Abstract: With the combination of ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeats), SRAP (sequence-r elated amplified polymorphism) and spatial autocorrelation, the genetic diversit y and spatial structure per unit patch of three Huaiyuan populations of Thymus quinquecostatus in southeast China were analyzed. The results showed that there e xisted higher levels of genetic and clonal diversity among the patches within th e wild T. quinquecostatus populations, with the percentage of polymorphic lo c being 7575%, Nei’s gene diversity being 02537, Shannon’s information ind ex being 03811, percent of genetype (G/N) being 061, Simpson index (D) bein g 096, and Fager index (E) being 091. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that only 965% of genetic variation resided among the populations, whi le 9035% of it resided among the individuals within the populations. No genoty pe patches in common were observed among the three populations. The spatial dist ribution of the same patches showed a concentrated distribution about 0〖KG-*2〗 -〖KG-*7〗25 m, and that of different patches showed an inlaid distribution. Exc ept for some locations that showed par correlations in the Huaiyuan populations of T. quinquecostatus, most locations lacked in spatial structure according to spatial autocorrelation analysis. The possible mechanism causing the establis hment of the patches of T. quinquecostatus populations was due to seed dispe rsing, and the following clonal reproduction played important roles in patch dev elopment and population expanding.

Key words: Southwest China, trade-off, ecosystem service, win-win