本文旨在針對氣候所決定之準極相,建構適用於臺灣且具備階層架構之潛在植群形相分類方案;經參考中國及美國之國家植群分類系統及東亞植群研究報告,擬定本方案之原則及架構,並將前人常使用之優勢生長型、氣候之水熱境制、葉片之物候與形態、山嶽地景位置、優勢分類群等準則,重新組合建構出4階層之潛在植群形相分類方案:(1)寒原、森林2類群系綱;(2)亞寒帶、冷溫帶、涼溫帶、暖溫帶、亞熱帶5類群系亞綱;(3)8類群系組表徵優勢植群之葉片的物候與形態;(4)16類群系說明其水分境制及優勢分類群。本方案配合氣候網格圖層之計算可粗略地繪製潛在自然植群圖,雖然目前僅論及潛在植群分類,但在形相階層上其架構應仍可加以擴展補充而適用於現生植群,未來大量樣區資料整併所得之植相分析及分類結果,可進一步予以重新檢視及驗證、修正各階形相之類型。
This paper aims to establish a hierarchical physiognomic classification scheme for potential vegetation of Taiwan determined by climate. Vegetation classification systems of China and USA as well as vegetation researches of East Asia were referred for setting the principle and framework of our scheme. Furthermore, the afore-used criteria, predominant growth-form, thermal-moisture regimes, predominant phenology and leaf-type, orographic landscape position, and predominant taxa, were organized into a four-rank physiognomic classification scheme: 2 classes (tundra, forest), 5 subclasses (subarctic, cold-temperate, cool-temperate, warm-temperate, subtropical), 8 groups (based on phenology and types of predominant leaf), and 16 formations (based on moisture regime and predominant taxa). This scheme could be associated with climatic grid layers to map potential natural vegetation roughly. Moreover, the framework of this scheme could be expanded to suit existing vegetation in the future. However, this scheme still has to review, verify and modify the vegetation types through the results of floristic analysis and classification obtained from integrating large number of field survey data.