The Vegetation of Wisconsin: An Ordination of Plant Communities

by John T. Curtis

One of the most important contributions in the field of plant ecology during the twentieth century, this definitive survey established the geographical limits, species compositions, and as much as possible of the environmental relations of the communities composing the vegetation of Wisconsin.

704 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1959

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is of monumental historical importance to plant ecologists. Curtis drive the final nail in the coffin of the Clementsian ideal of the "Super Organism," which was the idea that all the natural vegetation in a region functioned like an organism, in that it developed toward a specific adult stage known as the "climax." In short, all eastern forests should end up looking alike. All prairies should look alike. But Curtis and his associates found no two places alike. Everywhere they found continuous variation.

I mention that historical context because most readers of this 1959 book don't realize that context. They read about each vegetation type as if it were distinct, while Curtis says each was arbitrarily defined and then blend one into another.

All that said, the book is a remarkable work of natural history writing based on data from hundreds of sites across Wisconsin. It is still worth reading today by anyone interested in why plants grow where they grow.

Some parts of the book should be updated, especially the chapter on oak savannas, but nonetheless it is a worthy introduction to plant community ecology.

[Molly Mccarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Wisconsin's Bible for plant communities. Not only does Curtis discuss the origin of the geographical areas of Wisconsin, he ties the soil features of them into what plants are there today. This 1959 publication of The University of Wisconsin Press has such valid bearings on what remains, and would could be restored, into natural communities that University level courses are still being taught based on it. One praise of the book is where it details the Indian communities and their use of fire on the effect of Prairie habitat establishment. One criticism I have heard of this book is that the content of the Chapters is uneven. It is as though Curtis had some of his graduate students help write the book. Which may be the case. No one does it alone. Finally, I have been on an Internet Gardening Forum where the participants have asked about the development of Flora and Fauna in the Midwest, wondering where they could find the story behind such development. The trail started with The Vegetation of Wisconsin, and that is where it ended. To our knowledge, this book is unique in how it traces biotic community and plant development.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended reading for last year's Fall Level II MGV Training.

Contains an enormous amount of data.

A fascinating look at the plant communities that existed 50 years ago.

It encourages me to get out and look at the dwindling remnants.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome classic representing the study of ecology. It is vertually unchanged since Curtis wrote it and still holds true to this day.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this work defines "tome" === classic