Floristic Investigations of Historical Parks in St. Petersburg, Russia

Glossary

Anthropogenic

Caused by humans.

Anthropotolerance

The reaction of plants to human influences, and the level of stability of this reaction (see Wittig, Diesing & Gödde, 1985).

Bosquet

A thicket or small grove that has a formal or regular configuration.

Climax

The final stage in a plant succession (see below) in which the vegetation attains equilibrium with the environment and, provided the environment is not disturbed, the plant community becomes more or less self-perpetuating.

Mesophytic

Of or pertaining to plants that grow under average conditions of water supply.

Nemoral

Of or pertaining to a wood or grove.

Phenological phase

A recurring biological event, such as leafing or flowering, usually tied to climatic conditions.

Phytocoenology

The scientific study of plant communities.

Pioneer plant

A plant that occurs early in plant succession (see below). Typical characteristics include rapid growth, the production of copious, small, easily dispersed seed, and the ability to germinate and establish on open sites.

Quadrats

A quadrat is a small, usually rectangular or square plot used for close study of the distribution of plants or animals in an area.

Succession

The sequential change in vegetation and the animals associated with it, either in response to an environmental change or induced by the intrinsic properties of the organisms themselves.

Taiga

A subarctic, evergreen coniferous forest of northern Eurasia located just south of the tundra and dominated by firs and spruces.