Khanh Hoa proposes to preserve and propagate Krempf camellia species

Scientists in Khanh Hoa province have proposed to conserve the Krempf camellia species discovered at two locations in the province's mountainous region, with a narrow distribution range and a limited number of individuals.

At the end of 2013, the research team of Piduop Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong province and Da Lat University also announced the discovery of this plant species in the Hon Giao Pass area, bordering Khanh Hoa province. This is a tea species endemic to Vietnam and a rare genetic resource, which can be proposed to be included in the Red Book for natural conservation; at the same time, research and propagation.

According to the Department of Science and Technology of Khanh Hoa province, in mid-2013, during the investigation to build a database of biodiversity in Khanh Hoa forests, the research team of the Southern Institute of Ecology in coordination with the Khanh Hoa Forest Protection Department accidentally discovered an individual of this tree species in the Hon Ba mountain area, but at that time the tree had not yet flowered.

In November 2013, the research team encountered this plant species again in the Son Thai mountain area, in the mountainous district of Khanh Vinh (6km from Hon Ba Nature Reserve as the crow flies). Thanks to collecting complete samples, including flowers and fruits, it helped researchers identify this plant species more clearly. After more than 100 years, international botanists first found them in 1912, also in the Hon Ba mountain area.

Documents show that in 1942, this plant was announced by French botanist F. Gagnepain and named Thea Krempfii, belonging to the tea family. By 1949, this plant was classified into a new genus, Camellia Krempfii. However, since then, this tea species has not been found in nature.

Krempf camellia has a small woody stem, up to 8m high, many branches and leaves; single, hairless leaves, long, oblong blade, with ribbed edges; leaf margins have small serrations, purple leaf tails. Their flowers are usually single, sometimes two, growing in leaf axils, red, 5-7cm in diameter; capsule, flat spherical, with 10 segments, 6-7cm in diameter; shiny brown seeds, 1.5-2cm in size.

Regarding ecology, this tree species is present in tropical evergreen closed forests, distributed at an altitude of 700-800m, and regenerates relatively little in nature./.

According to VNA