Abstract: In order to understand the current situation of medicinal and edible wild plants resources and development and utilization in Xiangxi region. By means of field investigation and literature review, the family composition, living habits, habitat and distribution pattern, function and utilization of medicinal and edible plants in this area were investigated and analyzed. The results showed that there were 57species of medicinal and edible wild plants belonging to 30 families and 52 genera in Xiangxi region. Among them, Liliaceae, Compositae, Gramineae, Lamiaceae and Rosaceae were the dominant quantitative families, Polygonatum, Lilium, Amygdalus and Ziziphus were the dominant quantitative genera. There are 35 herbaceous plants and 23 woody plants, and herbaceous plants are dominant. Among 21 habitats, hillside, cultivated land, forest and roadside are important habitats for medicinal and edible plants in Xiangxi region. In the distribution pattern, the horizontal distribution pattern of the southern and northern regions is basically uniform. The vertical distribution was significantly different, and the medicinal and edible plants were most distributed in the low mountain area. In terms of function and utilization, there are many functions, parts and methods of medicinal and edible plants. Among them, plants with heat-clearing medicinal and edible health care effect are the most. Plants with edible and medicinal stems accounted for the highest proportion. Most plants are decocted for medicine and cooked in soup/porridge. Xiangxi region is rich in medicinal and edible plant resources and has great potential. The protection, comprehensive research, development and utilization of local medicinal and edible plants should be carried out, and corresponding measures should be taken to promote the development of medicinal and edible plant resources in Xiangxi region.

Key words: Xiangxi, medicinal and edible plant, investigation and analysis, development and utilizatio