我国沙区重要蒿属植物的特性及应用

在中国北方74万平方公里的沙区中,共有蒿属植物50余种。其中有重要资源价值和环境功能的至少有5种,即差不嘎蒿、褐沙蒿、黑沙蒿、白沙蒿和沙蒿。它们是本区沙丘——沙地植被的主要建群种和优势种,由它们构成的沙地草场植被占1亿亩以上,可提供650余万绵羊单位的放牧饲料。它们又都是优良的固沙植物,对沙区环境保护具有重要作用。同时,还可以提供大量的中草药,它们的种子含油丰富,在工业利用上有广阔前景。

CHARACTERISTICS AND UTILIZATION OF SEVERAL MAJOR SPECIES OF SAGEBRUSH IN THE SANDY AREAS IN CHINA

In the 740,000 square kilometres of sandy areas in north China there are 50-odd species of sagebrush distributed from the subhumid region in the east to the true arid region in the west,among which at least five ma- jor ones, Artemisia halodendron, A. intramongolica, A. ordosica, A. sphaeroc- ephala, and A.arenaria, are recognized. They are all constructive or domin- ant species in the vegetation of the sandy rangelands that occupy more than 7 million hectares of area, and may provide forage sufficient for feedingmore than 6.5 million sheep units of livestock. They are also excellent sand- fixators which efficiently, protect vast sandy lands from sand-drifting. These five species of sagebrush have also great potentials for providing herbal medicines and their seeds contain high percentage of oil and may have good prospect for industrial use.