Stratum heights are constructed to reflect the vegetation of the plot. Foliage is then determined to belong to a stratum based only on height of the foliage, not the individual. Lifeform is not considered. An individual's foliage may be broken into different strata.
The height of each stratum is estimated as the average maximum height of each member in that stratum. Foliage is determined to belong to a stratum based on the height of the individual; an individual's foliage belongs to one stratum. Individuals that may, later in life, belong to taller strata may at the time of the plot be attributed to shorter strata based on their height (e.g. tree seedlings would occur in the short shrub layer).
