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.