forms of formations, regulated by identical geographico-climatic conditions, are therefore sensitive indicators of the phytoclimate. This, however, is the theme of another discipline in the application of life-forms, namely vegetation analysis (s.l.). V. Life-forms as a tool oï vegetation analysis 1. Life-form and synusium In the discipline of synusia (cf. GAMS, 1918; Du RIETZ, 1930, 1939; LIPPMAA, 1933, 1939, 1946, etc.; comprehensively: ALEXANDROVA, 1969), life-forms are applied both analytically and synthetically (cf. TRASS, 1964). As first drafted according to GAMS (1919), the three categories of synusia differ by the organisation of the life-forms. Already in his early works, LIPPMAA also ascribes a role to the life-forms in the formulation of the synusia: "A plant association is a homogeneous, one-layered, stabilized unit of vegetation with a certain floristic composition where one certain or two closely related life-forms dominate" (LIPPMAA, cit. by PASTAK, 1935). Later (1939) he calls the "unistratal plant community" a unio, and thereafter the basic unit of the synusial taxonomy is the unio in his works, with definite life-form and ecological conditions. [The interpretation of the synusia has not changed much ever since; according to DAUBENMIRE (1954), the unios are the totality of species indicating the specific characteristics of the substrate within the community, belonging to a single layer of the community, of homogeneous life-form and phenology.] It is not without interest to note that LIPPMAA applies —though by necessity — the nomenclature of RAUNKIAER'S life-forms, but has his own ideas on their écologie content. Thus, in 1933, he expounds his views on the elementary life-forms. These are groups of species, morphologically and organisationally related and exhibiting a similar écologie adaptation —designated by a taxonomic term of physiognomical value, e.g.: Anemone-life-form [for their establishing, he found even SCOTTSBERG'S (1925) growth-form utilizable]. In essence, he filled by such contents RAUNKIAER'S life-forms, used also for the designation of the synusia (Nanophanerophyton, Hemicryptophyton synusia, etc.). According to LIPPMAA (1946), the several lifeforms (RAUNKIAER'S life-forms!) are groups of plants which are similar with respect to the construction of their vegetative organs, hence similar also as to their requirements. His life-form is strictly connected with the character of the habitat (where,
