Studies of the ecological behavior of vascular plants and mosses of the ground-cover vegetation of forests in southwest Germany

Classification of ground-cover plants of forests in southwest Germany into ecological species groups published earlier (SCHONHAR, 1993) was thoroughly examined. 234 species of vascular plants as well as 24 species of mosses w ere included in the tests having been limited to the important site factors soil moisture and soil acidity. The existing ecological classification on the whole turned out to be quite reliable. All the same, some improvements had to made. Classification of th e species groups was refined. A quite important number of species was attri buted to different groups. It was surprising to see how many species showed a wide amplitude with regard to soil acidity. About the possible causes of this phenomenon is being discussed.