Keteleeria pubescens is endemic to China and is classified as a national second-class key protected wild plant species. The distribution areas of the Keteleeria pubescens communities are extremely narrow, primarily occurred in patches in mountainous and hilly regions of Guizhou and Hunan provinces. To reveal the spatial distribution, community composition, and characteristics of Keteleeria pubescens forests, this study conducted comprehensive plot surveys of the communities from 2021 to 2023 during the plant growing season. A total of 4 survey sites were selected within the distribution range of Keteleeria pubescens forests, with 11 plots established, covering all distribution areas of the forests. Information on habitat, species composition, and quantity characteristics of all the forests were recorded. The main results of the quantitative analysis are: (1) Keteleeria pubescens forests had a rich species composition, with a total of 102 vascular plant species recorded; (2) Totally classified into 2 association groups and 2 associations, namely, Keteleeria pubescens + Evergreen Broadleaf Tree Association Group and Keteleeria pubescens - Herb Association Group; Keteleeria pubescens+Quercus glauca Association and Keteleeria pubescens - Woodwardia japonica Association; (3) The forests’ vertical stratification is obvious, in the arborous layer there were mainly Keteleeria pubescens and species of Quercus, Castanopsis, and Pinus; (4) The regeneration of Keteleeria pubescens is poor. This study surely provides solid scientific data for effective conservation and management of Keteleeria pubescens forests.

Keteleeria davidiana is a relict and endemic species found in China, and K. davidiana forests are distributed in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. These forests play important roles in soil improvement, water conservation, material and medicinal functions. To provide a scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable utilization of K. davidiana germplasm resources, we obtained data from 48 forest plots where K. davidiana is the primary dominant species through field investigations. Based on the principles of community-ecological classification and the latest revision of the Chinese vegetation classification system, we classified the forests into Association Groups and Associations, and described the characteristics of each Association Group and Association, highlighting their community composition and structure. The main results are as follows: (1) We classified the 48 plots into 3 Association Groups, including K. davidiana - Shrub - Herb Association Group, K. davidiana - Herb Association Group and K. davidiana + broadleaf tree - Herb Association Group, and these three Association Groups were further divided into 7 Associations, including K. davidiana - Myrsine africana - Cyrtomium fortunei Association, K. davidiana - Camellia oleifera - Liriope spicata Association, K. davidiana – L. spicata Association, K. davidiana - Carex breviculmis Association, K. davidiana - Diplopterygium glaucum Association, K. davidiana - Isachne globosa Association, K. davidiana + Liquidambar formosana- Iris confusa Association, (2) In both the K. davidiana - Shrub - Herb Association Group and the K. davidiana - Herb Association Group, K. davidiana was the sole dominant species in the arbor layer. (3) In the surveyed K. davidiana forest, a significant number of young K. davidiana trees were present in the shrub layer, indicating good regeneration. In this study, we provide the original survey data of all plots and specify the sources of existing data.

Tsuga dumosa forests were mainly distributed in the Hengduan Mountains and their extension areas in the southwestern region of China, including Xizang, Yunnan, and Sichuan. The current T. dumosa forests are mainly found in humid mountainous regions and mostly grow on mountain ridges, steep slopes, and along stream banks. These forests experienced varying degrees of disturbances, both natural and anthropogenic. To reveal the spatial distribution, community composition and characteristics of T. dumosa forests, this study conducted systematic field investigation during the plant growing seasons in 2018 and 2021–2023. The investigation on T. dumosa forest communities across their entire distribution range in China, totaling 114 survey locations were selected and 178 sample plots were established. We recorded species composition, quantitative characteristics, habitat information, and other relevant details of the communities. Through quantitative analyses, the main results of the study were as follows: (1) In 178 sample plots of T. dumosa Forest Alliance (simply called T. dumosa forests), a total of 403 vascular plant species were recorded. (2) T. dumosa forests were rich in community types, being classified into 11 association groups and 34 associations. (3) The forests’ vertical stratification was obvious. In the arborous layer there were mainly T. domosa and species of Quercus, Abies, Lithocarpus, Picea, Acer and Rhododendron. (4) T. dumosa’s regeneration was active. This study surely provides solid scientific data for a better understanding of the role of T. dumosa forests in the coniferous forest zone of China.

