To study the distribution and growth trait of Vitex negundo shrub in the Loess region

three typical regions: the Loess tableland beam gully region

the broken Loess tableland beam gully region and the rocky mountain gully region were selected as the experiment sites. The growth indexes and its correlation with climate factors were determined by using the field survey and the observation of fixed position. The results showed that all of growth indexes of Vitex negundo in the three regions were in the following pattern in a significant level: The rocky mountain gully region＞the Loess tableland beam gully region＞the broken Loess tableland beam gully region. The shrub biomasses in the three regions were 2.66

1.78 and 1.07 kg/plant

respectively. The branches number in the rocky mountain gully region was 43.8% higher than that in the Loess tableland beam gully region

and 61.7% higher than that in the broken Loess tableland beam gully region. The correlation analysis showed that all of growth indexes responded to the climate changes in the same way

and Vitex negundo shrub had stronger competition ability compared with the annual and perennial herbs in the shrub community. Therefore

Vitex negundo