phytographn.
/ˈfʌɪtə(ʊ)ɡrɑːf/, /ˈfʌɪtə(ʊ)ɡraf/, U.S. /ˈfaɪdəˌɡræf/ 1. Botany. An instrument for detecting minute motions in plants. rare.
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1927 J. C. Bose Plant Autographs & their Revelations xvii. 133 The Electric Phytograph. This is a very sensitive apparatus for the detection of changing rates in the ascent of sap. The leaf is attached by a thin silk thread to the recording lever, which magnifies the movement of the leaf from ten to a hundred times.
2. Ecology. A diagram showing several quantifiable criteria of the ecological status of a plant species within an association, esp. in forest or woodland.
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the world > life > biology > balance of nature > distribution > [noun] > association or aggregation > diagram showing criteria of species in
phytograph1930
1930 H. J. Lutz in Ecology 11 9 The term phytograph is proposed to designate a chart of this kind when used to characterize plant relationships.
1950 Forestry Abstr. 11 580/2 Jack pine stands of equal age subjected to different degrees of thinning might be represented for purposes of comparison by phytographs constructed on 5 axes on which are shown their respective:—(1) average spacing of stems, [etc.].
1971 F. C. Ford-Robertson Terminol. Forest Sci. 194/1 Phytograph... A polygonal figure depicting the role of a species in a plant community.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1927