GIS based Evaluation of the Areas Desirable for Growing Fructus Arctii
利用GIS分析中药材牛蒡子的生态适宜性

Fructus Arctii is the mature fruit of Arctium lappa L. a large biennial herb mainly found in the gullies, the edges of forests, barren hills, and grasslands. In China, it mainly grows in Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Zhejiang among others. Most previous studies had focused more on the suitability of growing Fructus Arctii, than its distributions. In this study, we used Multiple Linear Regression Model and GIS to map out the distributions of Fructus Arctii of different properties. With the help of the suitability evaluation model, we have produced a suitability distribution map for the herb. Results show that the major factors affecting the growth of Fructus Arctii are the averaged and maximum temperatures of July, annual mean temperature, and annual mean precipitation. The most desirable growing areas are the northeast and southern part of the country, Sichuan, Yunnan, and some areas in the northwest. A number of areas, including Tibet, Qinghai, and some areas in the northwest of the country are not desirable for growing the herb.