Abstract: From biological aspect, this paper studied the basic characteristics of biomass allocation of Dicranopteris dichotoma in typical hilly area with granite and purple sandy shale. The results indicated that the total biomass of D. dichotoma had less difference among the sampling sites, but the allocation of above and under-ground biomass was different, being mainly affected by environmental conditions. The aboveground biomass increased, while underground biomass decreased from the top to the bottom of the hill. Among the models of D. dichotomabiomass allocation, those with the product of crown breadth (D₁·D₂) and plant height (H₁) as independent variable were best fitted. The rhizome ofD. dichotoma mainly distributed in 0-4 cm soil layer, with most at around 1 cm depth. However, sandy soil deposition made the rhizome distributed deeper and in stratification. The length of living rhizome had a negative correlation with soil depth, and a linear correlation with root biomass. In mountainous area of South China, D. dichotoma is an economic and effective plant for water and soil conservation, and thus, its protection and application should be enhanced.

Key words: Cicadulina bipunctella, Life table parameters, Host plants