Abstract: Species of Calligonum are xerophytes growing extensively in sand deserts and Gobi Deserts in China . Xinjiang is an area where the most species ( as many as 19 species) of Calligonum grow in China, and these species occupy 82.6% of the total species in China, in which 5 species are endemic to Xinjiang. In this study, the seed morphology of 11 species of Calligonum sect.Eucalligonum growing in Xinjiang is observed using a stereomicroscope, and a key to the species is provided. The results show that the species can be divided into three groups in terms of their seeds morphology: (1) species with one row of bristles along each rib of achene; (2) species with two rows of bristles along each rib of achene ; and (3) species with three rows of bristles along each rib of achene are significantly different , and these properties can be regarded as the taxonomic bases among the species of the sect. Eucalligonum.

Key words: Calligonum sect. Eucalligonum