Abstract:Sinosenecio jishouensis D.G.Zhang,Y.Liu & Q.E.Yang is a new species which is only distributed in Dehang canyon at Wuling mountain areas of northwestern Hunan.According to IUCN Red Species List S.jishouensis ranked as the Critically Endangered Species (CR) for its extremely small and rare populations.The content of main nutritional components in surface soil (0~30 cm) of natural habitat of three plots of S.jishouensis was analyzed and its population distribution pattern was determined by using checkerboard frame method.The results showed that:(1)S.jishouensis were always found in habitat of waterfall and the Stream ravine with an altitude from 300 m to 370 m,and its communities were always grasses,bushes and secondary bushes.To measure the environment factors in the habitats,we found that water content of soil get to 34.28%,the pH values varied from 8.51 to 8.60,organic matter changed from 107 500 mg·kg-1 to 143 300 mg·kg-1,and total nitrogen contents with a variable from 2 800 mg·kg-1 to 3 500 mg·kg-1.Compared with the environment factors in plots of S.jishouensis and the control plots showed that,the contents of organic matter,total nitrogen,and total potassium are obviously high (P<0.05),and the contents of copper is significantly below the control ones (P<0.05),while the contents of iron,phosphorus,manganese,chromium,lead and zinc in soil were not different from controls.(2)Low contents of water,organic matter,total nitrogen and high content of copper soil are probably the important environment factors to limit development of S.jishouensis population.(3)The distribution patterns of the only three natural S.jishouensis populations are clumped,and the intensity of clustering is different among different populations.The variance/mean ratios of these populations were 6.68,14.39 and 11.53,respectively,t test show remarkably difference.(4)The highest congregation areas are 64 m2 and 8 m2,respectively,at the Liusha population and Hangxia population,but the patch at Leigongdong population can not be demonstrate.Reproductive system,seeds with finite dispersal,and heterogeneity of its habitat conditions,are the major impact factors for the distribution patterns of S.jishouensis.