As an ancient and endemic plant in China, Chimonanthus praecox has been widely distributed in southern China in the past. The population number of C. praecox has declined significantly because of habitat fragmentation and human influence. Thirty-one EST-SSR markers were developed from the species’ EST sequences and eight polymorphic EST-SSR markers were chosen to analyze the genetic diversity and structure of ten natural populations. The results indicated that the genetic diversity levels were low among populations and genetic variations of populations were mainly emerged among groups. F-statistics revealed great genetic differentiation among populations (F_ST = 0.270), albeit the moderate gene flow existed (Nm = 0.676). Complex genetic differentiation and genetic structure of C. praecox were determined with UPGMA cluster tree and Bayesian clustering analysis. Five barriers were implied in the species’ geographical distributions using the Landscape Shape Interpolation and Monmonier's Maximum Difference Algorithm analysis. According to the genetic results and habitat-dependent characteristics of the species, in situ conservation strategy was suggested to all populations.

The environmental heterogeneity caused by altitude can lead to trade-offs in nutrient utilization and allocation strategies among plant organs; however, there is still a lack of research on the nutrient variation in the “flower–leaf–branch–fine root–soil” systems of native shrubs along altitude gradients in China’s unique karst regions. Therefore, we analyzed the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents and their ratios in flowers, leaves, branches, fine roots, and surface soil of Hypericum kouytchense shrubs across 2200–2700 m altitudinal range in southwestern China’s karst areas, where this species is widely distributed and grows well. The results show that H. kouytchense organs had higher N content than both global and Chinese plant averages. The order of C:N:P value across plant organs was branches > fine roots > flowers > leaves. Altitude significantly affected the nutrient dynamics in plant organs and soil. With increasing altitude, P content in plant organs exhibited a significant concave pattern, leading to unimodal trends in the C:P of plant organs, as well as the N:P of leaves and fine roots. Meanwhile, plant organs except branches displayed significant homeostasis coefficients in C:P and fine root P, indicating a shift in H. kouytchense’s P utilization strategy from acquisitive-type to conservative-type. Strong positive relationships between plant organs and soil P and available P revealed that P was the key driver of nutrient cycling in H. kouytchense shrubs, enhancing plant organ–soil coupling relationships. In conclusion, H. kouytchense demonstrates flexible adaptability, suggesting that future vegetation restoration and conservation management projects in karst ecosystems should consider the nutrient adaptation strategies of different species, paying particular attention to P utilization.