Abstract:Borszczowia aralocaspica is an endemic species in the Central Asian deserts, with utricles and perianth coating the fruit and healing into berry-like dispersal units. To better understand how B. aralocaspica is adapted to its desert habitat, we studied its dispersal units, seed morphs, and germination characteristics. B. aralocaspica produces two types of dispersal units and utricles that differ in size. The dispersal units are green and fleshy when young and develop either into brown fruit which are big ((2.64±0.03) mm), round, flat, and covered with extended bracteoles or into smaller ((3.68±0.04) mg) black fruit which are lens-shaped with a glossy, smooth testa, covered with extended bracteoles. The seeds of B. aralocaspica were germinated for 30 d in incubators with a 12 h photoperiod and 12 h thermoperiods (dark / light) of 5/15℃, 5/25℃ and 15/25℃. Brown seeds germinated rapidly and had a high percentage germination while black seeds germinated slowly and had a low percentage germination. Percentage germination of the black seeds was increased by scarification of the covering layers (pericarp and seed coat), by cold stratification and by prolonging storage. This suggests that black seeds have the characteristics of non-deep physiological dormancy. Seed dimorphism may allow B. aralocaspica to survive in harsh desert habitats.