Abstract:The community of Liriodendron chinense in Sandaokeng Nature Reserve in Hunan Province was investigated using several species diversity indices. Floristic composition, physiognomy, species diversity and the possible succession of the community were analyzed. The results indicated that the vertical structure of the com- munity was obvious, which composed of tree, shrub, herb and ground layers. There were 76 vascular plant species in the community belonging to 48 families and 57 genera. Phanerophytes （accounted for 68.42%） were dominant in the life-form spectrum, which was similar to that in subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest. The community had very high species diversity. Species diversity indices in shrub layer were higher than that in tree layer and herb layer. Richness index of the community was 76. Simpson index D was 0.9516, which was close to the maximum of D; Shannon-Weiner index H was 3.3247. Evenness index based on Simpson index Js was 0.5843, and that based on the Shannon-Weiner index Jsw was 0.8826. Because of the decline of growth potential and quantitative decrease in population, as well as deficiency in young seedlings, the community of Liriodendron chinense is now at the senescence phase.
