Plant species new to SZ found

Zingiber cochleariforme D. Fang

A plant species new to Shenzhen, Zingiber cochleariforme D. Fang, was recently found in the Shenzhen Wutong Mountain scenic area, according to the Wutong Mountain scenic area management office.

Plant lovers in Shenzhen discovered a flowering plant from the ginger family in the Wutong Mountain scenic area but failed to confirm its specific category last month.

The news reached the scenic area management office which soon organized experts to conduct related research.

The plant was located on a slope at an elevation of nearly 750 meters above sea level. At that time, the plant was blossoming. Different from normal plants, the plant’s flower blooms at the bottom of the plant. The plant tastes spicy and has a ginger smell, said Shenzhen Evening News.

It was later confirmed by the South China Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as Zingiber cochleariforme D. Fang.

The plant is a species in the genus Zingiber of the Zingiberaceae family. The plant, with lanceolate leaves, can grow as high as 2 meters. Its blossom season is from August to October and will see fruits from October to November.

Zingiber cochleariforme was also discovered in Hong Kong, Huizhou and the northern area of Guangdong in recent years, according to the report.

“I am so thrilled to learn that Shenzhen has recorded a new plant,” said Liu Lei, a plant lover in Shenzhen.

Liu Yongjin, a senior engineer with the Wutong Mountain scenic area, said the finding suggested that Shenzhen is good in ecological protection with sound natural resources. However, Liu stressed that more efforts are needed on plant investigation, especially in key ecological areas, so as to update data regularly and to protect them in a scientific way.