Abstract: Gobi and desert belong to the same type of desert land，and their plant growth intersects each other with little difference.In order to reveal difference between desert plants and gobi plants，Hexi Corridor of Gansu province were takes as an example and a preliminary analysis was discussed by using the gobi survey data and desert survey data.Results showed that there were 15 families and 47 species in the gobi of Hexi Corridor，among which Chenopodiaceae，Tribulus，Leguminosae and Compositae were more.Typical gobi plants mainly include Reaumuria songarica，Alhagi maurorum，Iljinia regelii，Salsola passerina，Salsola laricifolia and Ephedra przewalskii，etc.The main differences between gobi plants and desert plants were as follows：the vertical root system of typical gobi plants was very developed，the horizontal root system was relatively weak，and generally did not have ability of root tillering.The horizontal root system of typical desert plants was very developed，which generally had strong root tillering ability，and liked wind erosion and sand burying.After sand burying，it could produce adventitious roots and wind erosion rhizome could produce branches and leaves.It could provide theoretical basis for study of soil ecological types，plant ex situ protection and plant introduction and domestication of desert plants，and also has practical significance for protection of desert vegetation.