Dwarf bamboos are acknowledged as being key to the structure and dynamics of subalpine forests, since they are widely distributed and often form exclusively dense undergrowth in such environments. In South-West Sichuan in China, several species of dwarf bamboo dominate forest understories, where they have been shown to impede the regeneration of many canopy tree species. However, although the inhibitory effects of dwarf bamboos on tree regeneration have been widely documented, there are comparatively few studies documenting the clonal plastic responses of dwarf bamboo to differing canopy conditions.The aim of this study is to determine the effects of canopy conditions on clump and culm numbers, and to describe the morphological plasticity and biomass distribution patterns of the dwarf bamboo species Fargesia nitida. The specific objectives of the study are:（1）to describe the effects of canopy conditions on the growth and morphological characteristics of F. nitida, and （2）to describe the adaptive responses of F. nitida to the different canopy conditions and its ecological senses.F. nitida, one of the Giant Panda’s main dietary sources of bamboo, is mainly distributed within the coniferous belt in Western Sichuan and Southern Gansu in China, at an altitude of between 2450 and 3200 metres. The investigations for this study were conducted in an Abies faxoniana forest situated in the Wolong Nature Reserve in Western Sichuan. The clonal plant F. nitida was surveyed under four different canopy conditions to interpret its clonal plasticity under a range of forest canopies. Data on clump and culm numbers, biomass and morphological characteristics were obtained from three types of canopy gap and one forest edge wilderness; the gap types were: forest understory (FU), intermediate gap (MG) and large gap (LG). While these plots differed in canopy conditions, the canopy tree compositions, topographical traits and soil traits were all homogeneous.The results of the study indicate that forest canopy has a significant effect on the genet density and culm number per clump, but that it does not affect the ramet density. Clumps tend to be few and large in gaps and forest edge plots, and small under forest understory plots. The ramets show even distribution under the closed canopy, and cluster distribution under gaps and forest edge plots. The forest canopy has a significant effect on both the ramets’ biomass and biomass allocation. Favourable light conditions promote the ramet growth and biomass accumulation. The greater biomass amounts in gaps and forest edge plots is shown by the higher number of culms per clump and the diameter of these culms. Under closed canopy, the bamboos increase their branching angle, leaf biomass allocation, specific leaf area and leaf area ratio to exploit the more favourable light conditions in these locations. The spacer length, specific spacer length and spacer branching angles all show significant differences between gaps and closed canopy conditions. The larger specific spacer length and spacer branching angle are beneficial for bamboo growth, scattering the ramets and exploiting the more favourable light conditions.In summary, this study shows that to varying degrees, F. nitida exhibits both a wide ecological amplitude and a high degree of morphological plasticity in response to differing forest canopy conditions. Moreover, the plasticity changes enable the plants to optimize their light usage efficiency to promote growth and increase access to resources available in heterogeneous light environments.