Abstract:In this paper, the biologically absorbing coefficients and the contents in plants of trace elements were investigated for 12 medicinal plant species in Hainan Province. The results show that the coefficient differed among families, among, genus and among species. The difference decreased in the sequence of the elements :Mg>Al>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu. The coefficient differed between species of the same genus, and between species of different habitats. The coefficient of Areca catechu in Hainan, for example, was greater than that in A. catechu in Thailand which in turn was greater than that in A. Catechu. The ratio of absorbed volume between elements decreased in the sequence of the elements: Mo>Zn>Cu > Mn > Ni. Fe> Mn >. The different plant parts differed in absorbed volume of the elements. There was a correlation of the element contents between the plants and the soil. In the plants, the contents of Fe, Mn and Zn were larger than those of Cu, Pb and Ni. For each of the elements, the content was greater in Gynostemma pentaphyllum than in A. Catechu.