Abstract: The genotype resource and biological characteristics of oil-bearing forests in Hubei province were investigated and studied.Results showed that oil-bearing forest resource in Hubei is rich and distributed broadly, including 253 species belonging to 54 genera of 31 families,which account for 70 % of the oil-bearing plants in Hubei province (including 365 species belonging to 221 genera of 80 families).Most of these oil-bearing forests in Hubei province are natural and wild.The history of artificially cultivated oil-bearing plants is centuries-old and the potential of development is great.To make best use of the superiority of oil-bearing forests in Hubei province, the ideas and suggestions on the exploitation and utilization of oil-bearing forests are put forward.

Key words: oil-beaning forest, resource status