A Pterocymbium macranthum is pictured in the Xishuangbanna National
Nature Reserve, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 3, 2023. A research
team in southwest China's Yunnan Province said they had found a tropical
monsoon forest community of Pterocymbium macranthum, a member of the genus "Pterocymbium,"
marking the first time this genus has ever been found in China. (Photo by Yan
Wendi/Xinhua)
KUNMING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A research team in southwest
China's Yunnan Province said they had found a tropical monsoon forest community
of Pterocymbium macranthum, a member of the genus "Pterocymbium,"
marking the first time this genus has ever been found in China.
The tree species was discovered in the Xishuangbanna National
Nature Reserve, known for its well-preserved rainforest ecosystem.
Pterocymbium macranthum has orange-yellow to orange-red gradient
flowers and a trunk that can grow up to 35 to 45 meters in height, according to
Tan Yunhong, a professor at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"Pterocymbium macranthum is mainly distributed in Southeast
Asian countries such as Myanmar and Thailand. We speculated that it might also
be found in Xishuangbanna, and the discovery confirmed this," Tan said.
With high research and conservation values, Pterocymbium macranthum
demonstrates the rich biodiversity of China's tropical rainforests. Next, the
nature reserve will conduct in-depth investigations into the plant's population
distribution, habitat quality and conservation status.
Source: Xinhua