Referring to a recent paper in „Gorteria” (JACOBS, 1969) attention is drawn to the importance and possibility of systematic phenological observations as a routine aspect of vegetation studies. Some references are made to the treatment of this problem in phytosociological literature. Proposals are made for simple standard scales for the estimation of degrees of vegetative growth, flowering and fruiting and their characteristic stages during the various seasons. These scales are derived from, but not identical to the scales proposed earlier by the author and some of his collegues (see references). The importance of a sharp distinction between the three aspects of plant life mentioned is emphasized.