ABSTRACT
The present contribution offers a new system of physiognomic and ecologic classification and nomenclature for the vegetation of tropical and subtropical South America east of the Andes. The formulation of the system seeks to provide a role as a tool in technical and academic language, but resists bringing another personal view of vegetation variations. Hence, the focus was on communication by means of a practical and flexible arrangement of a set of symbols. This approach contrasts with those which associate precision of language with a series of rigid definitions. On the other hand, the system also tries to keep a distance from overindulging in liberty which avoids missing the practical outcome as a consequence of anarchy. This is why the starting-point of this proposal was the most familiar system among academics and technicians: the IBGE classification of Brazilian vegetation. Among proposed upgrades are the possibility of arranging symbols to suit a wide variation of spatial scales and respective levels of details and choosing only symbols with higher power of description in each case.
Key words:
vegetation; plant physiognomies; classification; nomenclature; South America