Analysis on Landscape Tree Species Composition in the Gardens of the West Lake Scenic Area, Hangzhou, China

Abstract

Based on the investigation on tree species within plant communities of parks and gardens in Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area, some indices such as species composition, importance value, application frequency, diameter class structure, health condition, and seasonal aspect structure of woody plants were calculated. The present situation and contributing factors of utilization of the tree species resources in the parks and gardens of the West Lake were analyzed, and some corresponding suggestions were proposed. The results were as follows: 1) There were 166 species of woody vascular plants in the parks and gardens of the West Lake, which belonged to 58 families and 108 genera. Compared with zonal plant species in Hangzhou and landscape plants in advanced foreign cities, the plant species number was very low. 2) About 30 species had high important value and application frequency. It indicated that the arbor and shrub species in each community in the parks and gardens of the West Lake was small at present. 3) The results of study of diameter class structure showed that, the average breast-height diameter of trees in the West Lake was 34cm, and about 67% trees had 20-40cm breast-height diameter. It indicated that a majority of trees were mature. 4) The results of study of health status showed that, most plant species developed well. 5) The results of study of seasonal aspect showed that, the plant landscape in the parks and gardens of the West Lake had different characteristics in different seasons, which were numerous flowers in spring, green shades in summer, colorful leaves in autumn and beautiful branches and trunks in winter.