Abstract: We investigated the composition and diversity of wild Hemerocallis community in the Licheng County of Shanxi Province, and analyzed community characteristics and stability using TWINSPAN classification and DCA ordination, α and β species diversity, and Godron community stability. The results showed that: (1) 72 quadrats of wild Hemerocallis communities could be divided into 12 associations and two groups by TWINSPAN classification. (2) The first and second DCA axes of the 72 quadrats respectively represented the changes of dominant species and diversity in different wild Hemerocallis associations. Along the first axis of DCA from left to right, the co-dominant species gradually changed from the associations VIII-XI dominated by H. esculenta to the associations of I-VII and XII dominated by H. citrine. Along the second axis from top to bottom, species diversity of the associations gradually decreased. The change tendency of DCA ordination of 72 plant species was basically consistent with that of the DCA ordination of quadrats. (3) Shannon diversity index, Simpson diversity index, Patrick richness index, and Margalef richness index of the 12 associations were significantly different, but with similar changing trends. The change tendency of S-rensen similarity coefficient was basically consistent with that of the Jaccard similarity coefficient, but the species compositions and habitats of 12 associations were different to some extent. (4) The 12 associations were unstable and the relationship between species diversity and association stability was inconsistent. In summary, wild Hemerocallis community in the Licheng County was unstable, which was highly affected by habitat conditions and human disturbances (such as tourism and grazing). Therefore, scientific protection of wild Hemerocallis germplasm resources in this region should be strengthened in the future.

Key words: wild Hemerocallis community, classification and ordination, species diversity, community stability