In a temperate humid forest of South-Central Chile the seasonal variations of litter fall wer e studied. Th e relative quantities of assimilative and lignified plant material supplied to the edaphic ecosystem wer e established.
Phytosciological samples wer e madr e to describe the floristic composition of the forest, classifying the species according to their growth forms.
The rates of leaf decomposition of the principal wood y species wer e analized. The leaves with a high degre e of sclerophylly and high resins content wer e most resistant to microbial decomposition.