A Discussion to Methods Used in Studies on Floristic Affinities between Regional Floras in China

The distribution types of Chinese seed plants at generic level were documented by Z.Y.Wu and 15 areal-types were recognised. Following Wu’s documentation, areal-types of regional floras from China have been broadly studied. A recent paper suggests a method, which defined floristic affinities by the similarities of composition of areal-types of compared regional floras. This method could not be accepted for defining floristic affinities between regional floras because the similarities of composition of areal-types do not necessarily correspond to floristic similarities. The same generic areal-type can be composed by different genera from different plant families. Similarities of composition of areal-types between compared regional floras do not necessarily represent their floristic similarities. Floristic affinity could be defined by resemblance coefficients of species, genera and families, especially those of endemic ones common to these regions, between the compared regional floras.