Abstract: Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. sinensis Rousi is confined to China. The subspecies, a primitive member of the genus, is one of important plant resources for food and medicinal industry and also a genetic resource for breeding. The subspecies ranges from Southwest to Northeast China, i .e .from the northeast part of Tibet to the sourthwest corner of the Da Hinggan Mountains ,through Loess Plateau. Made in this paper was an analysis of the limits of tolerance, the limiting factors and the fittest value, and of ecological factors regulating the distribution area of the subspecies such as heat, sunshine and rainfall. The analysis is based on comparison of the similarities between the distribution range and the isolines of the various ecological factors, combined with the field work of the subspecies. The result indicates that not only does the bush of Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. sinensis Rousi occupy a stable geographical range, but also it shows a zonal distribution pattern, controlled by rainfall and heat. Its geographical range is roughly located in the transitional zone of three vegetation regions in China, i.e. the east moist forest region, the northwest desert and steppe region and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau alpine vegetation region. Therefore, the bush can be used for delimitating the three vegetation regions. This fact implies that the concept should be revised that the distribution of bushes is not of obvious horizontal-zonal pattern. Also discussed in the present paper are ecological conditions for the artificial Seabuckthron’s garden, the relationship between thegeographical range and the planting system in agriculture as well as the afforestation.

Key words: Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. Sinensis, Zonation of vegetation, Ecological factors, Agricultural regionalization, Afforestation