In order to provide theoretical basis for evaluations on ecological function rehabilitation and vegetation development

the herbaceous structure and diversity of the artificial forests were analyzed in the hill and gully region of the Western Shanxi Province.In this study

vegetation of various densities

includingRobinia pseudoacacia

Ulmus pumila

Pinus tabulaeformis

Platycladus orientalis

Pinus tabulaeformis and Robinia pseudoacaciamixed forests

were investigated.Thirty-six herbaceous species

of which most were masculine plants

were identified in the drainage basin.The herbages species differed significantly under various forest plantations.The majority of plant successions under the forest plantations were still in their infant stages.In terms of total number of species and dominant species

the conifer-broadleaf forest exhibited the best biodiversity

followed byPinus tabulaeformisandRobinia pseudoacacia

whereasUlmus pumilaprovided the worst condition for bio-diversification.In addition

conifer-broadleaf forest performed best in regard to species diversity and evenness index

in sequence followed byRobinia pseudoacacia

Pinus tabulaeformis

Ulmus pumila

andPlatycladus orientalis.