Abstract
To examine diagnostic characters and test phylogenetic relationships between Salsola arbusculiformis and the closely similar S. laricifolia, characters were examined from previous reports and herbarium specimens, and sequences of nrDNA ITS and cpDNA psbB–psbH were compared for these species as well as other representative taxa of Salsoleae. Our results 1) confirm most of the morphological differences highlighted in previous studies, such as those of leaf size, bracts, bracteoles, style, fruiting perianth, and anther appendages; 2) show that S. arbusculiformis is a typical Irano–Turanian species, mainly distributed from Iran and Turkmenistan to westernmost China (Tacheng, Ili, and Bole regions, Xinjiang), while S. laricifolia is a central Asian floristic element mainly distributed from east Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to northern China (north Xinjiang, inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Gansu provinces), and Mongolia; and 3) strongly support their sister relationship, with samples from five different populations clustering together for each of the two species.
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