geobotanical mapping

Geobotanical mapping
Geobotanical mapping is one of the fundamental disciplines of modern geobotany  and at the same time it is an integral part of a special section of cartography - thematic mapping.  To some extent, it is the bridge that connects geobotany with earth sciences. 
A modern geobotanical map is a complex work that integrates all properties of vegetation and reflects its floristic composition, phytocenotic status, dynamic state, ecological and geographic connections.  
A map is a great tool for studying the structure of plant cover at different levels of its organization.  For detailed study of the structure at the topological or local level, large scale maps are drawn and analyzed.  At the regional level, medium-scale maps serve these purposes. But small-scale maps are particularly significant in the vegetation analyses of vast territories like the world, continents, sub-continents, individual countries. Only small-scale maps can show sharply  latitudinal and regional patterns of vegetation cover, its macro- and mesostructure, basic dynamic and functional connections.  
The great feature of the map is its visibility which allows to the researcher to see a bird's-eye view of the land just sitting at his table, that is, the maps make it possible to overcome human limited vision of space.  In other words, a map is an essential mediator between quite limited human observation capasity  and enormous objects of his research.
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Geobotanical mapping of the area under study.
Vegetation cover in the vicinity of human settlements.
Electronic atlas of plants and other collections of the surrounding area.