Abstract
A definition of rain forest is given so that temperate rain forest is readily included. It is shown that the low light intensity obtained under an undisturbed rein forest canopy is incompatible with eucalypt regeneration. Hence “mixed forest”, i.e. eucalypts over rain forest, is normally a late stage in a fire sere of the succession towards a pure rain forest climax. Eucalypts have invaded rain forest areas in geological times; rain forest has advanced into eucalypt forest in historical times; but the immediate reason for the existence of eucalypts over present rain forest is the fire which made the eucalypts' regeneration possible.

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