Fifty-seven species of the sixty plants are investigated this time, including 8 national first-grade key protected wild plants, 28 national second-grade key protected wild plants and 18 municipal key protected wild plants.

Cam ranh (municipal key protected wild plant) found in Zhongxian County (Photo provided by Chongqing Forestry Bureau)

Deng Hongping (Professor of Southwest University College of Life Science, President of Chongqing Botanical Society) said that two of the rare species are representative: cathaya argyrophylla (Jinfo Mountains at Nanchuan District) and western red cedar (Chengkou and Kaixian County).

Deng also said that, by the end of last century, western red cedar was deemed as an extinct species.

Nine species were found during this investigation, including Hexishihudie and Tianzhukuiyebaochun which are publically issued, five gesneriaceae plants, one primulaceae plant and one comfrey plant are confirmed as new species by Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The inspection shows that the vegetation recovery in Chongqing is better and there are undiscovered species. (Translated by Li Li, Fathom Language Limited)