[Objective] This paper aimed at revealing the rules of phenotypic variation of Leymus chinensis in Zhalong wetlands and providing the scientific and theoretical bases for devising protection strategies of Leymus chinensis populations in Zhalong National Nature Reserve.[Method] Four phenotypic traits of five Leymus chinensis populations in Zhalong Wetlands were comparison and analysis using principal component analysis method and UPGMA cluster analysis method.[Result] There were significant differences among the four phenotypic traits of five populations,the order of coefficients of variation were node number〉plant height〉leaf width〉leaf length;the order of variation degrees of the populations from large to small was KQH,MD,JZ,ZK,TTG population.Results of principal component analysis suggested that the four traits were all factors led to the phenotypic differences among the populations of Leymus chinensis.Leymus chinensis of five populations were divided into three groups by cluster analysis,MD,JZ and TTG were classified as one group,KQH and ZK population were individually classified as one group.[Conclusion] Leymus chinensis had large-scale phenotypic variations and showed strong adaptability to different habitats,which was very important for selection,breeding of fine varieties and germplasm conservation.
