Alnus sieboldiana forest plantations, distributed in the new town of Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, were investigated from the phytosociological viewpoint, in order to clarify the actual conditions, floristic composition and ecological properties .The results show that it is reasonable to treat these plantations as a new municipal forest community (Alnus sieboldiana-Ligustrum vulgare community). The community is floristical cyharacterized by the presence of Ligustrum vulgare, Mahonia japonica ,Ligustrum lucidum, Euonymus japonicus, Laurus nobilis, Nandina domestica etc., which are endozoochory, and the absence of Castanopsis cuspidata, Quercus glauca etc. which are acorn-making trees (barochory) . The distinguishing contrasts between the community and other communities occur in life form spectrum, disseminule form, species diversity, naturalized plants ratio and gardening-landscaping plants ratio. It is especially remarkable that the community contains many gardening-landscaping plants whose seeds are dispersed by birds. The community is recognizably a typical municipal forest developed in an urban environment.
