The forest vegetation in the lower part of the Fagetea crenatae region in Japan - On Fagus japonica forests

The communities of the Fagus japonica forest in the lower part of the Faget ea crenatae region in Japan have been phytosociologically analyzed in this paper. The result shows that the Japanese Fagus japonica forest may be reco gnized as a part of Fagetea crenatae and classified into five associations. These Fagus japonica forest communities occur in the lower part of the mou ntains on the Pacific coast from the southern part of Kyushu Island to the northern part of Honshu Island. Geological and climatic features, and flori stic regions are reflected in the way each association is distributed. Vert ically, they occur between 130 m and 1540 m above sea level. In central Hon shu and northward, the Fagus japonica forest occurs widely and is recognize d as zonal vegetation. In Southeast Japan, its distribution area is small a nd it may be characterized as edaphic climax vegetation.