The Wild Economic Plant Resource in Maolan Karst Forest Region

Maolan Karst Forest Region is located in Libo County, the south of Guizhou Province. Based on the results of field survey, there exists 1203 species of vascular pants belonging to 501 genera of 143 families, including 1268 species of economic plants that are under 568 genera of 184 families. According to their economic utility, these wild plants can be divided into 13 types, i.e. timber plant, oil plant, medicinal plant, ornamental plant, technical plants, greening plant, fiber plant, fragrance plant, processing fruit and nut plant, honey plant, dyestuff plant, fuel plant, and tannin extract plant. Some representative and highly economic-valued plants are described by plant types. Characteristics of the economic plants and existing problems are analyzed. Suggestions to protect and rationally develop this wild plant resource are proposed.