Abstract
Abstract The genus Eremurus M. Bieb. (Asphodelaceae) comprises more than 70 species of perennial herbaceous plants distributed predominantly in the montane steppe and arid regions of Eastern and Central Asia. In the desert ecosystems of Kazakhstan, the genus is represented by two psammophytic species, Eremurus anisopterus (Kar. et Kir.) Regel and E. inderiensis (Steven) Regel, which differ in their ecological preferences, morphology, anatomy, and genetic characteristics. The aim of the present study was a comprehensive investigation of the eco-geographical, morpho-anatomical, cytogenetic, molecular-phylogenetic, and phytocoenotic features of these species. The study material included herbarium collections (AA, MW, LE, TASH), data from field expeditions conducted in 2023–2025, as well as the results of morphometric, anatomical, flow-cytometric, and molecular-genetic analyses (nrITS, trnQ–rps16). It was established that E. anisopterus is a narrowly specialized, stenotopic species confined to weakly disturbed barchan dune complexes, highly sensitive to anthropogenic impacts and characterized by a K-strategy. In contrast, E. inderiensis exhibits a broad ecological amplitude, tolerance to grazing pressure, and an r-strategy, acting as an important stabilizer of the vegetation cover of fixed and transformed sands. Morpho-anatomical differences, seed micromorphology, flow-cytometric data indicating diploid and tetraploid levels, and consistent phylogenetic separation (Clade B and Clade C) provide evidence of a deep evolutionary divergence between these species. The obtained results highlight the significance of the genus Eremurus for the functioning of desert ecosystems in Kazakhstan and may be applied in the development of conservation strategies and phytomeliorative measures.