Multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) of the structural attributes of higher vascular plant communities. The triangle and round points, with 95% density ellipses, represent the sacred mountain and its surrounding area, respectively. Abbreviations: treeH1, number of trees with DBH < 10 cm; treeH2, number of trees with DBH 10–30 cm; treeH3, number of trees with DBH ≥ 30 cm; treeC1, coverage of trees with height ≥ 5 m; treeC2, coverage of trees with height < 5 m; shrubC1, coverage of shrubs with height < 1.5 m; shrubC2, coverage of shrubs with height ≥ 1.5 m; grassC, grass coverage.