Populus euphratica—China distribution

China is the region with the largest distribution and the largest number of Populus euphratica in the world, which is concentrated between 37° and 47° north latitude (especially between 37° and 42°). From north to south and east of Tianshan Mountains, through Lop Nur Lowland and Hami Gashun Gobi to Dunhuang at the western end of Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province and Inner Mongolia, Populus euphratica formed a long and narrow, zigzag and intermittent corridor woodland. Populus euphratica is naturally distributed in Inner Mongolia, the Ejina river basin of Gansu, the Tarim and Junggar basins of Xinjiang, and in Zhongning of Ningxia and golmud of Qinghai, but mainly distributed in Xinjiang, especially in southern Xinjiang Tarim river, Yarkant river and Hotan river basin are the most widely distributed, and a large area of native Populus euphratica forest remains.

The available data show that the total distribution area of Populus euphratica in China is 395200 ha. Among them, the Tarim Basin is 352,200 ha, accounting for 89.1% of the total distribution area in China; the Junggar Basin is 8000 ha, accounting for 2% of the total distribution area in China; the western Inner Mongolia is 20,000 ha, accounting for 5.1% of the total distribution area in China; the western Gansu province is 5,000 ha, accounting for 3.8% of the total distribution area in China; Qinghai and Ningxia sporadic distribution.

In China, due to the differences in geographical environment, Populus euphratica is concentrated in six geographical distribution sub-regions, including Southern Xinjiang sub-region, northern Xinjiang sub-region, western Inner Mongolia sub-region, western Gansu sub-region, Qinghai Qaidam northwest sub-region, Ningxia Plain sub-region.

Among them, the geographic distribution area of the southern Xinjiang is the northern plain of the Tarim Basin, including the Korla-Aksu Oasis, Kashgar Delta, Hotan Oasis in the southern Taban Plain and Turpan-Hami District; the geographical distribution area of the northern Xinjiang is the Manasi Changji District, Tacheng-BoLe District and Altay southern valley in the Junggar Basin; the geographical distribution of the western sub-region of Inner Mongolia is oasis of the lower reaches of the Ejina River; the geographical distribution of the western Gansu sub-region is Anxi-Dunhuang Basin, Aksai Basin and Yumen-Tashi Basin; the geographical distribution of the Qinghai Qaidam Northwest sub-region is Tora Sea coast and the upper reaches of the Lalingele River valley to the west of Golmud; the geographical distribution of the Ningxia Plain sub-region is the Yellow River Irrigation Area along the Hootao Plain.

Populus pruinosa is only distributed in Xinjiang, China, concentrated in the areas of Yarkand River, Kashi River, and Hotan River between 37°～41°N and 75°30’～82°E; It distributes eastward to Alar, Aogan River and other places in the Bay of Layi River, namely 86°53’E; South to the west of Charkhlik Washixia, north to Dabancheng Poplar River, and Yili valley also has a small amount of distribution, its distribution range is narrower than that of Populus euphratica.