Chapter 2 Section 1 Rare Plants

China is famous all over the world for its variety of plants.Taking higher plants as an example, there are more than 30,000 species, accounting for 1/10 of the world.There are about 8,000 species of woody plants, including about 2,000 species of arbor trees.According to statistics, there are 12 families, 71 genera, and 800 species of gymnosperms in the world, and China has 11 families, 41 genera, and more than 240 species.Among them, there are many names of exotic flowers and herbs, too numerous to enumerate.Many species are valuable and rare plants. In July 1984, the Environmental Protection Committee of the State Council of China announced the first batch of "List of Rare and Endangered Plants". There are 354 rare plants in my country (including one subspecies and 21 varieties).There are 8 species of first-level key protected plants, 143 second-level key protected plants, and 203 third-level key protected plants.

The rare plants we are talking about here only refer to the narrow distribution area, or wide and scattered, and the ecological environment is relatively unique, mainly the unique special plants in China under the national first-level key protection, including the natural conditions that are extinct in the world, only in the land of China The preserved larvae [jiejie] tree species. The first-level key protected plants are special products of China, and have extremely important scientific research, economic and cultural values.The ecological environment of some plants has been degraded or the number of plants has been reduced to critical extinction. It must be rescued vigorously and the ecological environment should be protected to facilitate survival and reproduction.

Metasequoia (Metasequoia Glyptostroboides) is a rare relic tree species in the world, known as the living fossil of Chinese plants. It was officially announced to the world in 1948, which shocked the entire plant world and was hailed as a major discovery in botany in the 20th century.Metasequoia spread throughout Europe, Asia and North America in the early Cretaceous period of Mesozoic Era more than 100 million years ago. However, when the Quaternary glaciers came about 2.5-3 million years ago, the huge glaciers engulfed the ancient Metasequoia, making it It is almost extinct on the earth. Only in the border areas of Sichuan, Hubei and Hunan in my country due to the complex terrain and little impact from glaciers, Metasequoia survives.

Metasequoia is a tall deciduous tree belonging to the family Sequoiaceae and the genus Metasequoia.The tree can be as high as 35-40 meters, the trunk is straight and round, the large branches are in irregular turns, the leaves are crossed and opposite, the branchlets are drooping, and the leaves are pinnate.Plants monoecious, cones drooping, seeds flat. A plant was first discovered in Modaoxi, Wanxian County, Sichuan (now under Lichuan, Hubei) in 1941. It is 35 meters high and more than seven meters in diameter.One of the scientific appraisers of Chinese Metasequoia, Dr. Hu Xianyu [su v], wrote "Metasequoia Song" in 1962: "Ji chasing 100 million years of cretaceous years, the vast Kunwei scenery is beautiful; Metasequoia is so special when it is standing, and the giant trees in the sky surround the North Pole; Great changes occurred in the mountains and rivers in the Three Periods, and the earth was covered with ice; Zhongfangbu [bubupingsheng] entered the southern desert, and Wanhui fell to the rare remnants; only thousands of square miles in Yuchuan and Hubei, remnants remained in the land; hundreds of millions of years ago, the descendants survived today , I was amazed when I heard the wind in the absolute domain; the crowds sought treasures and planted all over the country, and the sun branches were everywhere; there was a silver fir nearby that could stand up to the martial arts, and the banner of the Han Dynasty has been seen." This poem praises Chinese scientists who have made continuous discoveries and self-reliance. The astonishing move made the ancient Metasequoia of the prehistoric "survival" displayed in front of human beings.Metasequoia has become a beautiful ornamental plant because of its beautiful tree posture, dense branches and leaves, tender in spring, green on summer solstice, golden in autumn, turning red in winter, and changing color in four seasons.Many countries in the world have asked China for metasequoia saplings, which have spread to 50 countries and regions in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. People call them "regenerated resurrection trees".

