Resources and Distribution of Medical Plants in National Nature Reserve of the Dawei Mountains

The resources of medical plants in National Nature Reserve in the Dawei Mountains consist of 205 families,792 genera,and 1 607 species.Such medical plants can be classified into more than 11 types according to their medical effects explained by traditional Chinese medical science,such as antipyretic and diaphoretic effects,rheumatic pains relief and dampness removal.The major resources of the medical plants in the Dawei Mountains belong to antipyretic and diaphoretic sort,with a percentage of 27.69%.In consideration of both the horizontal and vertical distribution,horizontal distribution mainly exists on the aspect of slope.The medical plants of tropical protophyte vegetation type are mainly distributed on the northeastward slopes of the Mountains while those of secondary vegetation type are mainly distributed on the southwestward slopes.With reference to the vertical distribution,57.7% of medical plants are mainly distributed in the areas at an altitude from 700 m to 1 700 m,and the medical plants are relatively scarce in the areas below and altitude of 700m.On the basis of such investigation,the authors herein discussed and proposed certain measures for protecting and utilizing the medical plants according to their characteristics.