[InKunming--Yunnan] Recently, researchers discovered a small family of wild plants named Orchidantha yunnanensis in the wild for the first time in Hekou county, Hani-Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Honghe in Yunnan.

Being found by the Hua’nan Botanic Garden and the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Orchidantha yunnanensis was considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Until April 16th, the research team led by Sun Weibang found only 15 clusters of Orchidantha yunnanensis in a limestone area in Hekou county. The typical small family of the wild plants distribute in extreme narrow places with special habitat, and are disturbed by human activities.

Researchers said that the new species not only enriches the plant diversity of Kekou Daweishan area, but also indicates that there are a lot of similar small family of wild plant not being found yet.

According to the preliminary observations, the petals of Orchidantha yunnanensis grow up from the base, and give off the stink of rotting carcasses, which attract flies and other insects for their pollination.

The researchers suggested that the protection should be adopted as soon as possible to carry out the investigation of artificial breeding technology so as to expand the number of these wild plants. Meanwhile, the field research should be intensified to find out the situation of plants in order for further scientific research.

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(Editors: Christine, Rachel)