The original wild metasequoia in our country is only distributed in Lichuan, Hubei, Shizhu, Sichuan, and Longshan, Hunan. (Autonomous Region) are all introduced and cultivated, so that people can see the elegant demeanor of metasequoia. Silver fir (Cathaya Argyrophylla), also known as the son of fir, is another living fossil plant discovered after the metasequoia in the 1950s (that is, "nearly there is a silver fir Kanjiwu" mentioned in "Song of Metasequoia").People praise silver fir as the "panda" of plants and the "pearl" of forests. It is a relic tree species that only exists in China.Silver fir was widely distributed in Eurasia 10 million years ago, but in the Quaternary Period 2.5-3 million years ago, the temperature changed drastically and glaciers covered it.Only the southwestern part of my country is located at a low latitude and has mountain barriers, which block the invasion of glaciers and allow the ancient silver fir to survive.For the first time in China, silver fir was discovered in Huaping, Longsheng, Guangxi. It was seen by Mr. Zhong Jixin of the Provincial Institute of Botany. In 1957, two professors, Chen Huanyong and Kuang Keren, determined the scientific name for it.Soon, a small amount of silver fir trees were found in Jinfo Mountain in Sichuan, Daozhen in Guizhou, and Xinning in Hunan.Silver fir is generally distributed in foggy limestone areas at an altitude of 900-1800 meters. It grows on ridges or steep cliffs and requires warm sunny slopes.

Silver fir belongs to Pinaceae, silver fir is an evergreen tree.The trunk is tall, about 20 meters, the branches are arranged in parallel, the branchlets are hairy, the emerald leaves are evergreen, the leaves are linear, and there are two silver-white balloon bands below.When the breeze blows, it looks like a sparkling silver-white pearl from a distance, hence the name Yinshan.Male cones are larger than female cones, monoecious.The cones are mature in that year, erect at first, and gradually droop.Silver fir wood is hard, corrosion-resistant, and not easy to rot in the soil. It is a high-quality wood for construction and shipbuilding.Silver fir is different from Metasequoia in that it has poor adaptability, special ecological environment requirements, nostalgia for its homeland, and is difficult to spread. So far, it is only confined to a few deep mountains and old forests in southwest China. my country has established a silver fir nature reserve in Longshenghuaping, Guangxi to vigorously protect it. The most precious and rare tree species.

Taiwania Flousiana Gaussen, also known as Taiwania Flousiana Gaussen, is one of the famous old trees in the world, and it is a unique and precious relic tree species in my country.Bald fir is a tall evergreen tree, generally tens of meters high, and is the tallest tree among the three firs, with a diameter of more than two meters.The crown of the tree is like a tower, majestic and majestic.Bald fir is a long-lived old tree, some of which have lived for three or four hundred years and are still youthful, with lush branches and leaves, and some are actually "thousand-year-olds".The bald fir branches are slender and drooping, and the leaves are arranged in a spiral and tapered shape.The female cones are solitary on the top of the branch, while the male cones are clustered on the top of several branches.The cones are small, the seeds are flat, and the bark is very special, lobed into irregular long strips, and it will not break even if it is peeled off for several meters.The wood has good texture, fragrance and luster. It is a top-grade wood and can be used as sleepers, electric poles, bridge wood, and high-end furniture.

Bald fir is distributed in the Nu River and Dulong River basins in the Hengduan Mountains in southwest China, in mountainous areas between 1700 and 2700 meters above sea level.There are also sporadic distributions in Leigong Mountain in Guizhou and Xingdou Mountain in Lichuan, Hubei.In recent years, bald fir has been cultivated artificially, and it grows rapidly, and can become a plantation. Wangtian tree (Parashorea Chinensis) is also called superstar tree. As the name suggests, the tree is towering and looks up to the sky.It is shaped like a big umbrella, so it is also called umbrella tree.The plants are generally as high as 60 meters, and some are as high as 80 meters, which is as high as a 20-story building.The trunk is slender and straight, towering into the clouds, majestic and extraordinary.Wangtianshu belongs to dipterocarpaceae, is an evergreen giant tree with alternate leaves, inflorescences are mostly racemes, usually terminal, hermaphrodite flowers, not obvious, the fruit is ovoid oval nut, covered with hairs, fruit wings five It is formed by the enlargement of the shrunken calyx. It blooms in May every year and ripens in September.

