Thorel warm lid reappeared in Vietnam after more than 100 years

A joint survey between the Institute of Tropical Biology and Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park and researchers from France and the UK, in August 2011 confirmed the existence of the warm-covered plant Thorel (Nepenthes thorelii Lecomte) in Vietnam after a long absence.

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Thorel warm cap species

Thorel was first discovered by French botanist Clovis Thorel in Thi Tinh commune, Lo Thieu district, Binh Duong province between 1861-1869 and later described by botanist Paul Henri Lecomte. in 1909. Lecomte named Thorel to name the tree.

Thorel's lid is an endemic species of Indochina, which looks very similar and easily confused with 9 other warm-capped species recorded in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. A study published in the International Journal of Planta Medica medicinal plants in 1998 demonstrated the warm-capped plants Thorel containing naphthoquinones with antimalarial activity.

Since Thorel obtained the specimen of this species until recently, there has not been any official record proving that Thorel warm cap exists in nature. This is further confirmed when researchers include François Mey (French, Cambodian-origin), Charles Clarke (Australian), Alastair Robinson (British) and Luu Hong Truong who attempt to find Thorel's warm lid in the area. but in Indochina, no results were obtained.

Hope to be lit when TS. Vu Ngoc Long (Institute of Tropical Biology) happened to capture an image of a seedling of Thorel in a survey in Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park. Based on this photo, the research team conducted a thorough survey and found this species in the wild in the area of ​​Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park.

The rediscovery of this species in Vietnam after more than 100 years is a valuable recognition, contributing to affirm the unique value of our country's nature. Up to this point, Lo Go - Xa Mat National Park is the only place that can find this species in nature.

With the number of individuals found to be less than 100, Thorel's warm lid is in a state of high threat of extinction. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List standard for classification of threatened status of species, Thorel warm caps should be classified as Critically Endangered. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to strictly protect this species and its habitat, prevent exploitation measures and plan to restore this species to conserve a rare and unique genetic resource of the country. me.