Concentrations of rare earth elements(REEs)in soil and plant samples collected from different areas,West Guangdong were determined with the ICP-MS method to study geochemical characteristics of these elements.Results show that no big difference was found within a soil plant system in REEs distribution pattern,but they were detected between soils derived from different parent materials,with the soils derived from granite being the highest in REE concentration.Within a soil profile, REE concentrations were higher in B and C horizons than in A horizon.Differentiation between light REEs and heavy REEs occurred displaying some extent of negative Eu anomaly changes,while Ce showed posit ive anomaly in all soil layers.Plants different in genera growing in the same sampling site were quite similar in REE distribution pattern,but plant of the same genera growing in soils derived from different parent materials differed in REE distribut ion pattern.Obviously,REE distribution in plants are influenced by the soils they grow in and also displays their individual biogeochemical characteristics.Biological absorpt ion coefficients indicate that plants vary sharply in REE absorption capacity.REEs are obviously fractionated when they are transported and migrated from soils to plants,revealing that heavy REEs are relatively sparse.