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The spatial differentiation of forest canopy branches and leaves affects rainfall interception. However, the scientific expression of the spatial differentiation of forest canopy branches and leaves has not been clarified, and revealing the effect of spatial differentiation of branches and leaves of the vertical structure of the forest canopy on rainfall interception is difficult. Using the Pinus massoniana planted in Changting County, China, as the research object, this study quantified the spatial differentiation of canopy branches and leaves in a hierarchical manner by combining the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) three-dimensional point cloud model with the landscape metrics and further simulated the interception mechanism of Pinus massoniana forest canopy on rainfall of different intensities by constructing the principal component regression model. The results showed that the spatial differentiation of canopy branches and leaves in different strata responds differently to different rainfall intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]