It is known that,Takenoshin NAKAI, a botanist and professor at Tokyo University wrote in a research journal as "People studying botany should visit the Ashiu forest for field practice of Kyoto University" because of its diversity in flora.
このような植生の多様性から、植物学者で東京大学教授の中井猛之進が『植物ヲ学ブモノハ一度ハ京大ノ芦生演習林ヲ見ルベシ』と研究誌に書いたことでも知られている。