# Floristic Analysis of Vascular Plants in the Ziwuling Mountains, Shaanxi Province

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the plant diversity in the Ziwuling Mountains, identifying over 900 species and highlighting the region's rich biodiversity and conservation importance.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive vascular plant inventory and biodiversity assessment for the Ziwuling Mountains in Shaanxi Province.

## Key findings

- The Ziwuling Mountains have 965 vascular plant species, with superrosids and superasterids being the most dominant.
- The region has high biodiversity with 15 dominant plant families and a significant number of rare and endangered species.
- The flora of the Ziwuling Mountains shows the greatest similarity to the Liupan Mountain floras among the Ordos Platform regions.

## Abstract

A study was conducted on the vascular floras of the Ziwuling Mountains in Shaanxi Province to establish a foundational database, providing data support for the conservation and utilization of the Ziwuling Mountains’ plant diversity resources. Based on field surveys and literature references, the composition and geographical elements of the vascular floras in the study area were analyzed. The species richness and floristic similarity coefficients of the study area were compared with other floras on the Ordos Platform. The results were as follows: (1) The vascular floras of the Ziwuling Mountains in Shaanxi Province comprised 120 families, 498 genera, and 965 species, with superrosids and superasterids being significantly dominant. There were 15 dominant families, primarily composed of oligotypic and monotypic genera. In terms of life forms, perennial forbs were the most abundant. (2) At the family level, tropical elements slightly outweighed temperate elements; at the genus level, temperate elements dominated. (3) The study area was rich in rare and endangered species. (4) Compared with other floras on the Ordos Platform, the study area exhibited higher species richness and the greatest similarity with the Liupan Mountain floras. The biodiversity of the Ziwuling Mountains in Shaanxi Province was relatively high, with diverse geographical elements and abundant rare and endangered species resources.