What changed
Guangxi has recorded an ancient Tetracentron sinense tree for the first time. A survey by the Guangxi Forestry Survey and Design Institute and the Yachang National Nature Reserve Management Center found the tree in Yachang National Nature Reserve.
The tree stands 13 metres tall, measures 71.1 centimetres in diameter at breast height and has an average crown width of 9 metres. Its age is estimated at about 200 years, making it the largest known Tetracentron sinense individual in Guangxi.
Why it matters
This is more than a large tree added to a register. Tetracentron sinense is a nationally protected Class II wild plant and a relict species, meaning it preserves features from an ancient line of plant evolution.
Its wood lacks vessels and retains some anatomical traits associated with gymnosperms. That makes the species useful for studying the evolution of China’s ancient plant communities, as well as the origins and development of flowering plants.
The discovery also fills a gap in Guangxi’s record of where relict plants survive. Yachang’s intact forest vegetation and long-stable habitat provide favourable conditions for protecting the tree where it grows. The age estimate remains approximate, and it is not yet clear whether the site will receive special management.
Comments
No comments yet.