Abstract:In order to strengthen conservation of Machilus chinensis, the oldest species in Macao, the phenology of M. chinensis and M. velutina, the dominant species in the community, was monitored, the species composition, structure and species diversity of the community were studied by using sample plot method. The results showed that February to March was the peak growth period of new leaves of M. chinensis, the flowering period was from mid to late March,and the fruit period last from April to June. The peak period of new leaves of M. velutina was from April to May, the flowering period was from October to December, and the fruiting period was from December to March of the following year. There were 104 vascular species recorded in the plot of 2 000 m², belonging to 82 genera and 48 families. The flora of seed plants of the community was dominated by Tropical distribution type, accounting for 87.01% of the total flora. Although there was only one tall ancient tree M. chinensis in arbor layer, its importance value of 18.97% ranked the fourth among all tree species. And Machilus chinensis (seedlings with average height below 20 cm) ranked second with an important value of 37.06% in the shrub layer. Machilus velutina was the dominant tree species in arbor and shrub layers. The species abundance index was arbor layer>shrub layer>herb layer>liana; the evenness index was liana>herb layer>arbor layer> shrub layer. The Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indexes of herb layer were the highest, and those of shrub layer were the lowest. So, the community belongs to the subtropical evergreen broad forest, the species composition is relatively rich, the growth of ancient tree Machilus chinensis is normal, but the population is unstable, protection should be strengthened.
