Abstract: The average contents of trace elements Zn, Cu, Mo, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, As and Hg in some herbaceous plants in Hainan province are tested to be 40.49, 8.39, 7.16, 2.47, 1.24, 1.50, 0.85, 0.71 and 0.07 mg/kg, respectively, so we can find that their orders are Zn>Cu>Mo>Pb>Cr>Cd>Ni>As>Hg. The contents of trace elements in Paspalum commersonii and Elephantopus scaber are high, while the contents in Schizachyrium sanguineum and Imperata cylindrica are usually low. Mo, Hg, Cd, Cu, Zn are easy to transfer, their coefficients of absorption are usually higher than 1.0. Cr, Ni, Pb, As are hard to transfer,their coefficients of absorption are all mostly lower than 0.3. The contents of trace elements in herbaceous plants are affected by the species of the plant and the soil environment.

Key words: herbaceous plant, trace element, coefficient of absorption, Hainan province