ISHII, Hiroshi

The community structure and the floristic composition of the climax forest at the Sengen Shrine, Matudo, Chiba have been investigated as ab asic study from the ecological viewpoint of natural landscape (Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4). This forest covers an isolated hill with an area of about 9800m^2 (Fig.5). The floristic compositions of the tree, shrub and herb layer are shown in Tables la-9, and in Figs. 6, 7 & 8 respectively. The number of individuals per 100m^2 and the basal area (m^2/ha) of the tree layer are given in Tables 10 & 11. From these data, the following characters were known. 1) The forest is a precursory forest in type, holding Machilus, Shiia and Cyclobalanopsis as the forest floor species. 2) The forest is thought to be shifting from Machilus association to Shiia association judging by the canopy composition. 3) The forest has been strongly influenced by human agency because it is an isolated small hill. However, if the forest is well reserved, it will grow into a Cyclobalanopsis forest through the stage of a Shiia forest.