Changes of vein traits and leaf nitrogen concentration of plant affect the formation of leaf economic spectrum, which provides a theoretical basis for verifying the construction of leaf vein network function in leaf structure. The mass-based nitrogen content (N_mass) and area-based nitrogen content (N_area) were used as leaf nitrogen concentration in this study. Principal component analysis and linear regressions were used to determine the relationships of vein density with leaf nitrogen concentration of Dodonaea viscose in three natural habitats. The study area was located in the rocky desertification area in Dongshan Township, Wenshan City, Yunnan (23°54'N, 104°58'E). According to the light condition of forest community, D. viscosa population was divided into 3 microenvironments including open areas of forest (I), forest edge (II), and forest understory (III). We sampled 10 (10 m×10 m) D. viscose plots from each microenvironment and investigated photosynthesis of the plants and environmental factors at three gradients. Three individuals of D. viscose were selected in each plot. The leaf area, leaf dry weight, chlorophyll content, vein density (VD), N_mass and N_area of 12 healthy leaves from 4 directions in each individual were measured at laboratory. The results indicated that specific leaf area, total chlorophyll content, light use efficiency, and N_mass of D. viscosa increased gradually along the gradient from I to III in arbor-shrub community, while the light saturation point, light compensation point, water use efficiency, VD, and N_area decreased gradually. The net photosynthetic rate (P_n), transpiration rate (T_r), stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency increased firstly and then decreased. There were varying correlations between VD and leaf nitrogen content. VD was significantly negatively correlated with N_mass (P<0.05), but had a significantly positive correlation with N_area in I and III (P<0.05). The correlation was not significant between VD both N_mass and N_area in II (P>0.05). In the open areas of forest habitats, which were characterized by strong light intensity, D. viscosa had a higher VD, N_area and lower N_mass than those growing on forest edge and forest understory habitats. While the opposite patterns were seen in the shady habitats, reflecting the strong leaf vein plasticity of plants in rocky desertification areas and its balance mechanism with nitrogen utilization traits.