Geographical and Ecological Differentiation of Roadside Vegetation in Temperate Europe*

Abstract

Abstract A first attempt is made towards a synopsis of the general features and differentiation of roadside phytocoenoses in temperate Europe. The evident similarity between synchorological variation of roadside vegetation and the general chorology of Europe is demonstrated with plant communities dominated by species of Poaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae. A more detailed differentiation along the geographical‐ecological cline between the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea is represented in modifications of the sequence of coenoses within the roadside profile.