A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE FEATURES OF VEGETATION IN THE MAIN PEAK REGION OF AILAO MOUNTAIN, YUNNAN

This paper dcals with the geographical circumstances, climate, features of the vegetation covered the main peak of Ailao mountain in Yunnan. The main peak region is. located in 24°00'-24°50'N, 100°40'-101°40'E, with area about 9000 km², which belongs to the south branch of Yunling mountain. The highest part of it is 3156.9 m and the lowest 556 m above sea level. This evergreen broadleaved forest in this region is the largest one of China. The plant species in Ailao mountain are very abundant. Up to the present, there are 1542 species of vascular plants being collected, which belong to 192 families, including 95 fern species in 31 families and 17 gemnosperm species in 7 families. The features of the vegetation in Ailao mountain are complex in structure, transitive in nature, varied in formation and integrated in vertical vegetation spectrum. The vegetation of Ailao mountain can be devided into 8 vegetation types, 19 formations and 36 communities. A limit line exists between northern part and southern part of subtropical zone in this mountainous region.