A dataset on inventory and geographical distribution of halophytes of China

doi:10.17520/biods.2025030

Abstract

Abstract:

Halophytes, as a unique group of plants adapted to saline-alkaline environments, play a crucial role in ecological conservation, saline-alkaline land management, and sustainable resource utilization. However, compared to their significance, the systematic inventory of halophytes in China has lagged behind. Existing data primarily come from regional studies or scattered literature records, lacking systematicity and comprehensiveness. This study, based on the foundational data from Halophytes of China (first and second editions) and the global halophyte database (eHaloph), integrates years of field investigations and systematically reviews and supplements the existing inventory data (adding new taxa and new records), improving global distribution information. It also systematically organizes ecological and functional data such as habitat, life form, height, morphology, halophyte type, ecological type, maximum salinity, photosynthetic pathway, and utilization value. Ultimately, we have compiled a dataset on the new inventory and geographical distributions of Chinese halophytes. Up to 2024, this dataset includes 102 families, 538 genera, 1,581 species (including 31 subspecies and 37 varieties) from China. With the advancement of agricultural development and ecological restoration efforts, some exotic halophytes have gradually become naturalized and integrated into China’s halophyte communities. Compared to the of Halophytes of China, 2nd edn, this dataset includes an additional 31 families, 310 genera, 1,026 species (including 22 subspecies and 14 varieties). The establishment of this dataset provides important support for in-depth research on the diversity, ecological functions, and application potential of Chinese halophytes, and also provides a scientific basis for policy-making in saline-alkaline land management and biodiversity conservation.

Database/Dataset Profile

Title	A dataset on inventory and geographical distribution of halophytes of China
Authors	Qinwen Lin, Na Zhang, Qiang Wang
Corresponding author	Qiang Wang (wangqiang@ibcas.ac.cn)
Time range	2020-2024
Geographical scope	China
File size	417 KB
Data format	*.xlsx
Data link	https://10.57760/sciencedb.j00152.00028 https://www.biodiversity-science.net/CN/10.17520/biods.2025030
Database/Dataset composition	The dataset consists of 1,581 items (rows). Each item includes 22 fields (columns): sequence number, main categories of halophytes, Chinese family, family, Chinese genus, genus, Chinese name, Chinese alias, scientific name, author, distribution, habitat, life form, height, morphology, halophytes type, ecological type, maximum salinity, source of maximum salinity, photosynthesis pathway, utilization value, data source.

Key words: China, halophytes, inventory, plant diversity

Qinwen Lin, Na Zhang, Qiang Wang. A dataset on inventory and geographical distribution of halophytes of China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(7): 25030.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025030

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I7/25030

Figures/Tables 3

References 14

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科名 Family	物种数 No. of species	属名 Genus	物种数 No. of species
禾本科 Poaceae	269	碱茅属 Puccinellia	64
苋科 Amaranthaceae	249	蒿属 Artemisia	57
菊科 Asteraceae	201	赖草属 Leymus	36
豆科 Fabaceae	129	虫实属 Corispermum	34
蓼科 Polygonaceae	75	驼蹄瓣属 Zygophyllum	32
莎草科 Cyperaceae	55	补血草属 Limonium	29
十字花科 Brassicaceae	49	碱蓬属 Suaeda	27
紫草科 Boraginaceae	37	萹蓄属 Polygonum	23
蒺藜科 Plumbaginaceae	36	滨藜属 Atriplex	23
白花丹科 Zygophyllaceae	36	风毛菊属 Saussurea	23

科名 Family	物种数 No. of species	属名 Genus	物种数 No. of species
禾本科 Poaceae	269	碱茅属 Puccinellia	64
苋科 Amaranthaceae	249	蒿属 Artemisia	57
菊科 Asteraceae	201	赖草属 Leymus	36
豆科 Fabaceae	129	虫实属 Corispermum	34
蓼科 Polygonaceae	75	驼蹄瓣属 Zygophyllum	32
莎草科 Cyperaceae	55	补血草属 Limonium	29
十字花科 Brassicaceae	49	碱蓬属 Suaeda	27
紫草科 Boraginaceae	37	萹蓄属 Polygonum	23
蒺藜科 Plumbaginaceae	36	滨藜属 Atriplex	23
白花丹科 Zygophyllaceae	36	风毛菊属 Saussurea	23

生态型 Ecological type	科名 Family	物种数 No. of species
湿生盐生植物 Hydrohalophyte	禾本科 Poaceae	110
	莎草科 Cyperaceae	53
	苋科 Amaranthaceae	43
	其他 Other	240
沙生盐生植物 Psammohalophyte	苋科 Amaranthaceae	152
	豆科 Fabaceae	86
	菊科 Asteraceae	77
	其他 Other	334
水生盐生植物 Hydrohalophyte	水鳖科 Hydrocharitaceae	11
	莎草科 Cyperaceae	12
	禾本科 Poaceae	9
	其他 Other	35
中生盐生植物 Mesohalophyte	禾本科 Poaceae	160
	苋科 Amaranthaceae	87
	菊科 Asteraceae	71
	其他 Other	344
旱生盐生植物 Xerohalophyte	苋科 Amaranthaceae	164
	菊科 Asteraceae	118
	豆科 Fabaceae	63
	其他 Other	295

生态型 Ecological type	科名 Family	物种数 No. of species
湿生盐生植物 Hydrohalophyte	禾本科 Poaceae	110
	莎草科 Cyperaceae	53
	苋科 Amaranthaceae	43
	其他 Other	240
沙生盐生植物 Psammohalophyte	苋科 Amaranthaceae	152
	豆科 Fabaceae	86
	菊科 Asteraceae	77
	其他 Other	334
水生盐生植物 Hydrohalophyte	水鳖科 Hydrocharitaceae	11
	莎草科 Cyperaceae	12
	禾本科 Poaceae	9
	其他 Other	35
中生盐生植物 Mesohalophyte	禾本科 Poaceae	160
	苋科 Amaranthaceae	87
	菊科 Asteraceae	71
	其他 Other	344
旱生盐生植物 Xerohalophyte	苋科 Amaranthaceae	164
	菊科 Asteraceae	118
	豆科 Fabaceae	63
	其他 Other	295

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