Vegetation of Alpine Grassland at Northwest Slope on Mt. Paektu in China

중국측 백두산 서북사면 고산초원의 식물상

The alpine grassland vegetation at the northwest slope of Mt. Paektu were investigated by Penound- Howard's cover-degree method. The floristic composition of the alpine grassland from 2,100m altitude to the top of mountain were 35 species, 1 subspecies, and 6 varieties, and most of the plants were short p e r e ~ i a l herbs and shrubs. The dominant species of the vegetation distributed along to altitude were Rhododendron aureum (2,100-2,20Om), Dryas octopetala var. asiatica(2,200-2,30Om), Dryas octopetala var. asiatica(2,300-2,40Om), Rhododendron aureum- Rhododendron redowskianum(2,400-2,50Om), and Rhododendron redowskianum(2,500- 2,58Om), respectively. Characteristics of the shrub plants which settled in alpine grassland showed uniform low height(3-15cm), creeping stem and evergreen leaf. Life form of the plants were 29 species of Hemicryptophyte, 8 species of Chamaephyte, 1 species of Geophyte, and 5 species of Phanerophyte. (Key words : Alpine grassland, Mt. Paektu, Altitude, Dominant, Life form)