Four new species of camellia were discovered in Vietnam

Scientists in the Southern Institute of Ecology have published four new species of camellia in deep forests on the Lang Biang Plateau, the southern part of the Central Highlands and the Southeast.

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Four new species of Theaceae are Camellia duyana; C. ligustrina; C. bugiamapensis and Camellia capitata, Southern Institute of Ecology said. After analysis and surgery, the team found that the new samples were very different from those known to Camellia.

The first species has a scientific name Camellia bugiamapensis Orel, Curry, Luu & QD . They are small woody shrubs that are long lost, sparse branches, up to 7m high, diameter of stem stems up to 20cm. They are usually distributed about one kilometer from the Vietnam - Cambodia border, within the range of Bu Gia Map National Park, Binh Phuoc province. This species grows in lowland tropical humid closed forest adjacent to river and stream system. Currently, the number of adults of the species is estimated to be only about 50.

Species Camellia bugiamapensis Orel, Curry, Luu & QD (Photo by Luu Hong Truong / sie.vast.ac)

Camellia duyana Orel, Curry & Luu, sp. nov. This is a kind of perennial tree, strong branching, from 12 to 15m high, the stem diameter can be measured up to 50 cm. Flower stalks of the species are up to two centimeters and 4-5mm wide. The flower of the species has a diameter of 6.5 - 7.5 cm, white color is slightly opaque.

Camellia duyana is narrowly distributed under the side of an anonymous mountain on the Da Lat plateau and is completely not within the protected area of ​​the reserve or Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. This species grows intermixed with other plants in the light-poor condition of tropical rainforest vegetation and seems appropriate on poor, nutrient-poor, well-drained lands. Scientists recommend to include this species on the list of endangered species at extremely high levels.

Camellia ligustrina Orel, Curry & Luu, sp. nov is the third new species published by the scientific world. They are small, long-lived small shrubs from 4 to 6m tall, with a diameter of 25cm to the base of the trunk. Leaves of growing species are light green. Camellia lingustrina distributed in a narrow range of Lang Biang plateau, Lam Dong. The species grows in the lack of light conditions of the tropical humid rainforest, which is typical of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, suitable for poor, nutritious, wet and well drained land. Currently the number of mature individuals of this species is only about 50.

Species Camellia capitata Orel, Curry & Luu, sp.nov.(Photo: Luu Hong Truong / sie.vast.ac)

Camellia capitata Orel , Curry & Luu, sp. nov. is a small, long-lived shrub that is small, sparse, up to 5m high. They are found in village 4, Phuoc Cat 2 commune, Cat Tien district, Lam Dong, where only native Phuoc people reside. The new species grows into small clusters or solitary trees that grow in moist, closed evergreen rainforest rain forests, on moist, fast drained soil and lack of light. Although there are many studies of plants in this area, the number of samples collected is very limited, only three mature individuals of the species have been recorded.

Around the world today, about 80% of Camellia L. camellia species are found in China and most of the remaining species are recorded as distributed in the geographical regions of Vietnam.