Climate Characteristics of the Geographic Distribution Areas of Styrax tonkinensis in China

The natural and artificial distribution and Styrax tonkinensis in China was studied and the climate characteristics of the distribution zones were analyzed by means of integrating literature consultation with onthespot field survey. The study showed that S. tonkinensis was oddly distributed in the range of 21°28′48″～29°39′00″N, and 98°39′00″～118°09′36″E naturally, the population was usually small with few individuals, or it even grew individually, indicating whose living habitat had been severely fragmented. The utmost northern distribution of S. tonkinensis was extended to 30°11′24″ N by artificial introduction. Regarding the elevation, S. tonkinensis was mainly distributed at 1000～2000m in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, while it was primarily distributed within 200～1000m, and occasionally distributed in areas lower than 200m in the central and eastern distribution areas. The requirement for temperature, solar radiation and moisture by S. tonkinensis were summarized according to meteorological data of its natural distribution areas. Based on analyzing the introduction and cultivation result, the climate characteristics of northern margin of its distribution and some special distribution areas, the potential suitable growing area and the preferable germplasm for introduction and domestication of S. tonkinensis were proposed.