A STUDY ON THE FLORA OF TUOJIAN MOUNTAIN AREA OF THE DABIE MOUNTAINS, ANHUI PROVINCE

Tuojian is the first peak of the southern slope of Dabie Mountains, with an altitude of 1755 meters situated at the northwestern part of Anhui Province.A preliminary list of vascular plants of Tuojian contains 151 families, 552 genera, 1196 species(including subspecies, varieties and form).The Dabie Mountains first took shape in the Sinian Period There are 28 monotypic and 39 polycarpellary genera which are genetically ancient or primitive in the Tuojian Mountainous Region.Tuojian flora belongs to northern subtropical flora. The principal representative families are: Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Caprifoliaceae,Rhamnaceae, Hama- melidaceae, Juglandaceae, and Betulaceae, etc. The components of the flora are characterized by temperate elements.The species and their distribution in the southern slope of the Tuojian is similar to those in the northern slope. The flora of the Dabie Mountains as a whole comprises a portion of the flora of East China.The Tuojian flora especially closely related to Lushan flora in Jiangxi Province, Shennongjia flora in Hubei Prevince and Huangshan flora in Anhui Province. The Tuojian Mountains and even the whole Dabie Mountains may he a link between East-China and Central China.