In July and August 2021, Quercus sichourensis (Fagaceae) and Pinus squamata (Pinaceae), respectively, planted at Kunming Botanical Garden in Yunnan province, south-west China, were found to be bearing fruits. This is the first time the two species have been recorded to fruit in the Botanical Garden since they were propagated from seeds collected from wild populations in south-east Yunnan 12 and 9 years ago.
Both species are evergreen trees with high ornamental value. The leaves of Q. sichourensis are thick, leathery, whitish and pilose abaxially, and the nuts are large, each with one cupule enclosing nearly all of the nut, an arrangement different from most species in the genus Quercus. The unique characteristics of P. squamata are a straight trunk with white bark, branches sweeping downwards, and five needles per bundle.
With only 17 and 34 fully grown trees known to remain in the wild, respectively, and restricted areas of occupancy, Q. sichourensis and P. squamata are categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and both are listed in China as Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations. Pinus squamata also has grade I priority protection in China's National Key Protected Wild Plants. With these various categorizations and being at risk of extinction, these two species have attracted much attention. The fruiting of the species in Kunming Botanical Garden was reported by China's mainstream media and more than 2 million people viewed the news online.
With the support of several conservation projects, research has examined the threats to these two species, and conservation measures have been implemented. The wild populations of both species are protected by national natural reserves and micro-conservation sites established by local government departments. Thousands of seedlings have been propagated, some of which have been used for reinforcement and reintroduction in natural and semi-natural sites within the species’ known range, and others are being cultivated in various botanical gardens.
The unusual fruits of Quercus sichourensis, with the cupule enclosing nearly all of the nut. Photo: Zhifa Chen.
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