Abstract:Wetlands with many important ecosystem service functions were considered to be the most biologically diverse ecosystems in nature. The health and function of wetland ecosystems were profoundly affected by plant diversity. The understanding of plant diversity and flora was considered an important prerequisite for the development of wetland ecosystem management. Based on the literature data and the survey results of wetland patch samples, this study analyzed the wetland plant species, flora, typical communities and diversity characteristics of Yuan'an County. The results show that there were 108 families, 264 genera and 360 species of wetland plants in Yuan'an County. The family-level floristic distribution types could be divided into 7 types and 5 variants. The distribution types were mainly widespread and tropical in the world, while the temperate distribution types were few. There was only 1 family belong to endemic to China type. There were 54 typical wetland plant communities distributed within the county. The results of different species diversity index shown that, the average Patrick index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson index, Pielou index and Margalef index was 18.80±5.19, 2.15±0.39, 0.81±0.10, 0.75±0.10 and 3.44±0.87, respectively. The Patrick index and Margalef index of the Bidens pilosa form were the lowest, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, the Simpson index, and the Pielou index of the Potamogeton malaianus form were the lowest; the Patrick index of the Colocasia esculenta form was the highest, and the Pielou of the Sapium sebiferum form was the highest. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Simpson index of the Populus canadensis form group were the highest, and the Margalef index of the Flueggea virosa form was the highest. The research results provide basic data and scientific basis for the protection and restoration of wetland ecosystems and management of wetland resources in Yuan'an County and similar areas.