Abstract:Eremosparton songoricum is a dwarf shrub found in mobile or semi-fixed sand dunes of central Asia. The germination of E. songoricum seeds in the natural populations is less than 3%, thus clonal propagation seems to be particularly important. Understanding clonal growth characteristics of E. songoricum is potentially helpful for vegetation restoration and conservation efforts. In this paper, two natural populations in the Gurbantuggut Desert of Xinjiang, China, one located along a riverside (GPS location: 46°31.09′N, 88°33.06′E, sand dune slope 15°) and another located in the desert hinterland (GPS location: 46°28.07′N, 088°33.07′E, sand dune slope 30°), were investigated in late June of 2007. Height and density of ramets were investigated within three 4m 4m sites in the two populations. Biomass of above and underground (0-60cm) of ramets was measured and the proportions of biomass in each plant part (foliage, flower, adventitious roots (rhizomes) and vertical roots) were calculated in one of three sites. The results were as follows:①Ramet density and adventitious root density were significantly higher, but ramet height and distance between individuals were significantly lower in the desert population than those in the riverside population.②The biomass of adventitious roots (rhizomes) was significantly lower and the biomass of vertical roots was significantly higher in the desert population compared to the riverside population.③The change in proportion of biomass in each plant part with increasing plant biomass were more dramatic in the desert population than in the riverside population, suggesting different resource allocation strategies with increasing plant biomass for the two populations. These findings indicate that the clonal growth of ramet populations of E. songoricum have greater morphological plasticity under different water conditions, which are attributed to survival in the arid and stressful sand dune environment．