Table 2 Distribution of S. borealis, site characteristics, and vegetation layer structure of the surveyed plots from the five national parks

S. borealis patches

No. of patches found

202

41

32

71

90

 Whole slope (%)

67⁽¹⁾

85

91

94

67

 1000 ~ 2500 (%)

8

0

0

0

2

 100 ~ 1000 (%)

16

5

3

3

7

 ≤ 100 (%)

9

10

6

3

24

Vegetation

Type

Quercus mongolica-dominated deciduous forest

Abies holophylla mixed deciduous forest

Quercus mongolica-dominated deciduous forest

Quercus mongolica-dominated deciduous forest

Quercus mongolica-dominated deciduous forest

 Tree layer (%)

91.7 ± 0.4

90.4 ± 1.0

89.6 ± 1.3

90.1 ± 1.2

85.2 ± 1.4

 Subtree layer (%)

32.9 ± 1.3

40.8 ± 3.2

36.1 ± 3.2

47.2 ± 2.8

58.4 ± 2.3

 Shrub layer (%)

29.6 ± 1.3

26.1 ± 2.0

27.2 ± 2.2

33.1 ± 2.1

32.6 ± 1.3

 Herb layer (%)

65.2 ± 2.6

86.7 ± 2.8

90.8 ± 2.0

94.3 ± 1.0

91.6 ± 0.5

Site

Elevation (range, m)

188–1097

672–1172

741–1317

634–1610

630–1618

Slope (range, °)

5–50

5–35

10–60

5–60

0–70

 Valley and lower slope (%)

72⁽²⁾

73

50

39

48

 Upper and middle slope (%)

16

27

38

34

33

 Ridge and top (%)

13

–

13

27

19