The Pinus densata alliance is one of the most widespread pine forests in the Mountains of Southwest China. Endemic to China, and the alliance is mainly found in western Sichuan, northwest Yunnan, and southeast Xizang. In this study, we defined the geographic distribution boundary and initially ascertained the geographic distribution area of Pinus densata alliance based on previous literature and field investigation sample sites. Based on data from 48 plots surveyed during 2020–2022, we proposed a preliminary scheme of vegetation classification and described the community structure characteristics for Pinus densata alliance, and analyzed the species composition characteristics combined with data from 11 plots surveyed in 2012. The results showed that: (1) The Pinus densata alliance covers 33 counties and cities, including Yajiang, Xiangcheng, Daocheng, Dêqên, Xamgyi’nyilha , Markam, Mainling, and so on, along altitude ranging from 2 300 to 4 000 m. The eastern, west-ern, northern and southern boundaries are Donggu Town in Danba County, Zengqi Township in Sangri County, Puxi Township in Zamtang County, and Yulong Snow Mountain in Yulong Naxizu Autonomous County. (2) 522 vascular plants belonging to 67 families and 222 genera were recorded, among which there were 500 seed plants belonging to 60 families and 209 genera, and 233 Chinese endemic plants belonging to 42 families and 114 gen-era. The north temperate element was the dominant areal-type. (3) Based on the differences of community struc-ture and species composition, Pinus densata alliance could be classified into 7 association groups and 20 associa-tions.

TThe Juniperus przewalskii forests are a unique forest community in China, widely distributed in the mountains on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. They play crucial roles in slope protection, soil conservation, water source preservation, and habitat improvement. A systematic study of their distribution, composition, and characteristics can provide a scientific basis for the healthy development and artificial management of Juniperus przewalskii forests, enabling them to better fulfill their ecological role in cold and arid areas. This study conducted a comprehensive survey of Juniperus przewalskii forests throughout the plant growth season from 2018 to 2022. A total of 52 survey sites were selected and 72 survey plots were established, covering the entire distribution area of Juniperus przewalskii forests. The 72 survey plots were analyzed using community ecological analysis methods such as cluster analysis and quantitative statistics. The main findings are as follows: Juniperus przewalskii forests are primarily distributed on sunny and semi-sunny mountain slopes at altitudes of 2800 to 3800 meters, usually inhabit dry, barren, and steep slopes, where the habitat conditions are relatively harsh. The existing forests are mostly climax communities of secondary successional, The forest stands are relatively sparse, with a canopy density of 0.2 to 0.6 and an average height ranging from 5 to 13 meters. The vertical structure consists of tree layer, shrubby layer, and herbaceous layer. The tree layer is dominated by Juniperus przewalskii, and the diameter class structure shows a right-skewed normal distribution, with the diameter at breast height mainly concentrated between 4 to 8 centimeters. The composition of the shrubby and herbaceous layers vary significantly depending on the specific habitat conditions. A total of 370 species of vascular plants have been recorded, distributed among 48 families and 151 genera. Among these, angiosperms comprise 45 families and 148 genera, gymnosperms consist of 2 families and 2 genera, and ferns are represented by 1 family and 1 genus. The top three dominant families are Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae. In the composition of life types, there are obviously more herbaceous species than woody species. Based on the dominant and characteristic species of the community, Juniperus przewalskii forests can be further classified into 11 association groups and 25 associations. The spatial distribution exhibits a clear ecological sequence, arranged by altitude from low to high, the sequence includes the Juniperus przewalskii-Berberis diaphana-Herb Association Group, Juniperus przewalskii-Dasiphora fruticosa-Herb Association Group, Juniperus przewalskii-Dasiphora parvifolia-Herb Association Group, Juniperus przewalskii-Dasiphora glabra-Herb Association Group. In areas subjected to significant human disturbance, the community transitions into the Juniperus przewalskii-Herb Association Group.

The vertical structure illustration of community is a kind of vegetation scientific illustration that comprehensively expresses the structure, habitat characteristics and ecological relationships of plant communities. It has a high information capacity, visualization efficiency and communication efficiency, and is irreplaceable in vegetation research. However, traditional vertical structure illustration of community are limited by problems such as the lack of symbol systems, strong subjectivity in drawing and incomplete information expression, which hinder their effective practice and in-depth exploration of scientific value. This study, taking forest communities as the object, proposes a set of symbol systems and standardized drawing paradigms for vegetation scientific illustrations that integrate vegetation ecology, art design and digital technology, aiming to achieve precise visualization of the spatio-temporal attributes of community structure and habitat. Methods Based on the quadrat survey of typical subtropical vegetation types, combined with the double narrow-band drawing method of facing and parallel to the slope surface, a multi-level symbol system (6 major element modules, 21 types of graphic symbols) was designed, and innovatively introduced the drawing workflow of Chinese painting realistic techniques and digital drawing tools to form a standardized process from field sketches to digital drawings. Important findings A set of symbol systems, composition parameters and drawing techniques for the vertical structure illustration of forest community profiles was proposed, including three major symbol libraries of terrain, vegetation and soil, realizing the quantitative expression of community vertical stratification (trees/shrubs/herbs), individual morphology (diameter at breast height/crown width/branching angle) and habitat factors (slope/soil texture/litter thickness), clearly showing the spatial (vertical stratification and relative position of plant individu-als) and non-spatial (species composition, individual size and density, etc.) structure, interspecific relationships and community habitat information of the community. Through the drawing practice of 11 associations and 33 sub-graphs, its universality across vegetation types was verified. Conclusion This study starts from the composition and design of elements, standardizes the composition, symbol composition and expression techniques of the vertical structure illustration of forest community, breaks through the traditional schematic paradigm, and upgrades the vertical structure illustration of community to vegetation scientific illustrations with both scientific accuracy and artistic expression, providing standardized drawing tools for the compilation and research of "Vegetation of China"

