The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and Quaternary climate changes are crucial aspects affecting the distribution and evolution of the plateau biota. The uplift of the QTP dramatically changed the topography and climate of Asia and affected the biodiversity of the plateau and its adjacent areas. However, the effects of the uplift on the dispersal, differentiation and adaptation of plants remain a puzzle when the date and process of the uplift cannot be determined with certainty and the impacts o...