Plant functional types - a strategic perspective

This paper discusses the use of Plant Functional Types to describe vegetati on types - from plant communities to formations - in order to understand th e ecological constraints of plants and plant communities on a higher level of abstraction. The terminology around plant functional types, traits and s trategies is in need of further clarification and unification. The use of t he term plant functional type is recommended. We are in need of a total env ironmental framework in which, hierarchically or reticulately, plant functi onal types can be compared and interpreted.