Gathering mature trees as experimental materials, we observed the anatomical structure of scale and needle leaves of Sabina vulgaris by using the handsliced method. The aim is to explore the relationship between droughtresistant adaptation and anatomic structure of scale and needle leaves of S. vulgaris, to reveal the ecological significance of heterophylly mechanism of S. vulgaris, and to provide a theoretical basis on widespread use of vegetation restoration and reconstruction of S. vulgaris in the arid and semiarid areas of China. The results show as followed, (1) corneum thickness (CT) of scale leaves was significantly higher than that of needle leaves, while the thickness of abaxial side epidermis(TAB) and adaxial side epidermis(TAD) of scale leaves were both significantly lower than those of needle leaves. That meant scale leaves mainly prevented water loss by thick cuticle, while needle leaves mainly maintain water through the whole thick epidermal system. (2) Opening stoma ratio (OS), stoma aperture(SA), stoma length (SL) and stoma width (SW) of scale leaves all were significantly higher than those of needle leaves, while stoma density (SD) of scale leaves was significantly smaller than that of needle leaves. The results showed that scale leaves had stronger drought tolerance, and needle leaves relied on higher SD and sensitive stomatal closure to react against drought stress. (3) Leaf thickness (LT) and midrib thickness (MT) of scale and needle leaves both had no significant difference, nevertheless thickness of palisade tissue (TP), thickness of spongy tissue (TS), palisade tissue and spongy tissue ratio (P/S)，tightness of leaf palisade tissue (TLP) and area of resin duct (AR) of scale leaves all were significantly higher than those of needle leaves, and xylem thickness (XT), xylem thickness and midrib thickness ratio (X/M) and looseness of leaf spongy tissue (LLS) of scale leaves all were significantly less than those of needle leaves. The observed results indicate that scale leaves adapt to drought by higher P/S and compactness of leaf structure, while needle leaves react against drought by strengthening conducting tissue. The study showed that drought tolerance of scale leaves was stronger than that of needle leaves, and compared with scale leaves, needle leaves mainly chose an avenue of escape to react against drought.