New plant species discovered in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

On August 27, the Management Board of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Tri province, said that Vietnamese and foreign scientists have just announced in the 100th anniversary issue of the Japanese Journal of Botany the discovery of a new plant species called Bach Dau Phong Nha-Ke Bang in this National Park.

Leaf and flower morphology of Phong Nha-Ke Bang white-headed plant species.

Accordingly, during the implementation of the cooperation program between the Institute of Tropical Biology and Kagoshima University (Japan) on biodiversity training and research, from December 5-13, 2024, the research team conducted a survey of plants on limestone mountains in many areas of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and recorded the presence of vascular plant species in a 100m x 5m sample plot located in Hang Va-Nuoc Nut.

As a result, the research team obtained 520 sample numbers of about 250 species of 90 families of vascular plants.

After analyzing and processing information and sample data, the research team announced a new plant species belonging to the genus Decaneuropsis, family Asteraceae, order Asterales, class Magnoliopsida, and phylum Tracheophyta.

The newly discovered plant species, scientifically named Decaneuropsis phongnhakebangensis, was unanimously named Bach Dau Phong Nha-Ke Bang in Vietnam. It was discovered in a forest on a limestone mountain at an altitude of 777m, in the area of ​​Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Regarding the morphological characteristics here, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang species is a climbing shrub up to 5m high. Young branches have short, close-fitting yellow-brown hairs, old branches are smooth. Leaves grow alternately, inverted egg-shaped or oval. Inflorescences grow at the tip of branches or leaf axils. The flower heads are bell-shaped, the corolla is funnel-shaped, dark purple...

According to scientists, the discovery of a new plant species in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is an important record in the botanical world, especially the relationship of this species to other species of the same genus in the world .

This not only expands the list of plants, enriching Vietnam's biodiversity treasure but also emphasizes the important role of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in preserving the ecosystem and rare plant gene sources.

From there, scientists recommend conservation measures to protect this species from extinction.

Thus, up to now, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has recorded 2,956 plant species belonging to 1,009 genera, 198 families, 63 orders, 12 classes, 6 phyla and 1,404 animal species belonging to 842 genera, 294 families, 68 orders, 12 classes, 4 phyla. Of which, 7 new plant species for science have been recorded and published domestically and internationally.

Huong Giang

Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-hien-them-loai-thuc-vat-moi-tai-vuon-quoc-gia-phong-nha-ke-bang-post904031.html