Wangtian tree is one of the tallest tree species in Asia. In 1975, Chinese forestry scientists discovered for the first time that it is a unique tree species in China.Wangtian tree is only distributed in the upper reaches of the Nanla River in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, which is a humid monsoon forest area on the northern edge of the tropics.It generally grows in low mountain valleys and valleys at an altitude of 700-1100 meters.At the feet of this forest giant, there are four to six large roots, like the "handle" of a big umbrella.Whenever the "dry season" comes, the old leaves fall off, and the new leaves sprout immediately, and the inflorescences will be pulled out. It will always be a big evergreen umbrella for people to "shade under the big tree".

Davidia Involucrata Baillon (Davidia Involucrata Baillon) is also called water pear, water winter fruit, and pigeon tree.It is a unique relic tree species in China.According to legend, Wang Zhaojun of the Western Han Dynasty married far outside the Great Wall and missed his elders in his hometown (Zi, Zi, Hubei, Gui County) day and night, so he wrote a letter to his family every month, tied it on the feet of a white pigeon, and flew back to his hometown.The white dove lived up to its mission and was very tired when it flew back to its hometown through thousands of mountains and rivers. It perched on a Davidia involucrata tree and instantly turned into thousands of dove flowers spreading its wings and ready to fly.This is just a beautiful legend.In fact, Davidia involucrata trees were widely distributed all over the world as early as 1 million years ago. During the Quaternary Ice Age, they were on the verge of extinction due to the cold and severe ice and snow. .

