Checklist and analysis of the vascular flora in river valleys of Altay region Xinjiang China.

The checklist of the vascular flora in the river valleys of the Altay region (Xinjiang, China) was painstakingly compiled. We synthesized data from a variety of sources, including relevant literature, online databases, herbarium collections, and three years of dedicated floristic field surveys. In total, we observed and collated information on 213 species, which belong to 45 families and 124 genera. Among the growth forms, herbs were preponderant, accounting for 89.20%, closely followed by shrubs at 9.39%. Notably, our research uncovered 5 species of endemics in China and 9 threatened species within the Altay Valley. For each species included in this checklist, we have presented detailed information such as growth form, voucher specimens, habitat, and distribution range. Our findings are not only crucial for river management and local community-based river conservation efforts in the Altay region but also hold significant value for conservationists worldwide. These results can serve as the foundation for making critical decisions aimed at safeguarding this invaluable biodiversity resource.