Life Forms

Life form group

Botanical description

Epiphyte

A generally non-parasitic plant that grows on another plant or object, and obtains its nutrients and water from rain and detritus.

Fern

A seedless, non-flowering vascular plant, which reproduces by spores contained in spore cases (sporangia) that typically appear as brown dots on the underside of the fronds. Ferns generally have a rhizome, and fronds that uncoil upwards.

Graminoid

A term used to describe grasses or grass-like plants, i.e. plants from the grass family (Poaceae) and grass-like plants including sedges (Cyperaceae) and rushes (Juncaceae).

Herb

More or less upright, non-woody plant, which may exceed 50 cm in height.

The term ‘herb’ is also commonly applied to plants whose leaves, seeds, or flowers are used in cooking for flavoring, or used for food, medicine, or perfume.

Scrambler or Climber

A scrambler is a low, spreading, prostrate or ground creeping plant. A climber uses other plants or objects as a support, sometimes growing to great heights. Some plants can grow as both a scrambler and a climber.

Shrub

Woody plant, often multi-stemmed, between 20 cm to over 5 m in height.

Tree

A plant with a permanent woody main stem or trunk, usually growing quite tall, and developing branches at some distance from the ground.

Life form

Life form code

Description

Understorey Tree or Large Shrub

T

Woody plants greater than 5 m in height, with single stems. They never form part of the tree canopy.

Medium Shrub

MS

Woody plants between 1 m and 5 m in height.

Small Shrub

SS

More or less erect woody plants that are between 20 cm and 1 m in height.

Prostrate Shrub

PS

Woody plants with stems and branches that often trail along the ground and do not exceed 20 cm in height.

Large Herb

LH

More or less erect, non-woody plants with non-grassy leaves, greater than 50 cm tall.

Medium Herb

MH

More or less erect, non-woody plants with non-grassy leaves, between 5 cm and 50 cm tall.

Small or Prostrate Herb

SH

More or less erect, non-woody plants with non-grassy leaves, less than 5 cm in height.

Many are ephemerals (i.e. germinate, reproduce and die within a few weeks). This group includes prostrate and carpet-forming herbs.

Large Tufted Graminoid

LTG

A robust grass, sedge, rush or similar, usually with more than one flower stalk.

Usually have large numbers of leaves growing from a common, often broad base or clump, more than 1 m tall.

Medium to Small Tufted Graminoid

MTG

A grass, sedge, rush or similar, usually with more than one flower stalk.

Usually have large numbers of leaves growing from a common base or clump, between 10 cm and 1 m tall.

Tiny Tufted Graminoid

TTG

A grass, sedge, rush or similar, usually with more than one flower stalk. Usually a number of leaves growing from a common base or clump, less than 10 cm in height.

Large Non-Tufted Graminoid

LNG

A robust grass or sedge, with leaves arranged along single, erect flower stalks, which grow from rhizomes or stolons (creeping above or below ground stems), more than 1 m tall.

Medium to Tiny Non-tufted Graminoid

MNG

A grass, sedge, rush or similar, with leaves arranged along single, erect flower stalks, which grow from rhizomes or stolons (creeping above or below ground stems). Grows less than 1 m tall.

Includes plants with a few grass-like leaves arising from a common base (e.g. some lilies, orchids).

Ground Fern

GF

A fern-like non-flowering plant, typically with several to many fronds growing from a common base, usually growing less than 1 m. The fronds are deeply divided into leaflets or segments.

Scrambler or Climber

SC

Woody or non-woody plants that rely upon other plants (dead or alive) or other structures (rocks or logs) for support, by leaning on or climbing up them. They can form dense colonies.

Epiphyte

EP

A plant that grows entirely upon other plants (root system not immersed in the soil or water). Includes aerial parasites such as mistletoes.