Because of its delicate nature and "seeking death", it has turned itself into the "giant panda of the plant world"

You must have heard of giant panda blood - Rh negative blood (only 0.03% of Han people have this).

Similarly, in various fields, as long as it is a scarce resource, it will be named "giant panda", such as the giant panda in the water - the peach blossom jellyfish.

The giant panda of the duck world - the spotted merganser. (It really looks like a panda)

Image from gbif

What about the giant panda of the plant world? Parashorea chinensis deserves the crown.

The reason why the Parashorea chinensis is endangered is not only because of its antiquity and rarity, but also in large part because of its fragility and tendency to commit suicide.

The history of Parashorea chinensis

Parashorea chinensis originated 140 million years ago and is a relict species. It was very prosperous in the ancient geological history period, but its growth and reproduction have greatly declined in modern times. It is currently the world's smallest and oldest rare and endangered plant of the Magnoliaceae family.

Parashorea chinensis, Source: Kunming Botanical Garden

For a long time, the Parashorea chinensis has only been distributed in the sunny valleys and humid mountains on the upper slopes of local areas in Yunnan at an altitude of 1,300 to 1,500 meters, and its distribution range is very narrow.

The first Parashorea chinensis was discovered by Professor Liu Yuhu in a valley in the nature reserve in 1978. Initially, only six trees were found.

In 1992, Parashorea chinensis was included in the National List of Rare and Endangered Plants, in 1999 it was listed as a national first-class protected plant, and in 2011 it was listed in the "Red List of the World Conservation Union" with a level of "Critically Endangered".

Unlock the beauty of Parashorea chinensis

The largest plant of Parashorea chinensis can reach a height of more than 40 meters, with a breast diameter of 120 cm. It is named for its lush and broad crown and straight trunk, which resembles a canopy on an ancient chariot. The leaves of Parashorea chinensis glow like green satin or parrot feathers under the sunlight, so people also call it "satin mung bean" or "parrot mung bean."

Parashorea chinensis is an upper-level tree with a very broad crown and a well-developed root system with buttress roots. The flowers are large, brightly colored and fragrant, and the flowering period is short, generally from mid-March to mid-April. The peak flowering period is from late March to early April. Adult trees only bloom once every 1 to 2 years, and have very few flower branches.

Source: Kunming Botanical Garden

The fruit of the Chinese parasol tree matures from September to November, and when ripe, it can burst in irregular star shapes to expose the seeds. In addition, the wood of the Chinese parasol tree is very compact, has clear and delicate texture, and is highly corrosion-resistant, giving it unique advantages in being used to make furniture, wood carvings and other handicrafts.

So what exactly caused the endangered status of Parashorea chinensis to be listed as "critically endangered"? After investigation, it was found that the endangered status of Parashorea chinensis is the result of the combined effects of internal endangered factors and external adverse environmental history.

The evolution of death

Why is it said that the Chinese parasol tree is "seeking death"? From an evolutionary perspective, it has allowed itself to evolve into an endangered state, and this process is like "seeking death".

First of all, the survival and adaptability of the Chinese parasol tree is poor. It likes water and humidity, and its growth depends on a warm, humid and fertile habitat. It has very strict requirements on temperature, water, light and soil. It is very rare to find areas in the natural environment that can meet all these requirements at the same time. The areas suitable for its growth are already difficult to find and will become fewer and fewer, but the Chinese parasol tree still maintains its "princess disease" and has always maintained strict requirements on the growth environment.

The white outer perianth segments of Parashorea chinensis in Kunming Botanical Garden (photographed in 2020), Source: Kunming Botanical Garden

In addition, the genetic diversity of Parashorea chinensis is low, and its flowering and fruiting rates are very low. In addition, Parashorea chinensis has a unique aromatic smell, which often attracts bites from insects and other animals, making it difficult for its seeds to mature.

Moreover, Magnoliaceae tree species generally need to be pollinated by insects, but wild Parashorea chinensis is relatively tall, and many insects have difficulty flying to the altitude, making the pollination process difficult.

In addition, mature Parashorea chinensis seeds are easily dehydrated and inactivated, and are tightly wrapped by the thick oil they contain. If the seeds are in a high-temperature natural environment, they are very likely to mold and rot. Therefore, it is difficult for Parashorea chinensis to germinate under purely natural sowing conditions.

Humanity: Destroyers vs Protectors

Because the material of the Parasol wood is good and it is a very suitable wood type for building houses and making furniture, it has been over-cut. Due to the vicious impact of intensified human activities, the destruction of forest vegetation is very serious, and the ecological environment has generally become dry, which is not suitable for the survival of Parasol wood.

In addition, the terrain of the area where the Parashorea chinensis grows is special, mostly valleys. With the destruction of forest vegetation upstream and nearby, mountain torrents, mudslides, landslides or collapses are very likely to occur, making it even more difficult for the Parashorea chinensis to survive.

However, in order to protect the endangered Parashorea chinensis, the state and relevant personnel have made a lot of efforts to better realize the cultivation and reproduction of Parashorea chinensis through in situ protection and ex situ protection.

A Parashorea chinensis plant studied by the Kunming Institute of Botany. Source: Kunming Botanical Garden

In nature reserves, it is necessary to strictly prohibit logging, land reclamation, grazing and other behaviors, protect the local ecological environment and create an environment suitable for the growth of Parashorea chinensis; then the artificially bred Parashorea chinensis seedlings will be planted in the natural distribution area, and under proper management and care, help them achieve self-renewal and development of the population.

In addition, by collecting germplasm resources distributed in different regions and different plants, the genetic diversity of Parashorea chinensis can be preserved; it is recommended that rare and endangered species introduction and breeding centers with cultivation capabilities and other various ex situ conservation bases take timely measures to introduce and cultivate Parashorea chinensis seedlings, thereby improving its reproductive capacity.

As a national first-class protected plant, Parashorea chinensis is a plant with great scientific research, ecological and economic value. It is also a valuable plant species resource. Protecting it is of great practical significance for human survival and development. Today, relict fossils represented by Parashorea chinensis are preserving the code of the earth and reflecting the continuity of life.

References:

[1] Shen Qingqing, Cui Xiaolong, Wu Fengzhi, Gao Mingju, Zhao Fang. Research progress on rare and endangered plant Parashorea chinensis[J]. Northern Horticulture, 2021(18):132-140.

[2] Yu Sinan, Yang Wenming. Parashorea chinensis ushered in a new life[J]. Green China, 2021(21):70-71.

END

Review expert: Xia Xiaofei, Executive Director and Deputy Secretary-General of Beijing Botanical Society

The picture of Parashorea chinensis in this article is from Kunming Botanical Garden

Images: Yang Jing, Chen Zhifa, Sun Weibang, Cai Lei, Yang Jiajun

Tadpole Musical Notation original article, please indicate the source when reprinting

Editor/Xiao Xitushuo