Abstract:The flora and vegetation of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (mainly Hunan and Hubei Provinces) were surveyed． On the basis of statistics of the lists of indigenous seed plants for Hubei and Hunan， there are 7 037 species of 1 476 genera in 202 famillies in this area， among which gymnosperm comprises 64 species，30 genera and 7 families,and angiosperm 6 973 species，1 445 genera and 1 96 families．Statistical analysis of the plant areal-types indicates that the flora of Central China including Hubei and Hunan Provinces，is rich inplant species with complicated types， and of ancient origin． This area possesses considerable amount of endemic species，genera and families．North temperate woody plants are hi ly concentrated in this area，which implies the characteristics of Early Tertiary and Boreal flora in middle reaches of the Yangtze River．There are numerous genera here which are endemic to East Asia and to China，and many genera with East Asian - North America disjunct distribution．The above mentioned components not only are the essence in the flora of Central China，but also of the whole China．In the mountain regions，the mixed forest dominated by Fagus lucida is virtually originated from Boreal-Tertiary mesophilous deciduous broadleaved forests. This area belongs to the evergreen broadleaved forest region， which includes two vegetation zones, i.e. north-subtropical evergreen broadleaved and deciduous broadleaved mixed forest zone，and mid-subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest zone．The latter can be further divided into mid-subtropical northern typical-evergreen broadleaved forest subzone and southern part of mid-subtropical southern evergreen broadleaved forest subzone with the floral components of South China．The natural vegetation includes 171 types(equivatent to formations)，mainly original vegetation types．Conservation strategies and suggestions are made from the aspects of the protection of species biodiversity，plant communities, and landscape
