Preliminary study on ecological characteristics of natural vetiver community in western Guangdong

The biological and ecological characteristics of natural vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) community were studied in Wuchuan City, west Guangdong Province. The result showed that there was only one herbaceous layer in the community, and vetiver grass was the highest (1 to 2 m) with 39% of coverage. The coverage of Eremochloa ophiuroides, Desmodium triflorum and the rest plants was 43%, 11% and 7% respectively. The total biomass, average density and total coverage of the community were 176.2 g/m2, 486.2 stems/m2 and 100% respectively. There were 24 species, belonging to 13 families, and the proportions of gramineal species, legumes and compositae were 33.3%, 12.5% and 12.5%.