Abstract: Picea koraiensis Forest Alliance is a forest vegetation type with P. koraiensis as one of the co-dominant species, and is characterized by complex structure and high species diversity. Based on principles for the compilation of Vegegraphy of China, a new vegetation classification scheme of Picea koraiensis Forest Alliance was proposed in this study, including 5 association groups and 8 associations which belong to three Vegetation Formations, i.e., Evergreen Needleleaf Forest, Mixed Deciduous and Evergreen Needleleaf Forest, and Mixed Needleleaf and Broadleaf Forest. The classification of an association group was based on the characteristics of the community stratums and layers, and a group of diagnostic species. Specifically, 66% of importance value for evergreen needleleaf tree layer was used as a threshold for identifying Evergreen Needleleaf Forest and Mixed Needleleaf and Broadleaf Forest. Two-way indicator species analysis was used to identify associations with special consideration to community habitat, successional stage etc. This classification scheme would work as an application example of the principles for the compilation of Vegegraphy of China, and its significances on vegetation classification are as follows. (1) As credentials of vegetation classification, plots must be undergone a strict quality control process before data analysis, which especially holds true for the soundness of species identification; (2) Differences in community stratums and layers, as well as diagnostic species are strongly suggested as the major criterions for the classification of vegetation types for those with complex community structure, high-level species richness but no obvious dominant species; (3) Vegetation types that constructed by special species, i.e., a single Alliance, can belong to different Vegetation Formations; (4) Anthropogenic activities such as deforestation may interfere the relationship between vegetation and environment, thus, disturbances and successional stage of communities should be taken into account in vegetation classification.

Key words: association group, association, diagnostic species, Evergreen Needleleaf Forest, Mixed Deciduous and Evergreen Needleleaf Forest, Mixed Needleleaf and Broadleaf Forest