Composition of seed plant species and floristic features in the Gobi area of the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China

We studied the flora and composition of plant species in the Gobi area of the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Results showed that:(1) species composition was poor,with 69 plant species,belonging to 17 families and 50 genera.Among these species,shrubs,subshrubs,and perennial plants were the main life forms.(2) Chenopodiaceae,Asteraceae,Tamaricaceae,Poaceae,and Fabaceae were the dominant families,and Reaumuria songarica(Pall.) Maxim.,Ceratoides latens(J.F.Gmel.) Reveal et Holmgren,Sympegma regelii Bunge,Calligonum mongolicum Turcz.,Ephedra przewalskii Stapf,and Salsola laricifolia Turcz.ex Litv.were the dominant species.(3) The geographical elements of the flora were complex.The distribution type of the families was predominantly Cosmopolitan,whereas total genera were dominated by North Temperate and Mediterranea,W.Asia to C.Asia.Chinese endemic species and Gobi area endemic species accounted for most of the constructive or dominant species of the Gobi area vegetation types.(4) Compared with other deserts,North Temperate and its subtypes and Mediterranea.W.Asia to C.Asia and its subtypes accounted for over 65% of the total genera,higher than that found in the Black Gobi,Kumtag,and West-North deserts of China.The composition of the flora was particular and transitional.