| We examined the effect of seed mass on seedling performance and biomass allocation within several common plants of Alpine meadow. Seedlings were grown in hydroponic sand culture in factorial combinations of high (813μmol-2s-1) and low (138μmolm-2s-1) irradiance crossed with high (full-strength Hoagland's hydroponic solution) and low nutrient. We examined the relationships between seed mass and several growth variables, allocation patterns of seedlings grown in different culture conditions, and the index of phenotypic plasticity of seedlings in experiment two. Seedlings were harvest at 10, 20, 30 and 40 days post transplanted. We conclude that, first, these eight species adjusted the partitioning of biomass in response to variation in light and nutrient availability and the root to shoot ratio changed in a manner consistent with the predictions of balanced growth hypothesis. Second, except saussurea alata, saussurea acroura, saussurea dzeurensis, other five species displayed a trend that L+N->L-N+ for allocation to seedling total mass. Third , these plants were more sensitive to light availability during early growth stages. Fourth, seedling biomass was positively correlated with seed mass, root to shoot ratio was negatively correlated with seed mass, and expert for L-N+ treatment relative growth rate was positively correlated with seed mass. Fifth, there was no regulation found between seed mass and the dynamic tendency of seedling total mass, leaf area, root to shoot ratio, as well as root system length under different treatments during the 40-d period. And sixth, for mean index of phenotypic of seedlings in experiment two the ranking was Nepeta densiflora>Festuca rubra Linn. >Festuca sinensis Keng>Herba Cirsii Jeponici.>Saussurea nigrescens Maxim>Trollius chinensis>Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi>Salvia glutinasa L. Soucce>Saussurea salicifolia>Poa pratensis>Saussurea pachyneura Fr.>Eisholtzia saxatilis >Delpginium grandiflorum L.
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