Salix gordejevii and S.microstachya var.bordensis are important shrubs for soil and water conservation in Hunshandake sandland.The former is suitable for growing on flow and semi-flow sand dunes,and the latter does on dune slack.They can grow mixed,and also can form pure forest.So that they have the feature of regular distribution.Through the method of tissues segregation and micrographic technique,this paper comparatively studied on the morphological characteristics and ecological adaptability of vessel elements of S.gordejevii and S.microstachya var.bordensis.The results showed that:(1)the two species were given priority to reticulate vessels with both end walls with one tail and a tail in one wall.Both ends of their vessel elements with alternate pitting had simple perforation plates.(2)There were significant differences between the length,diameter and end wall slope angle of xylem vessels in the root of S.gordejevii and S.microstachya var.bordensis(P<0.05).The diameter of root vessel elements of the former was wider and the end wall slope angle of those was smaller than the latter’s,which showed the evolutionary features.However,the length of root vessel elements of the former was longer which showed the primitive feature.There were no significant differences between the length,diameter and end wall slope angle of xylem vessels in the stem of S.gordejevii and S.microstachya var.bordensis(P>0.05).(3)There appeared some correlation between the characteristics of vessel elements and habitats of the two species.The arid environment was more suitable for S.gordejevii to grow due to the higher water transmitting ability than S.microstachya var.bordensis.This study provided theoretical support for afforestation with S.gordejevii and S.microstachya var.bordensis,and provided reference for the correlational research of plant ecological adaptability.