Abstract: Based on the simple relation of the culture on both western Hunan nature and ethnic medicine,the current situation on the development and use of the medicinal plant resources in western Hunan was generalized and the important role of ethnobotany in the development and use of the plant resources in western Hunan was elaborated.It was considered that the study on ethnobotany could provided directions in theory for the development of medicinal plant resources in west Hunan and could boost west Hunan ethnic medicine famous in the world.

Key words: ethnobotany, medicinal plant resources, west Hunan