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Which plants grow in depressions between sand dunes in the Takla Makan Desert?

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Map of Asia highlighting the location of the Takla Makan Desert in northwestern China, with the desert area shaded in orange. Surrounding regions, including parts of Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Ocean, are shown for geographic context. An inset in the top right corner provides a global view with the desert's location marked. — Takla Makan Desert The Takla Makan Desert is flanked by high mountain ranges: the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west.

In the Takla Makan Desert, vegetation is extremely sparse, and most of the region is devoid of plant cover. However, in depressions between sand dunes where groundwater is accessible at depths of 3 to 5 metres (10 to 15 feet), you can find thin thickets of the following plants:

Tamarisk
Nitre bushes
Reeds

The spread of this vegetation is limited by the thick strata of moving sands found throughout the desert.1