Abstract: Desert psammophyts are plants living in extremely dry habitats with poor soil and strong wind. They not only have high capacity of anti_adversity, but also play a very important role in sustainning the stability of fragile ecosystems and the restoration of degraded ecosytems. Researches in the eco_physiological characteristics of psammophytes started as early as the beginning of the last century, and a great amount of acheivments have been obtained resently with the consistent improvement of research methods and equipment. With the development of research in eco_physiology of plants in adverse environment, and the need of environmental protection or reconstruction,it is pressingly necessary to enhance the eco-physiological research in desert psammophytes, in depth and systematically. The history, current status and advances of the reseaches in anti_adversity eco-physiology of plants are briefly reviewed, and perspectives and suggestions are presented in this article.