Pine two flattened leaves - ancient fossilized living plants

At the initial acceptance, on May 14, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and the Center for Experimental Forestry Research Lam Dong announced the study and experimentation of the 'living fossil' ancient species of two flat leaves at the top. Bidoup mountain (Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province) gave positive results.

Master Le Van Huong - Director of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park - said: 'With a height of 1,500 to over 2,000m, the successful trial planting of this species in the Bidoup forest area (bordering Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa) once again proves that this is the 'country' of the fossilized living fossil '.

Research materials of the Lam Dong Center for Experimental Silvicultural Research revealed that: The flattening of two flat leaves with the scientific name is Ducampopinus kremfii, belonging to the family of pinaceae; with the characteristic of two blade-shaped flat leaves. This is an ancient pine that is believed to be born at the same time as dinosaurs; is now almost extinct in the world, only unique in Vietnam.

Prehistoric messengers

The two flat pine trees in Lam Dong are considered 'prehistoric messengers' , a rare 'living fossil' plant that remains to this day (in the world, outside Vietnam, there is no place there is this ancient creature. Currently, pine trees are classified in rare species, the level of threat can be extinct (R level).

Clear two flat leaves in Bidoup forest.

In Vietnam, in addition to the Heavenly Gate area of ​​Lac Duong district (bordering Da Lat, Lam Dong in the direction of Suoi Vang, ward 7), the population of these two rare flat leaves is only found in Bidoup forest area. (on the top of Hon Giao, adjacent to Khanh Hoa province) and a few in other places such as paint in Khanh Son district of Khanh Hoa province, the vicinity of Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) is adjacent to Don Duong forest area ( Lam Dong), forest area of ​​Chu Yang Sin National Park (Dak Lak) .

Master Le Van Huong said: 'Antiquities through two flat leaves are believed to be born at the same time as dinosaurs. After changes in the history of the earth millions of years ago, almost every creature disappeared, only a few species survived. In it, the "survivors" and living with people today are clearing two flat leaves, and only Vietnam has. Therefore, this fossilized ancient species is considered as one of the prehistoric messengers'.

Good signal

The leader of the Center for Experimental silviculture Lam Dong said: 'For some species of ancient organisms in Lam Dong today, in addition to focusing on conservation of insitu (in-situ conservation), the form of exsitu conservation (Peripheral conservation) such as the collection of planting seeds outside the natural distribution area has also received special attention ' . In Lam Dong forest, there are populations of naturally distributed flat-leaf pine, the survey results of scientists in recent years show that the ability of natural regeneration of this plant species is very poor. Therefore, the ability to replace the forests that pine two mature flat leaves naturally is very rare.

Therefore, scientists of the Lam Dong Center for Experimental Silvicultural Research have 'directed' the exsitu method in the conservation and development of the ancient plant species of prehistoric biology using two flat leaves. According to the research team of the Center, the most difficult thing in studying propagation of two flat leaves is to create a suitable environment to care for. If in the past, the method of seedling seedling creation was still difficult, now, the breeding stage has had the intervention of in vitro techniques (asexual propagation) so the creation of seedlings is relatively easy.

The problem now is raising the seedlings in the nursery and putting the seedlings out in the field to plant them. From 5 years ago, the propagation of this ancient plant was done mainly by seeding, so the number of seedlings is not much; Besides, although scientists have brought this seedling to plant some places, the rate of live trees is very low.

In the past three years, breeding has been carried out in the in vitro method, so there have been a series of seedlings of two flat leaves established. Lam Dong Forestry Research Center selected Bidoup forest area - one of the places where there was a natural population of two flattened pine leaves - to grow into a forest. Mr. Le Van Huong, Director of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, said: 'After a period of trial planting (2ha planted under forest canopy, 1ha planted on bare land), up to now, the rate of live trees is quite high and proved to be consistent. suitable for the climate and soil conditions here. Thus, the rate of forest formation for the amount of seedlings through two flat leaves is very high. '

In Lam Dong - Tay Nguyen, not only 'prehistoric messengers' communicated two remaining flat leaves but somewhere in the old forests still have other contemporary "messengers" of living fossils like yew, Three-sided oak, five-leaf pine . Therefore, the successful propagation of two flat leaves not only has its own significance for preserving this genetic resource but also opens a new perspective for the conservation of real species. Other antiquities are also considered 'messengers of prehistoric times' existing in Lam Dong - Central Highlands but are at high risk of extinction.