Distribution patterns and species diversity of the genus Calligonum in the desert regions of Central Asia

doi:10.17520/biods.2025086

Abstract

Abstract:

Background & Aim: This study aims to clarify the species diversity, distribution patterns, and environmental adaptation mechanisms of the genus Calligonum, in order to provide a scientific basis for its taxonomic revision. Global taxonomic data and multi-source databases including Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) were integrated to clarify its global distribution pattern; morphological measurements and comparative analyses of achenes from Central Asian specimens in the Tashkent Plant Herbarium (TASH) collection were conducted; a systematic investigation of its phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal variations, and ecological adaptation mechanisms was carried out through a multidisciplinary literature review.

Review Results: Calligonumwas widely distributed across arid regions from the Sahara to Central Asia, with Central Asia serving as its distribution and diversity center (34 recorded species). As the eastern margin of its distribution, China hosted 23 species, 17 of which were shared with Central Asia. This disjunct circum-Mediterranean distribution pattern may be associated with geological events such as the uplift of the Himalayas. The distribution of Calligonum was co-influenced by moisture, temperature, and soil factors. It was primarily found in arid zones with annual precipitation below 200 mm, exhibiting significant interspecific divergence in water-use strategies. Low temperatures and seasonal variations restricted its northward expansion, and it showed a preference for low-salinity, highly alkaline, and sandy soil types. The genus employed multi-level adaptive strategies, including physiological regulation and stoichiometric adjustments, to cope with arid conditions, thereby demonstrating clear ecological niche differentiation.

Perspectives: As a keystone taxon in the arid regions of Central Asia, Calligonum exhibits rich species diversity and rapid evolutionary potential. Future studies should integrate multidisciplinary approaches such as genomics and ecology to enhance understanding of its speciation and adaptation mechanisms. Furthermore, comprehensive conservation strategies focusing on germplasm preservation and ecological restoration should be promoted to ensure the long-term sustainability of the genus and its ecological functions.

Key words: Central Asian desert region, Calligonum, distribution center, species diversity

Ying Feng, Feng Song, Guangzhao Jin, Komiljon Tojibaev, Xuejun Ge. Distribution patterns and species diversity of the genus Calligonum in the desert regions of Central Asia[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(8): 25086.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025086

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I8/25086

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组名 Section name	种名 Species	种的合并 Taxonomic synonymization
泡果组 Sect. Calliphysa	泡果沙拐枣 C. junceum	C. juncea, C. calliphysa, C. bykovii
刺果组 Sect. Medusa	精河沙拐枣 C. ebinuricum	三列沙拐枣 C. trifarium
	C. rubescens	C. rubens, C. comosum, C. alaschanicum, C. prszewalskii, 小沙拐枣 C. pumilum, C. griseum, C. pellucidum, C. turkestanicum, C. amoenum, C. intertextum, C. jimunaicum
	C. microcarpum	C. minimum, C. elatum
	C. litwinowii	戈壁沙拐枣 C. gobicum, 蒙古沙拐枣 C. mongolicum, C. koslovii, 河西沙拐枣 C. potaninii, 甘肃沙拐枣 C. chinense, 柴达木沙拐枣 C. zaidamense, 塔里木沙拐枣 C. roborowskii, C. ferganense, 库尔勒沙拐枣 C. korlaense, 英吉沙沙拐枣 C. yengisaricum
	头状沙拐枣 C. caput-medusae	C. cancellatum, 密刺沙拐枣 C. densum
翅果组 Sect. Pterococcus	C. tetrapterum	C. bungei, C. denticulatum, C. stenopterum, C. tripterum
	淡枝沙拐枣 C. leucocladum	C. aralense, C. batiola, C. gracile, C. lipsky, C. membranaceum var. nudum, C. obtusum, C. patens, C. litvinovii, C. acanthopterum var. subnudum, C. alatiforme, C. alatiforme var. aculeolatum, C. lanciculatum, C. physopterum, C. plicatum, C. rigidum var. australe, C. undulatum var. australe, C. cordipterum, C. elegans, C. integrum, C. karakalpakense, C. margelanicum, C. parvulum, C. uzunachmatense
	C. leucocladum subsp. persicum	C. persicum, C. quadripterum, C. golbeckii, C. gypsaceum, C. leucocladiforme, C. orthocarpum, C. roseum, C. elegans subsp. tadshikistanicum, C. alatiforme subsp. roseum, C. patens subsp. pamiroalaicum
	无叶沙拐枣 C. aphyllum	C. cartilagineum, C. eugenii-korovinii, C. spinulosum, C. tenue, C. membranaceum, C. alatum, C. alatum var. dentatum, C. borszczowii, C. humile, C. rigidum, C. undulatum, C. aculeatum, C. rigidum var. aculeatum, C. commune, C. aphyllum var. commune, C. crispatum, C. aphyllum var. crispatum, C. lamellaturn, C. aphyllum var. lamellatum, C. palibinii, C. aphyllum var. androssowii, C. alatum var. involutum, C. oxiciam, C. pseudohumile, C. tortile, C. ustjurtense
	红果沙拐枣 C. rubicundum	C. crispum, C. affine, C. dissectum, C. spinosissimum, C. pavlovii, C. dissectum, C. affine, C. flavidum, C. flavidum var. sectatum, C. russanovii, C. involutum, C. coriaceum, C. aequilaterale var. pyramidatum, C. babakiamim, C. connivens, C. cordiforme, C. diversiforme, C. durum, C. falcilobum, C. inaequale, C. irtyschense, C. josephii, C. kurotschkinae, C. nudatum, C. ozunraicum, C. pappii, C. parvum, C. pseudotenue, C. rubidum, C. sinuoso-aculeolatum, C. subcomplanatum
	Calligonum turbineum	C. flavidum var. iliense, C. cartilagineum, C. eugenii-korovinii, C. tenu, C. turbineum var. subulatum, C. aphyllum subsp. heptapotamicum
基翅组 Sect. Calligonum	Calligonum polygonoides	C. comosum, C. intertextum, C. polygonoides subsp. comosum
	Calligonum laristanicum	C. polygonoides sub. laristanicum
	Calligonum setosum	C. densiforme, C. rotovii, C. acanthopterum var. setosum, C. molle, C. setosum var. majus, C. pulcherrimum, C. kzyl-kumi, C. fragile, C. nardinae, C. aciferum
	Calligonum acanthopterum	C. rotula, C. compactum, C. repetekense, C. rotovii
	Calligonum bakuense	C. petunnikowii
	Calligonum crispum	C. spinosissimum, C. pavlovii, C. crispum var. recticarpum

