Raunkiærlevensvormen

Raunkiærlevensvormen, also known as Raunkiær's life forms, is a system for classifying plant life based on their perennating buds, the buds that survive from one growing season to the next. Developed by Danish botanist Christen Raunkiær, this classification aims to categorize plants according to their adaptation to environmental conditions, particularly climate. The system divides plants into categories based on the position of these perennating buds relative to the ground and their protection from harsh conditions such as cold, drought, or fire.

The main categories include phanerophytes, whose buds are high above the ground; chamaephytes, whose buds are on low-lying shoots; hemicryptophytes, whose buds are at ground level and protected by leaf litter or snow; cryptophytes, whose buds are hidden underground or underwater; and therophytes, which survive unfavorable periods as seeds, completing their life cycle within a single growing season. Each life form provides insight into a plant's strategy for survival and reproduction in its specific habitat. The Raunkiær system is widely used in phytogeography and ecological studies to describe vegetation types and understand plant adaptations to different climates.