Abstract: Artemisia argyi is a typical clonal herbaceous plant of Compositae. We classified its rhizomes into different age groups and different age structures by the rhizome length and biomass, and analyzed the changing rules of the quantitative characteristics of each age group. The longest living age of an Artemisia rhizome is four years. At this age, the rhizome’s age structure of length is of an expanding type and that of biomass is of a stable kind. Biomass distribution among rhizomes of different age groups effects a "reproductive first" strategy. During the flowering state, the total cumulative length of rhizomes reaches 6984.8 cm·m^-2and the cumulative biomass 103.7 g·m^-2. Storage of dry matter in perunit length of rhizome increases along with the advance of its age. Rhizomes of old age maintain its abounding vitality. The rhizome length, compared to the rhizome biomass, boasts far greater ecological plasticity.

Key words: Grassland science, Artemisia argyi, clonal plant, Rhizome, Age structure

摘要： 将艾蒿根茎划分为不同年龄级,按长度和生物量统计其年龄结构,分析各龄根茎数量特征的变化规律。结果表明:艾蒿根茎的最大存活年龄为4龄;其根茎长度年龄结构为增长型;生物量年龄结构为稳定型;开花期根茎累积长度为6984.8cm·m^-2,根茎生物量为103.7g·m^-2;单位长度根茎的干物质贮存量随着龄级的增加而不断增大;高龄根茎具有较强的生活力;根茎长度比根茎生物量具有更大的生态可塑性。

关键词: 草原学, 艾蒿, 无性系植物, 根茎, 年龄结构