Medicinal Plant Resources and Their Diversity in the Beita Mountains of Xinjiang

Based on field investigation and morphological taxonomy, the species composition and diversity characteristics of medicinal plants in the Beita Mountains of Xinjiang were studied. Our results showed there were 60 species of medicinal plants in the Beita Mountains belonging to 44 genera and 24 families, and included 16 rare and endangered medicinal plants. The 60 species were predominantly distributed in single-family or single-genus. The flora characteristics exhibited obvious temperate floristic elements, and were close with Mediterranean, western Asian and central Asian elements. Tropical elements were rare. Perennial herb species were dominant in terms of plant life type, with 29 species of perennial medicinal herbs accounting for 48.33% of total medicinal plants in the Beita Mountains. According to ecotype of the medicinal plants, Mesophytes were the most common, while Xeromorphic structure was the most obvious. The use of the whole plant, root and stem and leaf as the medicinal organ material accounted for 43.33%, 15%, and 11.66% of the total number of medicinal plants, respectively. The results of this study not only provide important background information for the protection of medicinal plants, but also provide a scientific basis for research on the biodiversity of the Beita Mountains.