AbstractViews on the nature of vegetation alternative to the Clementsian monoclimax theory are presented. The rise of these more recent concepts (which have been neglected in the geographical literature) is traced: first that of the polyclimax, and secondly that of gradient analysis and the continuum. Some of the important studies which led to the formation of two opposed views, the‘ordination’school and the‘classification’school, are outlined. Recent attempts to test the suitability of both approaches and to clarify the issues involved are then discussed. In conclusion, some parallels with the development of geomorphology are stressed.