Abstract: Alpine meadow plants were collected and analysed to characterize the n-alkanes present. The results showed that the carbon number of n-alkanes of individual plants varied from C₈ to C₄₀ and n-alkanes content ranged from 0.8 to 22.9 mg/kg. The C₂₇, C₂₉, C₃₁ and C₃₃ n-alkanes contents were greater than that of remaining n-alkanes; total n-alkane (C_total) ranged from 35.0 to 78.6 mg/kg, while the long chain n-alkane (C_25-36) content ranged from 16.1 to 58.7 mg/kg. The total n-alkane and long chain n-alkane content was highest in Heteropappus altaicus and least in Cremanthodium lineare. Analysis of the n-alkane distribution of the Cmax among 58 plants sampled revealed one species with a C_max of C₁₉, two species with C₂₂, two species with C₂₇, 23 species with C₂₉, 27 species with C₃₁, one species with C₃₂ and two species with C₃₃. The CPI_total ranged from 1.1 to 4.3, and the CPI_25-36 from 1.1 to 8.2. The ACL_total ranged from 23.5 to 27.2, and the ACL_27-33 from 28.0 to 31.1. The P_max ranged from 0.6 to 0.9. The sampled plants contained abundant long-chain n-alkanes with a significant odd carbon number preference.