A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE FLORA AND ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN JINSHA RIVER DRY-HOT VALLEY

Jinsha River is the upper reaches of Yangtse River. The climate factors along the Jinsha River valley are very different from that in near areas, dry and hot are two main characters of the valley climate factors, The climate and the vegetation in this area are somewhat like that of savanna. 1004 species of plant(18 ferns, 986 seed plant including 172 planted species)are recorded in this area, and the flora diversity are studied according to its areal-types. The ecological diversity, including its growth form, life form and leaf form are studied. Herb and shrub, phaenerophyte, chamaephyte and therophyte, small-, micro-and middle- leaf are the main characteristics of the plants here, The Plants here are deeply influenced by the dry and hot climate factors, which can be reflected by the ecological characters and their formations.