Discovering new species in Truong Son mountain range

Vietnamese and international scientists have discovered a new big tree species in the Truong Son mountain range in Central Vietnam and named it Truong Son chopstick racing.

According to Dr. Do Van Truong, Vietnam Museum of Nature (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), a new large timber tree species in the Truong Son mountain range has been recognized by scientists of Vietnam Museum of Nature, University Sun Yat-sen (China), Swedish Museum of Natural History (Sweden), University of North Carolina Wilington and Texas Institute of Plant Research (USA) discovered while studying the diversity of flora. in Vietnam.

Flowers and chopsticks were discovered by scientists in the Truong Son range.(Photo: Do ​​Truong).

Scientists have named the new species Truong Son chopsticks - Rehderodendron truongsonense PW Fritsch, WB Liao & WY Zhao (Bodhi family - Styracaceae).

The research results have just been published in the specialized international journal of the Texas Plant Research Institute, USA (J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 13 (1): 157-171. 2019).

The wand's genus (Rehderodendron Hu - Styracaceae) currently records about 8 species, mainly distributed in southern China, Myanmar and Vietnam. Among them, 3 species have been recorded for the flora of Vietnam (R. indochinense HL Li, R. kweichowense Hu, and R. macrocarpum Hu).

The new species differs from all species in the genera because of its morphological characteristics: evergreen tree, up to 20m high, 60cm diameter at breast height, less secondary veins, shorter inflorescences and shorter lobe, large bracts, ovule 8 and nuts including 10-20 prominent ridges.

"This endemic species of Vietnam is assessed as near-endangered based on the conservation evaluation framework of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (2001). This new discovery not only increases the number of species of wandering racing. In Vietnam, there are four species, which also highlights the value of timber resources in Vietnam, so more research is needed on the value of using and conserving this important genetic resource " , Dr. Do Van Truong. for good.