DEINOSTEMATO-ERIOCAULETUM HONDOENSIS (NOV.) : COMMUNITIES OF EMERGED POND SHORES IN HIROSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN

Abstract

Vegetation of emerged shores and bottoms of irrigation ponds was studied by the BRAUN-BLANQUET approach. The Deinostemato-Eriocauletum hondoensis was described as a new association on the basis of releves collected from the ponds at altitudes between 190 m and 780 m in the western part of Hiroshima Prefecture. This association is characterized by the presence of Eriocaulon species and some other small herbaceous plants. The water of most ponds was clear and considered to be nutrient-poor. The Eriocaulion hondoensis (nov.) was erected as the higher unit of the Deinostemato-Eriocauletum hondoensis. This new alliance indicates some floristic connections with the Lindernion procumbentis and the Eriocaulo-Rhynchosporion fujiianae and also has an affinity to two European classes, the Isoeto-Nanojuncetea and the Littorelletea.