Abstract: Kirengeshoma palmata, an endemic relict plant in East Asia, is a robust perennial erect herbaceous species and is listed as a Class Ⅱ National Key Protected Wild Plant of China. The Anhui Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve represents one of its core distribution areas. However, the current status of theK. palmatapopulation in this area remains unclear. In this study, the current population status ofK. palmatain this nature reserve and its surrounding areas was investigated using the line-transect method. A total of 826 clumps distributed across 67 patches were documented, primarily concentrated in four areas at elevations between 900 and 1400 m. Patches with more clumps tended to occur at higher altitudes. In terms of plant type composition across the four areas, “non-flowering clumps” and “flowering clumps” were dominant, while “Juvenile” and “degenerated clumps” were relatively scarce. The number of branches per clump was mostly between one and three. Key differences among the areas included: a relatively high proportion of degenerated clumps in the Zhanlingwanyuan Area; the Shibalongtan Area predominantly had clumps with 2－3 branches, whereas other areas were dominated by single-branch clumps; the Shibalongtan Area also had the highest average number of flowering branches per clump, while the Xiejia Area had the lowest. In the context of global warming, the cool-preferring biological characteristics ofK. palmataand its limited upward shift within a confined elevation range are likely the primary factors endangering its survival. Corresponding conservation recommendations have been proposed based on this analysis.

Key words: Kirengeshoma palmata, Anhui Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve, population status, endangered, conservation suggestions