Species patterns in a Lebanese poterietum

Summary A plot of Poterium-dominated scrub vegetation in Lebanon was sampled by small random quadrats. The presence-absence data obtained were subjected to ² tests of independence. The species were grouped according to their associations in a species diagram. The quadrats were classified into six homogeneous groups. These two procedures provided a clear picture of the species patterns in the community. A method which removed association due to the slope-angle of the quadrat, caused many species combinations to lose their significance, indicating that microtopography was an important factor in their relationship. Some combinations which retained significance must have other factors controlling their association. A few combinations had increased ² values, indicating that associations are somewhat lessened by their preferences along the microtopographic gradient.