Potential Distribution Prediction and Metabolite Analysis of Clematis tangutica(Maxim.) Korsh. On the Qinghai Plateau

ABSTRACT Clematis tangutica (Maxim.) Korsh . is an ornamental and medicinal plant endemic to the Central and East Asian plateaus. To comprehensively understand the natural habitat distribution and potential medicinal value of C. tangutica on the Qinghai Plateau, this study employed the MaxEnt model to predict its potential habitat distribution on the Qinghai Plateau and assess the impacts of climate change. Leaf metabolites from five different altitudes were analyzed using UPLC‐MS/MS to explore variations in metabolite accumulation. The results showed that the environmental variables exerting the greatest influence on the potential suitable distribution of C. tangutica were UV‐B seasonality (uvb2, percent contribution: 44.4%) and elevation (elev, percent contribution: 28.9%). High and moderately suitable habitats were mainly distributed in eastern, central, and southern Qinghai, covering a total of 299,300 km 2 . Under future climate change scenarios, the total suitable habitat area is expected to decrease, with more significant reductions under high‐emission pathways. Metabolomic analysis identified 1362 metabolites, including flavonoids, amino acids and derivatives, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, with the highest accumulation occurring at altitudes between 2500 and 3500 m. Notably, key bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, were enriched at higher elevations, suggesting a strong link between environmental stress and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. These findings provide new insights into the ecological adaptability and medicinal potential of C. tangutica , highlighting its role as a model species for understanding plant‐environment interactions in extreme habitats.