Davidia involucrata is a deciduous tree with a plant height of 30 meters.The leaves are alternate on long branches and clustered on short branches.The flowers are polygamous, consisting of many male flowers and one or two bisexual flowers.Terminal inflorescence head, under the inflorescence there are two large milky white bracts like a pair of wings.The red flower heads are like the heads of pigeons, and the yellow-green stigmas are like beaks.Whenever the involucrata flowers are in full bloom in spring, the mountain wind blows the Buddha, and thousands of flowers flutter, just like a flock of pigeons flying.The dove of peace is flying, and the precious white dove tree in China has been introduced to some European and American countries. Davidia involucrata is easy to bear fruit, but difficult to raise seedlings. Its ecological environment should be studied vigorously and protected.Davidia involucrata is not only a rare ornamental plant in the world, but also a high-quality wood with fine texture, light and firm texture, and can be used as raw material for handicrafts. Cyathea spinulosa Wall (Cyathea spinulosa Wall), also known as tree fern (juejue), belongs to fern, Cyatheaceae. It is the oldest living fossil in the world and the only surviving woody fern. The trunk of the tree is 318 meters high, and the stems stand upright like columns, with a diameter of about 20 centimeters.The petiole is dark purple in length, with dense thorns, the blade is 112 meters long, 1 meter wide, three times pinnately lobed, and the small pinnae are linear-lanceolate, opening like a large feather umbrella.The stem can be used as a traditional Chinese medicine, called "keel wind", which has the effect of dispelling wind and dampness, and strengthening muscles and bones. Alsophila spinulosa is distributed in damp areas below 1,000 meters above sea level in Taiwan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Sichuan, and grows in forests and on damp ground by streams. Alsophila spinulosa is a precious and rare plant in China. It is a rare ancient forest relic at the same time as dinosaurs. It has important scientific value for the study of paleogeology, paleogeography and soil vegetation evolution. In 1986, my country established the Cymbidium spinosa nature reserve in Chishui County, Guizhou. Camellia Chrysantha (Camellia Chrysantha) is a rare and precious ornamental plant in the family Theaceae, and is listed as a famous flower unique to my country's special products. In 1960, Chinese botanists discovered it for the first time in Nanning, Guangxi, and became a rookie in the Camellia family, and it is unique because of its golden color.Although there are various camellias in the world, there are many varieties, including pink, scarlet, purple and white, but yellow is missing.The golden camellia newly discovered in my country has a golden corolla, waxy luster, crystal and oily, exquisite and translucent, overwhelming the fragrance.The blooming flowers are beautiful and elegant, and the corollas are like pots, bowls, and cups, with different shapes and dazzling brilliance. Golden camellia is a small evergreen tree, two to five meters high, with light grayish yellow bark and dark green leaves.Distributed in low and gentle hills at an altitude of 100-200 meters, growing on well-drained shady slopes and loose soil beside streams.Wild golden camellia is only distributed in Yong [yong Yong] Ning County and adjacent areas in Nanning, Guangxi. In 1986, my country established the Golden Camellia Nature Reserve in Fangcheng County, Guangxi.Camellia camellia is a plant species resource whose color can be inherited and remains unchanged. The horticultural circles call it the "darling" of the international camellia family.Many new flower and color varieties have been created through artificial breeding and hybridization.In addition, golden camellia has high economic value, and its leaves and flowers can be used as medicine to treat trauma, festering sores, and carbuncles.Flowers can also cure women's diseases.Usually, people use leaves and flowers to make tea, which tastes sweet and delicious.The seeds can be extracted for oil.The wood is hard and is often used to make carving crafts. Ginseng (Panax Ginseng CA. Mey) is a precious medicinal material specially produced in my country, known as the "King of Herbs".my country is the first country in the world to discover ginseng.Ginseng was first recorded on the Internet. People have taken ginseng during the Qin and Han Dynasties. It has a history of more than 2,000 years. The "Materia Medica" of all dynasties has records about the properties and special effects of ginseng, and it is listed as a top-notch nourishing medicinal material. The original name of ginseng is "ginseng" [shen body]. "Shuowen Jiezi" contains: "Ginseng, a medicinal herb, comes from Shangdang." In ancient times, it was also called Renjing, Goblin, Renzhen, Renxiang and so on.Generally, it is commonly known as ginseng because of its humanoid shape, and its common name is stick. Ginseng is a perennial herb.Araliaceae.The plant is 30-60 cm high, the main root is thick, fleshy, fusiform or cylindrical.The lower part has branches, and the outer skin is light yellow.Palmate compound leaf whorls at the top of the stem, umbel, pale yellow-green, berry-shaped drupe, oblate, bright red when mature.Ginseng is mostly distributed in coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests and miscellaneous forests hundreds of meters above sea level.The origin of wild ginseng is the Shangdang area of ​​Shanxi, so it is called Shangdang ginseng.Later, due to deforestation, the ecological environment of ginseng was destroyed, and it was almost extinct.Now the main producing areas of wild ginseng are Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and northern Hebei deep mountains and old forests.In the Changbai Mountains of Jilin and the Xiaoxing’an Mountains of Heilongjiang, there are deep humus soils on the shady slopes of low hills and under the bushes, which are suitable for the growth and development of wild ginseng.The famous hometown of ginseng is Fusong County, Jilin Province. The artificially cultivated ginseng has good texture and is sold at home and abroad. In addition to the above eight kinds of rare plants under national first-level key protection, there are 346 kinds of plants under second-level and third-level key protection.The famous tall umbrella-shaped ancient ginkgo tree, the beautiful and colorful Taiwan fir, the tall and straight golden pine and Bole tree, the Yuanbaoshan fir in Guangxi, the three-pointed fir on Gongshan in Yunnan, and the Hainan rough torreya that can extract anticancer drugs [fei bandit], the thousand-year-old hemlock in Shennongjia, Hangui in Hanzhong Shengshui Temple, Tang Mei in Kunming Heilongtan, and the sacred tree "cypress" in Alishan, Taiwan, are all green cultural relics of the land of China.