The characteristics,such as standing crop,water holding capacity,and proportional water holding capacity and absorption rates,were studied in plantations of Michelia macclurei,Schima superba and Castanopsis fissa.The dry litter standing crop of M.macclurei,S.superba and C.fissa were 10 488,5 159 and 5 583 kg/hm~2,respectively.The order of total water holding capacity of litter was M.macclurei>C.fissa>S.superba before 2 h immersed in water and was C.fissa>M.macclurei>S.superba after 2 h immersed in water.The biggest water holding capacity of litter of C.fissa woodland was the largest(17 709 kg/hm~2) among the three woodlands,followed by the M.macclurei woodland(16 576 kg/hm~2) and the S.superba woodland(13 374 kg/hm~2).The proportional water holding capacity as a percentage of the litter dry weight in M.macclurei,S.superba and C.fissa woodlands were 158%,258% and 309%,respectively.The total water holding capacity and proportional water holding capacity of litter increased logarithmically with increasing time immersed in water.The order of water absorption rate of litter in the three woodlands was C.fissa>S.superba>M.macclurei.Water absorption rates of litter in all plantations decreased according to equation Y=a b/t with increasing time immersed in water.