Sparse-elm grassland is the remarkable landscape of Hunshandak Sandland in Inner Mongolia Autonomic Region of China. Maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) of 99 native plant species (85 grasses, 11 shrubs, and 3 trees) of different plant functional Types (PFTs) distributed in fixed sand dune, lowland, and wetland was investigated. Deep-rooted plant species (tree, shrub, and perennial grass) had higher Fv/Fm values than the shallow-rooted species (annual grasses), suggesting that soil drought is the major environmental stress. Annual C4 grasses had higher Fv/Fm values than annual C3 or CAM ones, indicating that C4 photosynthesis is more ecologically adaptive than CAM and C3 grasses. According to the habitats with annual C3 grass distribution, Fv/Fm values were in the order of fixed dune>lowland>wetland, suggesting that salt and pH value may enhance irradiance or heat stress for those distributed in pickled and watery habitats. Based on such characteristics, Ulmus pumila, Salix gordejevii, Caragana microphylla, Agriophyllum pungens, and Agropyron cristatum are recommended as ideal species for ecological restoration in degraded sand-land ecosystems. and Yong-Geng Li ... [et al.].