New, critically endangered plant species of value discovered in Vietnam's Vũ Quang National Park
On the morning of Dec. 4, officials at Vũ Quang National Park in Hà Tĩnh province, north-central Vietnam, announced that a new plant species discovered in the park has just been formally described; the species is considered valuable and critically endangered.
The discovery is the result of joint research by Vũ Quang National Park, the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Viện Sinh thái và Tài nguyên sinh vật) in Vietnam and experts from Japan.
According to the study, the newly described species bears the scientific name Beilschmiedia danhkyii and the Vietnamese name "Chắp Danhkyii" . It belongs to the laurel family (Lauraceae), one of the most species-rich plant families in Vietnam as well as in Vũ Quang National Park, and one valued for its medicinal plants and essential oils.
The morphology of Beilschmiedia danhkyii. (Photo: Phytotaxa).
Morphologically, "Chắp Danhkyii" differs markedly from previously recorded and described species of the "Chắp" genus Beilschmiedia: it is a tree 5 - 8 m tall with grayish-brown bark. Its young branches are densely covered in fine hairs and are light to grayish-brown. The leaves are subopposite, with petioles 0.6-1.3 cm long that bear dense rust-colored hairs when young. The flowers are yellow to yellowish-green.
Beilschmiedia danhkyii is named after Nguyễn Danh Kỳ, director of Vũ Quang National Park.
The research team also reported that "Chắp Danhkyii" grows at elevations of 80 to 170 m above sea level. The team has assessed the species and proposed that it be listed as critically endangered.
"The findings on the new species Beilschmiedia danhkyii have been published by the authors in an international journal. The research team has assessed the species and proposed a conservation status of critically endangered," a park official said.
Vũ Quang National Park is known as one of Vietnam's foremost biodiversity hotspots. It is home to many rare and endangered animal and plant species that are priorities for conservation. The park lies within an ecoregion of global priority, recognized as critically important for conserving biodiversity and safeguarding environmental security for the Central Annamites (Trung Trường Sơn), Vietnam and the wider ASEAN region.
Since the start of 2021, four species new to science have been discovered and described from Vũ Quang National Park: two plants, one insect and one amphibian.
Rare leafless orchid discovered in Vietnam's Quảng Trị province
A rare leafless orchid, Erythrorchis ochobiensis, has been found in the Rú Lịnh forest of Quảng Trị province in central Vietnam.
Tissue culture technology helps conserve Hanoi's West Lake lotus
Vietnamese scientists have developed a tissue culture protocol to propagate the prized Bách Diệp lotus of Hanoi's West Lake and preserve its genes.
Three new plant species with stunning flowers discovered in Vietnam
The three new species, small herbs with beautiful flowers and leaves, have high ornamental value and were described in the journal Phytotaxa.
Rare 'praying-hands' tree Chunia bucklandioides found to be native to Vietnam
A tree once known only from China's Hainan Island has been found in Vietnam, adding a native timber species to the country's flora.
Vietnamese scientist discovers an extremely rare new begonia
A begonia new to science, Begonia tadungensis, has been found in Vietnam's Tà Đùng National Park and is already considered Critically Endangered.
New insect species discovered in Vietnam
Scientists have described a new beetle, Rhyparus vietnamicus, and two new Sogana planthoppers from Vietnam.
