本书是美国著名植物生态学家克莱门茨的经典著作。本书首次将植物作为一个个体，探讨了植物的形态、性质与功能，以及生理生态学的基本内容，包括植物的应激反应，栖息地、水分、光照、温度等外部条件的变化对植物的影响等。除理论知识外，还包含大量实验操作。本书适合植物学、生态学及相关交叉学科的师生和热爱植物、亲近自然的大众阅读。

CHAPTER Ⅰ STIMULUS AND RESPONSE
1.Fundamental Relations
2.The Nature of Stimuli
3.The Kinds of Stimuli
4.The Nature of Response
5.Adjustment and Adaptation
6.Kinds of Adjustment
7.Normal and Abnormal Adjustment
CHAPTER Ⅱ THE WATER OF THE HABITAT
8.Relation of the Plant to Water
9.The Nature of Water Stimuli
10.Water Content
11.Influence of other Factors upon Water Content
12.Available and Non-available Water Content
13.Soil Samples
14.Computation of Water Content
15.Time of Water Content Readings
16.Location of Readings
17.Depth of Samples
Experiment 1.Measurement of Water Content
18.The Determination of Available Water
19.Chresard of Habitats
Experiment 2.Determination of Available Water
MODIFYING FACTORS
20.Influence of Soil upon Water Content
21.Origin and Structure
22.Water Capacity
23.Chemical Nature of Soils
24.Air Content
25.Determination of Soil Properties
Experiment 3.Porosity and Rate of Evaporation
26.Influence of Precipitation upon Water Content
27.Measurement of Rainfall
28.Physiography
29.The Influence of Slope
30.The Influence of Surface
31.The Influence of Climatic Factors
32.Humidity
33.Modifying Influence of Temperature and Wind
34.Influence of Pressure and Physiographic Factors
35.Effect of Climate and Habitat
36.Measurement of Humidity
37.Sling and Cog Psychrometers
38.Making a Reading
39.Use of Humidity Tables
Experiment 4.Measuring Humidity
40.Method of Habitat Study
41.Choice of Stations
42.Constant Factors
43.Simultaneous Readings
……
CHAPTER Ⅲ ADJUSTMENT TO WATER
CHAPTER Ⅳ ADJUSTMENT TO LIGHT
CHAPTER Ⅴ ADJUSTMENT TO TEMPERATURE
CHAPTER Ⅵ ADJUSTMENT TO GRAVITY， CONTACT AND SHOCK
CHAPTER Ⅶ ADAPTATION TO WATER
CHAPTER Ⅷ ADAPTATION TO LIGHT
CHAPTER Ⅸ THE ORIGIN OF NEW FORMS
CHAPTER Ⅹ METHODS OF STUDYING VEGETATION
CHAPTER Ⅺ THE PLANT FORMATION
CHAPTER Ⅻ AGGREGATION AND MIGRATION
CHAPTER ⅩⅢ COMPETITION AND ECESIS
CHAPTER ⅩⅣ INVASION AND SUCCESSION
CHAPTER ⅩⅤ ALTERNATION AND ZONATION