A recent survey of tropical botanical resources by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) has yielded significant scientific breakthroughs. Researchers have documented three species new to science across Hainan and the Xizang Autonomous Region, and these new findings are now officially detailed in the international taxonomic journal Phytotaxa.

The trio of discoveries includes a species of sedge grass found in Hainan (Carex majuelingensis) a kind of ginger (Amomum arunachalense var. allioides) found in Medog, Xizang Autonomous Region), and a kind of orchid (Gastrodia exianlingensis) found in Hainan. Notably, the identification of the newly discovered orchid resulted from a collaborative effort between CATAS and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.

Thriving in the tropical montane monsoon forests of Hainan’s Majue Ridge at an elevation of roughly 1,100 meters, the newly identified sedge grass species (Carex majuelingensis) maintains a stable population.

The discovery of the new ginger species (Amomum arunachalense var. allioides) —a new variety of the Amomum genus found in Medog, Xizang Autonomous Region—further enriches the botanical catalog of the ginger family in Southeast Xizang.

The leafless saprophytic orchid (Gastrodia exianlingensis) is currently known only to the karst monsoon forests of the Exian Ridge located in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. The presence of this orchid underscores the unique biodiversity of this region where tropical rainforests meet rugged karst terrain.

These discoveries not only bolster China’s tropical plant database but also provide a vital scientific roadmap for future biodiversity monitoring, rare species conservation, and regional ecological planning.

(Photos courtesy of cctv.com)