DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.28190972
title: 中国盐生植物名录

description: 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 lags behind. Existing data mainly come from regional studies or scattered literature records, lacking systematicity and comprehensiveness. This study, based on the foundational data from <i>Halophytes of China</i><i> </i>(First and Second Editions) and the global halophyte database (<i>eHaloph</i>), integrates years of field investigations and systematically reviews and supplements the existing inventory data (adding new taxa and new records) while improving global distribution information. It also 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 composed a dataset on new inventory and geographical distributions of Chinese halophytes. Up to 2024, the dataset has a total of 102 families 538 genera 1,562species 31 subspecies 37 varieties of halophytes in China. There are totally 31 families 310 genera 1,026 species 22 subspecies 14 varieties should be supplemented to the <i>Halophytes of China</i><i> </i>(Second Editions). According to the data of the distribution of species in each province-level administrative division in China, Xinjiang has the largest number of species (40 families 199 genera 578 species 14 subspecies 14 varieties), Guizhou (only one species) has the least number of species records, and there are no distribution records of halophytes in Tianjin and Chongqing. Analysis of salt tolerance characteristics shows that the maximum salinity of halophytes is primarily concentrated at 300 mM (53 families 189 genera 450 species 10 subspecies 5 varieties) and 200 mM (46 families 188 genera 446 species 9 subspecies 14 varieties). Additionally, a significant number of species can tolerate extremely high salinity levels, with 42 families 110 genera158 species 2 subspecies 1 variety having a maximum salinity exceeding 500 mM. Among halophyte types, salt-exclusion halophyte is the most numerous (79 families 314 genera 720 species 19 subspecies 12 varieties), while salt-secretion halophyte isthe least numerous (12 families 60 genera 229 species 2 subspecies 8 varieties). The morphological characteristics of halophytes of China are diverse. Species with plant heights less than one meter account for 61 families 363 genera 1,058 species 18 subspecies 30 varieties, while those exceeding 10 meters include 27 families 42 genera 55 species 1 subspecies 1 variety. Perennial herbaceous species are the most prevalent life form (45 families 170 genera 470 species 15 subspecies 13 varieties), and species with geopnytes are the most common bud type (49 families 183 genera 520 species 14 subspecies 10 varieties). The statistical analysis of different ecological types shows that xerohalophytes have the highest number of species (41 families 189 genera 632 species 10 subspecies 20 varieties), while hydrohalophytes have the lowest number of species (18 families 37 genera 67 species 3 subspecies). Photosynthetic pathway data show that the type of C3 isthe most numerous (95 families, 444 genera, 1,278 species, 27 subspecies, and 30 varieties), while the type of CAM is represented by only one species. Halophytes of China have diverse uses, primarily for ecological applications, with additional uses in ornamental and medicinal fields. With the advancement of agricultural development and ecological restoration efforts, some introduced halophytes have gradually naturalized and become significant components of halophytes of China. However, related data remain incomplete and require further supplementation. The establishment of this dataset not only provides critical support for in-depth studies on the diversity, ecological functions, and application potential of halophytes of China but also offers a scientific basis for policymaking in saline-alkaline land management and biodiversity conservation.