Editing Groundcover (section)

== Contributions to the environment ==
[[File:Dülmen, Göversheide -- 2015 -- 7718-22.jpg|thumb|Groundcover in a forest in [[Dülmen]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], Germany]]
The herbaceous layer is often overlooked in most ecological analyses because it is so common and contributes the smallest amount of the environment's overall [[Biomass (ecology)|biomass]]. However, groundcover is crucial to the survival of many environments. The groundcover layer of a forest can contribute up to 90% of the ecosystem's plant diversity. Additionally, the herbaceous layer ratio of biomass to contribution to plant productivity is disproportionate in many ecosystems. The herbaceous layer can constitute up to 4% of the overall [[Primary production|net primary productivity]] (NPP) of an ecosystem, four times its average biomass.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://science.marshall.edu/gilliam/Chapter%2014.pdf|title=The Herbaceous Layer in Forests of North America|last=Gilliam|first=Frank|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|location=USA|chapter=The Dynamic Nature of the Herbaceous Layer}}</ref>

===Reproduction===
Groundcover typically reproduces one of five ways:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-609/426-609_pdf.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193751/http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-609/426-609_pdf.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2013|title=Selecting Landscape Plants: Groundcovers|last=Niemiera|first=Alex|date=2012|website=Virginia State University|access-date=2016-04-22}}</ref>
* Lateral growth 
* Side growth: Branches on the side of the plant extend outwards upon contact with the soil.
* Base growth: New plants produced from the base of the origin plant.
* Under/Above-ground growth: Produced from [[rhizome]]s and [[stolon]]s
* Roots
Like most foliage, groundcover reacts to both natural and [[Human impact on the environment|anthropogenic]] disturbances. These responses can be classified as legacy or active responses. Legacy responses occur during long-term changes to an environment, such as the conversion of a forest to agricultural land and back into forest. Active responses occur with sudden disturbances to the environment, such as tornadoes and forest fires.

Groundcover has also been known to influence the placement and growth of tree seedlings. All tree seedlings must first fall from their origin trees and then permeate the layer created by groundcover in order to reach the soil and germinate. The groundcover filters out a large amount of seeds, but lets a smaller portion of seeds pass through and grow. This filtration provides ample amount of space between the seeds for future growth. In some areas, the groundcover can become so dense that no seeds can permeate the surface, and the forest is instead converted to shrubbery. Groundcover also inhibits the amount of light which reaches the floor of an ecosystem. An experiment conducted with the ''[[rhododendron maximum]]'' canopy in the southern [[Appalachian region]] concluded that 4–8% of total sunlight makes it to the herbaceous layer, whereas only about 1–2% reaches the ground.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Herbaceous Layer in Forests of Eastern North America|last=Gilliam|first=Frank|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|location=USA|chapter=The Herbaceous Layer as a Filter Determining Spatial Pattern in Forest Tree Regeneration}}</ref>

===Variation===
Two common variations of groundcover are residency and transient species. Residency species typically reach a maximum of {{convert|1.5|m}} in height, and are therefore permanently classified as herbaceous. Transient species are capable of growing past this height, and are therefore only temporarily considered herbaceous. These height differences make ideal environments for a variety of animals, such as the [[reed warbler]], the [[Micromys minutus|harvest mouse]] and the [[wren]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discoverwildlife.com/british-wildlife/how-identify-bird-and-mammal-nests|title=How to identify bird and mammal nests|last=Harris|first=Steve|date=2010-06-09|website=Discover Wildlife|access-date=2016-05-01}}</ref>

Groundcover can also be classified in terms of its foliage. Groundcover that keeps its foliage for the entire year is known as [[evergreen]], whereas groundcover that loses its foliage in the winter months is known as [[deciduous]].