Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 1986, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (2): 115-123.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Study of the Psammophilous Vegetation along the Coast of Jiangsu Province

Liu Fang-xun, Huang Zhi-yuan, Cai Shou-kun   

  • Published:1986-02-10
  • Contact: Lian Yu-wu

Abstract: Psammophilous vegetation, found on the sandy coast of the littoral zone, is composed of psammophytes and some plants with sandy tolerance. It is a intrazonal vegetation with xeromorphic properties.The floristic composition of psammophilous vegetation is poor. According to data from many parts of the coast, there are about 24 species of vascular plant belonging to 18 families and 21 genera. Besides, there is a successional stage of forest in the psammo-littora, which contains 19 woody species and 21 herbaceous species all with sand resistance. They are newly discovered. In survey, we identified 2 fundamental types and 6 communities which are as follows:1. Herbaceous sand vegetation. This type of vegetation may be divided into 5 communities. 1) Messerschmidia sibirica community; 2) Salsola pestifer community; 3) Carex kobomugi+Glehnia littoralis commun ity; 4) Carex pumila+Calystegia soldanella+lxeris repens community, and 5) Imperata cylindrica var. major community. The latter may be succeed by shrub community.2. Woody sand vegetation. There is only one community which is Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia community. Besides, there are two cultivated forests namely Robinia pseudoacacia forest and Amorpha fruticosa shrub forest.All the communities mentioned above have been described or tabulated in the distribution, succession, etc., respectively.The problems on the exploitation, utilization and protection of psammophilous vegetation are discussed.