The Trees

Abstract

The elements of a vegetation comprise many life forms. Each plant species manifests itself in a life form, and sometimes in more than one by transmuting from one form into another. Most lianas, for instance, start life as a treelet or shrublet; the strangler tree starts life as an epiphyte, and epiphytes may be terrestrial at higher altitudes. No unambiguous classification can therefore be given for life forms, but a number of categories can be discussed.