Phytosciology of Fagus hayatae forsts in Taiwan

We aimed to clarify the floristic composition and phytosociological characteristics of beech (Fagus hayatae) forests in Taiwan. An attempt was also made to compare the flora of the F. hayatae forest and adjacent evergreen forests and/or Japanese beech (F. crenata) forests using information from previous phytosociological studies. F. hayatae forests are confined to small part of north-eastern Taiwan. Thus, sampling sites were designed to cover all the known F. hayatae forests. A total of 23 releves were sampled and 163 species were recorded. The number of common of species between F. hayatae forests and other forest ecosystems such as lower evergreen forests and Japanese forests were compared. Adjacent evergreen, broadleaved forests in Taiwan consist of 29 common species with F. hayatae forests, while 57 component species of F. hayatae forest were found common with the Japanese. A vegetation table was developed and one association (Yushanio-Fagetum hayatae Suzuki T. 1954, ex Hukusima et al. 2004), with two subassociations and four variants were identified. In addition, a higher phytosociological unit was defined, in which the alliance Fagion hayatae Suzuki T. ex Hukusima et al., the order Fagetalia hayatae nov.; and the class Fagetea crenatae Miyawaki, Ohba et Murase, 1964 were identified and/or prposed. F. hayatae forests in Taiwan distribute mainly on the summit and ridge part of the north-eastern mountains and were considered relict forest.