For the first time, scientists have built a list of 337 species belonging to 142 genera of 63 plant families in caves in Northern Vietnam.
During the process of investigating cave plant diversity in the North, Associate Professor, Dr. Do Van Truong and colleagues at the Vietnam Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology discovered and described 3 New plant species for world science (Bredia bullata, Microchiriata minor, Primulina crassifolia) and adding 6 species to the Vietnamese flora (including Aristolochia austroyunnanensis, Brandisia kwangsiensis, Euchresta tubulosa, Henckelia nanxiensis, Primulina jingxiensis, Spiradiclis baishaiensis).
Some new species and additional species for Vietnamese cave flora. Image: Researchers
Scientists collected plant specimens in 33 caves in 8 northern provinces of Vietnam: Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Hoa Binh, Son La, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa.
The research team identified 337 species belonging to 142 genera of 63 families of northern cave plants. Among them, the Fern group (Pteridophytes) includes 53 species (accounting for 15.73%) and the Angiospermae group with 284 species (accounting for 84.27%).
The study also showed that 221 species have valuable uses, used as ornamental plants, as medicine, for firewood, food, and especially 40 species with rare genetic resources. After the discovery, the research team built a morphological and ecological database for 337 plant species and built molecular data for 25 endemic or newly discovered cave plant species and described them. cholera in Vietnam.
Associate Professor Truong said that 25 species of cave plants in the North have been identified as being on the Red List and 4 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Scientists have initially assessed the endangered status and current conservation status of newly discovered plant species in caves in Vietnam.
Associate Professor, Dr. Do Van Truong (left) and colleagues conduct a field survey of northern caves. Image: Researchers
The cave system in Vietnam contains many unique biological values. The assessment of cave plant diversity provides a scientific basis for building a program to preserve and sustainably develop genetic resources of rare, endemic, and valuable plant species, contributing to economic development. society and restore forest ecosystems on limestone mountains in Vietnam.
Associate Professor Truong and the research team will continue to investigate additional cave plant species composition in the limestone mountain area in the Central region of Vietnam. He said that researching, screening and preserving rare and endemic plant species of limestone mountain areas and cave areas is meaningful in using unique genetic resources as a basis for restoring cave landscapes. Actively serving the conservation and development of tourism.