Abstract:The habitats and biological characteristics of Dysosma versipellis （Hance） M. Cheng （Berberidaceae）, an endangered medicinal plant endemic to China, was investigated. Two or three sampling plots with 5 m × 5 m each were surveyed for each of the five populations. The sampling sites were distributed in five provinces, i.e. Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Anhui. D. versipellis grows mainly under evergreen and deciduous broadleaved mixed forest or in bamboo forest. Most trees in upper layer were dominant local species. The soil was yellow brown earth, pH 5.40-6.59, with rich organic matter （19.36%）, and high available N, P, K and total N, P, K contents （840, 46, 310 mg kg-1 and 9 970, 1 217, 2 603 mg kg-1, respectively）. Propagation disturbance and human overexploitation cause the plant to be endangered. Ex-situ in combination with in-situ protection is thought to be a conservation strategy for this plant.