Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (2): 522-540.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.02.20

• Plant and Plant Physiology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Floristic characteristics of the genus Allium Linnaeus in Xinjiang, China

ZHANG Qiaoguan1,2(),ZHANG Daoyuan1,3(),LIU Huiliang1,4   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
    3. Turpan Eremophytes Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Turpan 838000, Xinjiang, China
    4. Ili Botanical Garden, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinyuan 835815, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2021-10-15 Revised:2022-01-12 Online:2022-03-15 Published:2022-03-30
  • Contact: Daoyuan ZHANG E-mail:gmqggg@163.com;Zhangdy@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Abstract:

The Allium Linnaeus is an important plant resource of great value with many species. It is situated in Central Asia and the hinterland of the Eurasian continent. Xinjiang of China harbors a wide plant diversity of Allium Linnaeus. To probe into the plant resources and the floristic characteristics of Allium Linnaeus in Xinjiang Province, combining and verifying monographs, literature, bibliographies with specimens from this genus can provide some profound support and outline for taxonomy, classification, biodiversity conservation as well as proper and sound utilization of Allium plants. We hope this study can help further research into this genus (Allium Linnaeus). Based on previous and present references, studies, records, and information about Allium Linnaeus, Allium plants from Xinjiang Province comprise about 58 species, 1 subspecies, 2 varieties, and 6 cultivated species. The floristic characteristics of Allium Linnaeus in Xinjiang Province are summarized as follows: (1) Allium plants of Xinjiang Province are mainly distributed in the Tianshan Mountains, Ili, Tacheng, Altay, and Kashgar, with most of them inhabiting the deserts, steppes, the dry slopes, gravel grounds, mountains, alps, and forest floor (or forests). (2) In terms of the areal-types of geographical elements, the II C5b elements (the Junggar subregion, of the temperate desert) has the largest percentage composition, followed by the I A2 (the Altay region), II C5a (the Tacheng-Ili subregion), I A3 (the Tianshan region), II C6c (the Kashgar subregion). (3) From the perspective of the vegetation regionalization of Xinjiang, the Allium plant species in the vegetation provinces with the IB1, IIA2, IIA1, IIB3 make up most vegetation regionalization types in Xinjiang; the IIB1, IA1, IIB2 follow this; and with a relatively few occurrences in the vegetation province II B4, I C1. (4) Both horizontal distribution and vertical distribution of Allium Linnaeus in Xinjiang are differentiated. (5) The common Allium species in Xinjiang and the adjacent countries (especially in Kazakhstan and Russia) were significantly more than other neighbouring regions. Also, the number of the common Allium species presented a slight distinction. It indicated a higher similarity in the common Allium species among Kazakhstan, Russia, and Xinjiang of China, reflecting the distinctive connection, exchange, interrelation, and affinity with other neighboring floristic components. Henceforth, holistic, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and sufficient research integrating with molecular phylogeny (phylofloristics), phylogenetic, evolutionary processes, history, and information (historical floristic phytogeography), phylogenetics, and molecular biogeography are proposed.

Key words: Allium Linnaeus, species biodiversity, flora, floristic characteristics, floristic affinity, Xinjiang of China