New plant species confirms biodiversity of Guizhou reserve

Chinese researchers recently described a new plant species Mallotus bullatus at the Maolan National Nature Reserve in Libo County, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo/China News Service)

(ECNS) -- Chinese researchers have discovered a new plant species named Mallotus bullatus at Maolan National Nature Reserve in Libo County, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

The discovery was published in the international journal Phytokeys on Friday.

About 10 years ago, a research team spotted this unknown tree species while conducting plant monitoring within the nature reserve in Guizhou. The team found this plant flowering and bearing fruit during the first round of surveying from May to August 2023.

Following a field investigation and research based on specimens and molecular evidence of related species, the team confirmed the plant as a new species and called it Mallotus bullatus.

This newly identified species is an evergreen shrub or small tree found exclusively in karst scrublands with poor soil fertility, low water retention capacity, and frequent drought conditions.

Maolan National Nature Reserve preserves the largest, most relatively concentrated, highly native, and stable karst forest ecosystem. It hosts 95 species of nationally protected wild plants, accounting for about 39 percent of all nationally protected plant species in Guizhou Province.

The discovery of Mallotus bullatus adds a new member to the Euphorbiaceae family and further confirms the biodiversity of Maolan National Nature Reserve.