The compilation of vegetation monographs is a systematic process that must adhere to specific standards and principles. However, guidelines and technical references for diagram drawing in monograph compilation are currently lacking. This study addresses the challenges involved in diagram drawing for vegetation monographs, including geographical distribution maps of plant communities, community structure profiles, ecological climate diagrams, classification tables for plant associations, and other conventional charting techniques. It proposes a set of scientifically sound and efficient methods to tackle these issues, such as base map processing and point plotting for distribution maps, survey and drawing procedures for profile diagrams, data extraction and visualization for ecological climate diagrams, and the selection of classification methods for plant associations. These methods aim to standardize the style of diagram in vegetation monographs, enhance their overall integrity and scientific rigor, and serve as a reference for future monograph compilations and scientific papers involving diagram drawing.

Tropical evergreen broadleaf shrublands in low mountain and hilly areas represent the most extensive shrubland type in China. We surveyed 325 plots between 2011 and 2019 across three dominant vegetation associations to classify community types and quantify their floristic composition, structure, and distribution. Using classical Chinese vegetation classification and quantitative analysis, we identified three major shrubland types. (1) Baeckea frutescens shrublands occur from 18.4° N to 25.9° N and 105.2° E to 118.3° E, at elevations of 0–1,340 m. In 101 plots, we recorded 170 vascular plant species in 52 families and 124 genera, with 79.5% of seed plant genera showing tropical affinities; evergreen broadleaf woody species accounted for 90% of total importance value. This alliance comprises 5 association groups and 7 associations. (2) Rhodomyrtus tomentosa shrublands span 18.2° N to 26.2° N and 104.3° E to 118.8° E, at 4–700 m elevation. In 205 plots, we recorded 373 vascular plant species across 79 families and 241 genera, with 70.2% tropical genera and 85% importance value for evergreen broadleaf woody species. This alliance includes 4 association groups and 24 associations. (3) Psidium guajava shrublands, occurring between 22.1° N and 27.1° N and 101.7°E to 113.8°E, at 100–900 m elevation, were recorded in 19 plots, comprising 83 vascular plant species across 38 families and 76 genera, with 71.8% tropical seed plant genera, and an 81% importance value for evergreen broadleaf woody plants. This alien-dominated alliance forms 4 association groups and 5 associations. Baeckea frutescens and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa shrublands share similar community structures and habitat preferences, representing native, natural secondary communities with overlapping ranges. In contrast, Psidium guajava shrublands, dominated by alien plants, pose a growing threat to native vegetation and require urgent monitoring. Our results offer a comprehensive baseline for understanding the structure, function, and dynamics of tropical shrubland ecosystem in China.

Aims Loropetalum chinense shrubland is a widespread and ecologically significant vegetation type in subtropical China, contributing to water regulation, soil conservation, and biodiversity maintenance. However, its ecological attributes and classification at the national scale remain poorly understood. This study provides the first systematic characterization of the structure, distribution, and environmental context of L. chinense shrublands and develops a comprehensive classification to inform conservation and management strategies. Methods We conducted field surveys in 238 plots across the L. chinense shrubland’s distribution from 2011 to 2019. Community type were identified using classical Chinese vegetation classification combined with quantitative methods. We identified community types and quantitatively described their structure and floristic traits, topography, climate, and soil data were analyzed to characterize ecological conditions. Important findings Loropetalum chinense shrublands are primarily distributed in low-to-mid mountains and hilly regions (35–1,480 m a.s.l.) under warm, humid subtropical climates (mean annual temperatures: 13.6–20.7 ℃; mean coldest month temperatures: 1.6–11.7 ℃; annual precipitation: 957–1,802 mm; humidity index: 0.9–1.0). The shrublands occur on diverse soils—red, yellow, latosol, yellow-brown, and limestone—with pH values ranging from 3.71 to 9.08. The flora comprises 598 vascular plant species from 105 families and 318 genera, with tropical genera contributing 52.5% and temperate genera 38.1%. The communities are woody-dominated (67.4%), with evergreen species slightly more prevalent than deciduous species. Herbaceous species are mainly perennial herbs and ferns (80%). Structurally, the shrub layer has 80% mean coverage (mean height: 1.7 m; species richness: 12), where L. chinense is dominant or co-dominant (importance value: 33%). The herbaceous and moss layers averaged 33% and 27% coverage, respectively. The L. chinense alliance was classified into six association groups and 34 associations, placed within Hilly Subtropical Evergreen Broadleaf Shrubland alliance group under the Subtropical Evergreen Broadleaf Shrubland subformation of the Evergreen Broadleaf Shrubland formation in China’s national vegetation classification. This study provides the nationwide synthesis of L. chinense shrubland characteristics, delivering essential data for conservation planning and sustainable ecosystem management in subtropical China.

