In plant terminology, a '
competitive' is a plant which specializes in competing with other plants in an ideal environment. This strategy is a median between
ruderal and
stress tolerant and is sometimes left out in ecology discussions. Unlike
ruderals, competitives generally thrive in
stable environments where they are able to outcompete other plants until a disturbance occurs. However, they are not as hardy to harsh conditions as
stress-tolerants.
Competitives generally exist in large areas of stable, similar conditions. Most thick forests, such as the hardwood forests of the Eastern US, and many pine forests in the Western US, contain mainly competitives. They are found in so-called 'climax communities' and usually exclude and outcompete other plants as long as conditions remain the same. If a disturbance such as windfall, fire, or drought loosens their hold on the ecosystem, they will often be overwhelmed by opportunistic ruderals, or killed off and survived by stress-tolerants.