Types and Characteristics of Cupressus funebris Plantation Communities in the Hilly Areas of Central Sichuan Province

Cupressus funebris plantation plays a pivotal role in biodiversity maintenance, water, and soil conservation, serving as an ecological security barrier for the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the Hilly Areas of Central Sichuan Province. However, knowledge of the characteristics and classification of Cupressus funebris plantation community remains poorly understanding. This paper aims to understand the community characteristics and classification of Cupressus funebris plantation in this area, and to provide reference for its scientific management. In this study, 20 typical Cupressus funebris plantation sites were selected in the Hilly Areas of Central Sichuan Province in 2021, and the community was investigated by the quadrat survey method. The community types and main characteristics of the Cupressus funebris plantations were quantitatively described, and the correlation between stand structure and topographic factors with understory species diversity was analyzed. Results showed that (1) a total of 154 species of vascular plants were investigated, belonging to 70 families and 126 genera. Among them, the families with 5 or more species included Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Pteridaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Rutaceae, Lauraceae, and Rosaceae, accounting for 34% of the total species. (2) The plant community can be divided into Cupressus funebris Forest Alliance Evergreen Needleleaf according to life form and dominance. It was further divided into 4 association groups and 9 associations. (3) Slope and stand density were significantly negatively correlated with understory species diversity index, and differences in stand density were the primary factor contributing to the formation of the four association groups.