The north and south mountains of Lanzhou City are located at the westernmost part of the Loess Plateau, with herbaceous vegetation as the main vegetation, as well as shrubs, deserts and forests. In order to reveal the detailed vegetation types, community structures and their geographical distribution, this study used a combination of field sample lines, typical sample surveys and indoor analyses to carry out a more systematic investigation of the plant status of the two mountains, and summarised the data sets of plant community samples (a total of 72 sample plots). Through data collation, it was found that there were 713 species of plants of 107 families and 378 genera (including infraspecific units) in 4 phylums in the north and south mountains, among which there were 218 species of 124 genera in 59 families of artificial plants and 495 species of 282 genera in 79 families of natural plants; Plant growth forms was dominated by herbaceous plants (68.32%) whose life forms was mainly perennial (66.11%). Woody plants (31.68%) had a predominantly deciduous life forms (84.30%). Based on the community-ecology classification, the vegetation of the north and south mountains can be divided into 4 vegetation formations groups, 9 vegetation formations and 32 alliances, among which there are 5 needleleaf forest alliances, 5 broadleaf forest alliances, 10 shrubland alliances, 5 steppe alliances, 1 meadow alliances and 6 desert alliances. This dataset can provide background information for the study of plant diversity and ecology in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China, and provide a scientific basis for the supply of regional ecosystem services, the improvement of ecological environment quality, and the sustainable development of society and economy.

Daluo Mountain, located in the southeastern Wenzhou City, lies within the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest zone. Despite its ecological significance, comprehensive vegetation data for this region remain limited, hindering a full understanding of its plant diversity. This study aims to investigate the main vegetation types on Daluo Mountain, focusing on species composition, community characteristics, and distribution patterns. This study employs standard sampling methods to investigate the vegetation. A total of 85 plots were established across Daluo Mountain. Data were collected on species composition, quantitative attributes, and habitat characteristics. Vegetation types were classified and named, resulting in the Daluo Mountain plant community dataset. The survey identified 244 plant species from179 genera and 96 families. The most species-rich families were Poaceae (23 species), Rosaceae (13 species), Fabaceae (12 species), Asteraceae (7 species), and Cupressaceae (6 species). The most species-rich genera include Ilex (6 species), Symplocos (5 species), Rubus (5 species), Smilax (4 species), and Persicaria (4 species). The vegetation was categorized into 6 Vegetation Formation Groups, 16 Vegetation Formations, and 57 Alliances. This dataset provides a valuable foundation for studying the vegetation characteristics of Daluo Mountain. It enhances our understanding of plant distribution in Zhejiang Province and contributes to broader ecological studies in China.

The Caragana tibetica community is a vegetation type distributed only in Central Asia region, in a transitional zone between desert steppe and desert. This community holds significant ecological value within its distribution area. However, research on its community characteristics and classification remains limited. Based on data from 55 plots surveyed across Nei Mongol, Qinghai, and Xizang, and combined with studies from books and literature, species composition, distribution pattern, community characteristics, and classification of C. tibetica community were analyzed. Results showed that (1) a total of 142 plant species were recorded in the C. tibetica community, belonging to 82 genera from 35 families. The community composition was dominated by Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae, with 35 species of shrubs and subshrubs, 72 species of perennial herbs, and 35 species of annual or biennial herbs. (2) The floristic geographic elements were predominantly composed of species with a Gobi-Mongolian distribution (17.61%). Based on the degree of species presence, 126 species (88.73% of the total species) were classified as level I (0–20%), which were occasional species in the community. The life form was mainly composed of hemicryptophytes. In water ecological types, xerophytes (50%) and extreme xerophytes (14.79%) were dominated. (3) According to the life form and dominance of species, C. tibetica communities can be classified into 8 Association Groups: C. tibetica - Grass Association Group, C. tibetica + Allium Association Group, C. tibetica + Forb Association Group, C. tibetica + Shrubs - Grass Association Group, C. tibetica + Shrubs - Forb Association Group, C. tibetica - Subshrubs - Grass Association Group, C. tibetica - Subshrubs - Allium Association Group, and C. tibetica - Subshrubs - Forb Association Group. These Association Groups can be further divided into 34 Associations. The study of distribution, characteristics, and classification of C. tibetica communities can provide a reference for the plant resource utilization, classification, identification, and conservation management of C. tibetica.