In this study， we used S. transiliense seedlings as a research object and conducted a pot experiment with continuous drought stress to systematically investigate the dynamic changes in root system morphology， physiological response and anatomical structure. The results showed that with the increass of drought stress intensity， root system morphology changed significantly， with a decrease in topological index and fractal dimension， and a shift in root branching patterns towards a more efficient “dendritic” structure. At the physiological level， there was a significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， increase in membrane lipid peroxidation and enhanced ability to regulate osmosis. Antioxidant enzyme activity showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The anatomical structure analysis revealed that the root tip epidermal and endodermal cells thickened to enhance water-holding capacity， while the cortical parenchyma， vascular system and root tip diameter all showed a decreasing trend to optimize water transport efficiency. This study revealed the adaptive strategy of S. transiliense by integrating root system configuration plasticity， physiological regulation， and anatomical structure optimization， providing a scientific basis for studying the drought resistance mechanisms of desert plants and also offering an important reference for ecological restoration and breeding in arid areas.

Seriphidium transiliense  /  Drought stress  /  Root system configuration  /  Physiological traits  /  Root tip anatomical structure