In order to provide theoretical basis for evaluations on ecological function rehabilitation and vegetation development,the herbaceous structure and diversity of the artificial forests were analyzed in the hill and gully region of the Western Shanxi Province.In this study, vegetation of various densities,includingRobinia pseudoacacia,Ulmus pumila,Pinus tabulaeformis,Platycladus orientalis ,Pinus tabulaeformis and Robinia pseudoacaciamixed forests,were investigated.Thirty-six herbaceous species,of which most were masculine plants,were identified in the drainage basin.The herbages species differed significantly under various forest plantations.The majority of plant successions under the forest plantations were still in their infant stages.In terms of total number of species and dominant species,the conifer-broadleaf forest exhibited the best biodiversity,followed byPinus tabulaeformisandRobinia pseudoacacia, whereasUlmus pumilaprovided the worst condition for bio-diversification.In addition,conifer-broadleaf forest performed best in regard to species diversity and evenness index, in sequence followed byRobinia pseudoacacia,Pinus tabulaeformis,Ulmus pumila, andPlatycladus orientalis.