Phytolith analysis is a promising tool for paleovegetation reconstruction. However, the reliability of broadleaved phytoliths in distinguishing forest types in the Dongting Lake Basin, China, requires further investigation to enhance the accuracy of phytolith-based vegetation reconstructions. In this study, we analyzed phytolith assemblages of 50 broadleaved woody plants and 62 topsoil samples from three forest vegetation types: Evergreen broadleaved forest (EBF), evergreen/deciduous broadleaved mixed forest (EDBF), deciduous broadleaved forest (DBF). The results showed that phytolith production and morphology of different broadleaved woody plants were significantly different. Evergreen broadleaved and deciduous broadleaved woody plants can be clearly distinguished based on their phytolith assemblages. Eight broadleaved phytolith types (TABULAR SINUATE, POLYHEDRAL, ELONGATE ENTIRE, ELONGATE ATTENUATE, ELONGATE ENTIRE ATTENUATE, SCLEREID, FAVOSE, and HAIR CELL) were identified in the topsoil of different forest types, accounting for -5% of total phytoliths, and broadleaved phytolith assemblages in the topsoil under different forest types were also different. The highest percentage of ELONGATE (ELONGATE ENTIRE, ELONGATE ATTENUATE and ELONGATE ENTIRE ATTENUATE) (63% on average) was under DBF, followed by EDBF (35% on average); and the lowest percentage (12% on average) was below EBF. In contrast, the highest percentage of TABULAR SINUATE was in EBF (47% on average), the lowest was in EDBF (29% on average), an intermediate percentage was found in DBF (35% on average). The percentage of the POLYHEDRAL was highest beneath EDBF (33% on average), whereas there was little difference in the representation of this morphotype beneath DBF and EBF (averages of 13% and 12%, respectively). Other broadleaved phytoliths were present only at individual sites and at low levels. Broadleaved phytolith assemblages were successfully used to distinguish between EBF, EDBF and DBF. We also for the first time established an index (B/S, the ratio of broadleaved phytoliths to grass silica short-cell phytoliths) to semi-quantitatively distinguish different forest types, the B/S values in the topsoil of the different forest types were as follows: EBF:<0.03; EDBF: 0.03-0.04; DBF > 0.04. The phytolith index was further applied to an additional 30 sites, and successfully differentiated different forest types. 83.33% of samples were correctly classified within their corresponding groups. The results of a paleovegetation reconstruction based on the B/S index show that the SWGT region has experienced substantial vegetation changes during the Holocene-from EDBF to EBF. Therefore, our results support the use of broadleaved woody phytoliths and their indices in the topsoil to distinguish different forest types, and provide a useful reference for phytolith-based forest vegetation reconstruction in the Dongting Lake Basin, China.