Scientists have confirmed that an orchid
discovered by a tourist in South China is a new species.
The dazzling flower is entirely yellow and
the plant has no leaves for photosynthesis and carries the biggest seeds of all
known orchids.
Named as Danxiaorchis sinchiana, it was
found in the remote mountains of Shaoguan, Guangdong province, by .
In May 2010, tourist Zhu Jiaqiang and some
friends were hiking in Danxia when Zhu came upon half a dozen beautiful orchids
in a grassless area. He took photos and posted on the internet, drawing the
attention of botanists.
Scientists from various specialist centres
went to the mountains with Zhu and have now concluded that it is indeed a new
species. A news conference has just announced the discovery.
According to a press
report, Liu Zhongjian, a senior expert with the Asia branch of the
International Union for Conservation of Nature's orchid group, said: "The
discovery of Danxiaorchis sinchiana has enriched the diversity and gene bank of
the orchid species, and the special structure of the seed provides a new
research interest for orchid evolution."
Other plant species have also been reported
in the area, but human activities have limited the range of orchid species. Liu
has called for authorities to build a protection zone for the new species and
start gene research for a possible reproduction study.
So far, scientists have found 21 individual
Danxiaorchis sinchiana, with the total number estimated at less than 100.
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