[en] An attempt has been made to investigate from a range of viewpoints the principle of the climatic control of plant distribution. The accumulated plant weight (w) is related to the incoming solar radiation (S) and is dependent on leaf area index, the incoming solar radiation and the efficiency of solar radiation to dry matter conversion. A review is presented and a model is discussed in order to stimulate interest and knowledge in this crucial and central theme of ecology. The aim is to develop a model based on eco-physiological principles to predict the major vegetational zones of the globe. Predictions were based on various plant responses, such as low temperature survival and evapo-transpiration. Taxonomic diversity declined in a poleward direction; for both the northern and southern hemispheres family diversity is greatest near the equator, declined markedly from latitude 30 deg. to 90 deg. Strong correlation between family diversity and absolute minimum temperature exists and a regression line suggests a decrease of 3.3 families per deg. C reductions in minimum temperature. Analysis of the islands ecology differing in areas at various altitudes of the present and past has been most productive in providing means of investigating dispersal and migration and vertical diversity. Experimental studies have been attempted in herbaceous vegetation at different latitudes (tundra and British Isles) by clearing the native species (Carex bigelowii, Eriphorum vaginatum) of the area and by introducing exotic species such as Lolium perenne. The cover of the exotic species subsequently declined and ultimately became extinct and was covered by the native species. In order to investigate the climatic control of the distribution of taxa it becomes necessary to split the life (life cycles) of a plant into a number of stages, each of which is a link in the chain of survival and each of which can dominate the control of distribution. When a stage of life cycle is broken then extinction is likely. Continued post multiplication of the transition matrix of probabilities by the column vector of population density at each stage leads to a deterministic model of population growth and has been explained with Eupatorium cannabinum, Potentilla reptan and it Oxyria digyna. The matrix model and the gap fill model have attempted to satisfy this need in relation to space competition. Two species (Oxyria digyna of British upland and Lolium perenne of lowlands) were chosen to develop and describe the application of a model for predicting the outcome of competition between species invading a gap and those existing around the gap. It was found that the initial growth rate of invaders is density independent and was expressed by a number of mathematical formulas. It is easy to consider a variety of other effects which are also under climatic control. (author)