组名 Section name	种名 Species	种的合并 Taxonomic synonymization
泡果组 Sect. Calliphysa	泡果沙拐枣 C. junceum	C. juncea, C. calliphysa, C. bykovii
刺果组 Sect. Medusa	精河沙拐枣 C. ebinuricum	三列沙拐枣 C. trifarium
	C. rubescens	C. rubens, C. comosum, C. alaschanicum, C. prszewalskii, 小沙拐枣 C. pumilum, C. griseum, C. pellucidum, C. turkestanicum, C. amoenum, C. intertextum, C. jimunaicum
	C. microcarpum	C. minimum, C. elatum
	C. litwinowii	戈壁沙拐枣 C. gobicum, 蒙古沙拐枣 C. mongolicum, C. koslovii, 河西沙拐枣 C. potaninii, 甘肃沙拐枣 C. chinense, 柴达木沙拐枣 C. zaidamense, 塔里木沙拐枣 C. roborowskii, C. ferganense, 库尔勒沙拐枣 C. korlaense, 英吉沙沙拐枣 C. yengisaricum
	头状沙拐枣 C. caput-medusae	C. cancellatum, 密刺沙拐枣 C. densum
翅果组 Sect. Pterococcus	C. tetrapterum	C. bungei, C. denticulatum, C. stenopterum, C. tripterum
	淡枝沙拐枣 C. leucocladum	C. aralense, C. batiola, C. gracile, C. lipsky, C. membranaceum var. nudum, C. obtusum, C. patens, C. litvinovii, C. acanthopterum var. subnudum, C. alatiforme, C. alatiforme var. aculeolatum, C. lanciculatum, C. physopterum, C. plicatum, C. rigidum var. australe, C. undulatum var. australe, C. cordipterum, C. elegans, C. integrum, C. karakalpakense, C. margelanicum, C. parvulum, C. uzunachmatense
	C. leucocladum subsp. persicum	C. persicum, C. quadripterum, C. golbeckii, C. gypsaceum, C. leucocladiforme, C. orthocarpum, C. roseum, C. elegans subsp. tadshikistanicum, C. alatiforme subsp. roseum, C. patens subsp. pamiroalaicum
	无叶沙拐枣 C. aphyllum	C. cartilagineum, C. eugenii-korovinii, C. spinulosum, C. tenue, C. membranaceum, C. alatum, C. alatum var. dentatum, C. borszczowii, C. humile, C. rigidum, C. undulatum, C. aculeatum, C. rigidum var. aculeatum, C. commune, C. aphyllum var. commune, C. crispatum, C. aphyllum var. crispatum, C. lamellaturn, C. aphyllum var. lamellatum, C. palibinii, C. aphyllum var. androssowii, C. alatum var. involutum, C. oxiciam, C. pseudohumile, C. tortile, C. ustjurtense
	红果沙拐枣 C. rubicundum	C. crispum, C. affine, C. dissectum, C. spinosissimum, C. pavlovii, C. dissectum, C. affine, C. flavidum, C. flavidum var. sectatum, C. russanovii, C. involutum, C. coriaceum, C. aequilaterale var. pyramidatum, C. babakiamim, C. connivens, C. cordiforme, C. diversiforme, C. durum, C. falcilobum, C. inaequale, C. irtyschense, C. josephii, C. kurotschkinae, C. nudatum, C. ozunraicum, C. pappii, C. parvum, C. pseudotenue, C. rubidum, C. sinuoso-aculeolatum, C. subcomplanatum
	Calligonum turbineum	C. flavidum var. iliense, C. cartilagineum, C. eugenii-korovinii, C. tenu, C. turbineum var. subulatum, C. aphyllum subsp. heptapotamicum
基翅组 Sect. Calligonum	Calligonum polygonoides	C. comosum, C. intertextum, C. polygonoides subsp. comosum
	Calligonum laristanicum	C. polygonoides sub. laristanicum
	Calligonum setosum	C. densiforme, C. rotovii, C. acanthopterum var. setosum, C. molle, C. setosum var. majus, C. pulcherrimum, C. kzyl-kumi, C. fragile, C. nardinae, C. aciferum
	Calligonum acanthopterum	C. rotula, C. compactum, C. repetekense, C. rotovii
	Calligonum bakuense	C. petunnikowii
	Calligonum crispum	C. spinosissimum, C. pavlovii, C. crispum var. recticarpum