Hainan Island possesses unique ecological conditions that nurture abundant wild tea resources. This study systematically investigated the distribution patterns and growth models of wild tea trees in Hainan through literature review and field surveys. Curvilinear regression analysis was employed to establish growth relationships among tree height (H), crown width (P), diameter at breast height (DBH, D), and basal diameter (d). Wild tea populations are distributed in Wuzhishan City, Baoting County, Qiongzhong County, Baisha County, Ledong County, and Lingshui County, spanning longitudes 108.85°E–109.91°E, latitudes 18.21°N–19.19°N, and elevations 357.0–1410.6 m. The population primarily occur in secondary forests and cultivated tea gardens, with significant canopy density fluctuations. The wild tea tree resources in the study area were mainly distributed in sheets, and 6915 wild tea trees were preliminarily investigated in 6 cities and counties, and the area with the largest number of wild tea trees was Wuzhishan, with a total of 4461 trees, accounting for 64.51% of the total. Wild tea tree diameter structure showed a normal distribution characteristic with grade II seedlings accounting for the main body (40.68%), followed by grade I seedlings (25.29%), and only 2.22% of the V–VI. large-diameter wild tea trees remaining, showing an obvious juvenile structure. Maximum crown width (11.5 m) and tree height (26.0 m) were recorded in Wuzhishan City, alongside the highest coefficients of variation for crown width (56.53%) and height (53.87%), with a crown-to-height ratio of 0.62. Optimal cubic regression models for growth relationships were: H=0.614+0.014C-0.258C2+2.13C3 (R2=0.488, h<700 m); H=1.949-0.001D+0.020D2+0.248D3 (R2=0.340, 700 m≤h<1300 m); D=-0.726+0.001d-0.024d2+1.026d3 (R2=0.887, h≥1300 m). The research would provide critical data for ecological monitoring in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, tea germplasm conservation, and green certification of tea industries. It also would advance carbon sink management under China’s carbon neutrality goals and highlights the urgency for scientific conservation and sustainable utilization of wild tea resources to enhance biodiversity and regional socioecological resilience.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |