Comparison of germination strategies of Artemisia ordosica with its two congeners from Deserts of China and Israel

Artemisia ordosica Krasch. is a dominant shrub occurring mainly on stable sand dunes in the Gobi Desert of China, in the Mongolian phytogeographic region. Achenes of A. ordosica germinate in light but poorly in dark and light is the limiting factor regulating the achene germination in sand depth. Achenes germinate in spring or autumn with an optimal temperature of 20 °C. Achene mucilage can absorb large amounts of water and has important ecological function. Salt concentrations and sand moisture may regulate achene germination in sand. A. ordosica, A. sphaerocephala Krasch. and A. monosperma Delile. from different climates have similar responses to light, the underground location of achene, and sand moisture. Percentage of seedling emergence from different levels of sand depth is depends on the specific, temperature and intensity of light penetrating through the sand depths, as well as on sand moisture. The desert sand habitat seems to have had a dominant influence on the evolution of the germination strategies of these 3 Artemisia species.