Abstract: In order to improve the management and utilization level of Cyclocarya paliurus leaf forest in southern Henan Province, the dry matter content, relative chlorophyll content and specific leaf area were investigated of Cyclocarya paliurus plantation leaves in different years, months and tree crown positions. The results showed that the leaf dry matter rate of Cyclocarya paliurus plantation in southern Henan Province was the lowest in May, which was 38.38%. And the leaf dry matter rate of Cyclocarya paliurus plantation varied the most in different years in August, the extreme difference was 38.27%. From September to November, leaf dry matter rate tended to be stable at the median level throughout the year. The average dry matter rate varied from year to year, but was relatively stable. In terms of spatial pattern, leaf dry matter content gradually increased with crown height from bottom to top, with mean values of 34.30%, 46.41% and 50.49%, respectively. The dry matter rate of upper leaves was significantly higher than that of lower leaves, but there was no significant difference in leaf dry matter rate in all parts of the tree. The average of relative chlorophyll content（SPAD） was 2.11, 2.51, and 2.63, from top to bottom respectively, and the average of leaf area from bottom to top was 33.43, 21.58, and 18.63 cm²/g, respectively. According to the conclusion, the middle and upper leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus had higher dry matter content, greater leaf density and thickness from October to November, which were easy to be dried or roasted, and more suitable for tea processing. In the management of forest land, through tree body pruning and dwarfing, the upper leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus were used as raw materials to improve the quality of Cyclocarya paliurus leaf tea.

Key words: Cyclocarya paliurus（Batal.） Ijinsk., leaf dry matter content, month, tree crown, spatiotemporal patterns