Plot information and plot data of Keteleeria pubescens communities

Keteleeria pubescens is endemic to China and is classified as a national second-class key protected wild plant species. The distribution areas of the K. pubescens communities were extremely narrow, primarily occurred in patches in mountainous and hilly regions of Guizhou and Hunan. To reveal the spatial distribution, community composition, and characteristics of K. pubescens forests, a 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 K. pubescens forests, with 11 plots established, largely covered 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) K. 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, K. pubescens + Evergreen Broadleaf Tree Association Group and K. pubescens - Herb Association Group; K. pubescens + Quercus glauca Association and K. pubescens - Woodwardia japonica Association; (3) The forests’ vertical stratification is obvious, including tree, shrub and herb layers, in the tree layer there were mainly K. pubescens and species of Quercus, Castanopsis, and Pinus; (4) The regeneration of K. pubescens is poor. This study surely provides solid scientific data for effective conservation and management of K. pubescens forests.

柔毛油杉（Keteleeria pubescens）为中国特有物种，被列为国家二级重点保护野生植物。该物种的群落分布范围极狭窄，主要呈斑块状分布于贵州与湖南的山地丘陵区域。为揭示柔毛油杉林的空间分布、群落组成与特征，研究团队于2021至2023年植物生长季内对其群落开展了系统样地调查。在柔毛油杉林的分布范围内共选取4个调查样点，设置11个样地，基本覆盖了该物种的全部分布区域。调查记录了所有样地的生境、物种组成及数量特征等信息。定量分析的主要结果如下：(1) 柔毛油杉林物种组成丰富，共记录到维管植物102种；(2) 群落可划分为2个群丛组与2个群丛，分别为柔毛油杉+常绿阔叶树群丛组、柔毛油杉-草本群丛组；以及柔毛油杉+青冈（Quercus glauca）群丛、柔毛油杉-狗脊（Woodwardia japonica）群丛；(3) 林分垂直分层明显，包含乔木层、灌木层与草本层，其中乔木层以柔毛油杉、栎属（Quercus）、锥属（Castanopsis）以及松属（Pinus）植物为主；(4) 柔毛油杉的天然更新状况较差。本研究可为柔毛油杉林的有效保护与管理提供坚实的科学数据支撑。