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Press Release
Kew scientists involved in the discovery of new conifer in remote forests of northern Vietnam
An extraordinary conifer has been recently
discovered in northern Vietnam, identified as new to science by Aljos
Farjon, Kew's conifer specialist. The new species, a "missing link" between
true cypresses (Cupressus) and the false cypresses (Chamaecyparis)
was found in a remote area of northern Vietnam in ridge-top forest of
extraordinary biodiversity. This is a remnant of a once-extensive forested
region which covered much of eastern Asia and extended to North America.
Only fragments of the forests now remain and the new conifer is one of
the relict species left after the last Ice Age.
There are only about 630 living species of conifer but their use for timber
makes them the most important tree species in the world.
The new conifer is a small tree with highly unusual foliage of two sorts
on the mature trees; both needle and scale leaves. It was discovered by
a team of scientists, which included Kew's orchid expert Dr Phillip Cribb
and colleagues from the Vietnamese Institute of Terrestrial Ecology in
Hanoi, the Komarov Institute in St. Petersburg and the Missouri Botanical
Garden, on an expedition studying the orchid floras of the karst mountains
of northern Vietnam.
Aljos Farjon has confirmed that the conifer is a new species in a new
genus and has named it, with colleagues from Vietnam and Missouri Botanical
Garden, Xanthocyparis vietnamensis, the Golden Vietnamese cypress.
Apart from the extraordinary Wollemi pine, recently described from New
South Wales, it is the first truly new conifer described since 1948.
Its closest ally, the Nootka cypress, also now transferred to the genus
Xanthocyparis, is found in North America. Gardeners will know it as one
of the parents of the widely grown and much loathed Leyland's cypress
(x Cupressocyparis leylandii). The consequence of the Vietnamese
discovery is that the scientific name of Leyland's cypress will also have
to change.
Sadly, the Golden Vietnamese cypress is already critically endangered
in the wild. It is naturally rare, confined to limestone ridges in a small
area not far from the Chinese border. It is also prized locally for its
fragrant wood which is used for coffins and for making shrines. Only a
few semi-mature and coppiced trees survive.
At a meeting of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Taiwan just before
Christmas, the Vietnamese scientists, backed up by Kew and Missouri scientists,
will propose that its mountain habitat should be established as a conservation
area. The Missouri Botanical Garden is currently working on cultivation
and propagation techniques aimed at the long-term survival of this new
conifer.
For further Press information please contact:
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Kew: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5607/5619 |
Wakehurst Place: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)1444 894018 |
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