Experimental and numerical (via ANSYS FLUENT) studies have been conducted on the combustion stability and stabilization mechanisms in a localized stratified vortex-tube combustor (LSVC) under lean conditions. The stability limit and flame configuration were obtained under different combustion conditions. Combined with the flow field distribution, the formation mechanisms of the local stratification of species and the resultant flame configuration were analyzed. Results show that the local stratification peculiarity is responsible for the dual flame appearance. On the basis of the local stratification of species, the local equivalence ratio is close to stoichiometry in the vicinity of the flame front, while it is above 1.0 in the interior, enabling the achievement of stable combustion at a global equivalence ratio as low as 0.12 in the LSVC. The flow field can help the transport of the reactive species and yields an intensified combustion and a large density gradient. The peak heat release rate (HRR) of 0.5 W/mm(3) in the LSVC is much higher than that of 0.1 W/mm(3) in the rapidly mixed vortex-tube combustor (RMVC) at the global equivalence ratio of 0.6 and the maximum tangential velocity of 26.44 m/s. The flame-vortex interaction theory provides a new perspective to interpret the rapid flame propagation in vortex-tube combustors. Based on the pressure jump theory, the flame speed was obtained via a specific formula closely related to the density gradient and the injection velocity. It turns out that the flame speed in the LSVC is remarkably higher than that in the RMVC at a certain same combustion condition. Moreover, the decrease of local flow velocity resulted from the strong swirl provides a favorable guarantee for the balance with the local flame speed.