Xing Fu-wu

Vascular plant diversity of the Paracel Islands, China: Vascular plant diversity of the Paracel Islands, China

Abstract: The Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands) comprise a group of tropical islands that are located south of mainland China and have a particular natural flora. Based on a literature search and our own investigations, we present here a checklist of plants for 24 of the Paracel Islands. We also report an analysis of plant diversity, its distribution and relationship with that of neighboring regions. A total of 396 vascular plants were recorded which belonged to 262 genera and 85 families. Of these, 220 were wild species and 176 were cultivated. As a whole, the islands do not possess a rich flora; however, there are major differences in plant diversity among islands. The flora consists in large part of tropical elements, typical of tropical coral islands of China. The flora is most closely connected to that of Hainan Island, and closely related to those of Taiwan of China, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The ecological response of fern diversity to different slopes in Gudoushan Nature Reserve, Guangdong: The ecological response of fern diversity to different slopes in Gudoushan Nature Reserve, Guangdong

In order to examine the effect of slope differences on fern diversity, we chose 10 plots (5×5 m 2 for each plot) on east-, west-, south-, and north-facing slopes, with altitudes ranging from 20 to 986 m in Gu- doushan Nature Reserve, Xinhui, Guangdong, China. We obtained the following results: (1) Species abun- dance on the east- and north-facing slopes were high, while that on the west- and south-facing slopes were low. (2) Similarity indices of ferns in different slope orientations were low (<0.5), which suggested that ori- entation significantly influenced fern diversity. The difference between the south- and north-facing slopes (similarity index, 0.2895) and the similarity between west- and south-facing slopes (similarity indices, up to 0.4643) were the most obvious. (3) Tropical ferns were dominant in sunny slopes, while non-tropical ferns were dominant in shady slopes. The percentage of tropical ferns on the south-, west-, east-, and north-facing slopes decreased, while that of non-tropical ferns increased. (4) Shade ferns were dominant in shady slopes, while sunny ferns were dominant in sunny slopes; the number of shade ferns regularly increased on the south-, west-, east-, and north-facing slopes. These results clearly indicated how light and heat on different slopes affected fern diversity and suggested that fern diversity could be a good indicator of environmental and climatic changes.

A study on the floristic plant geography of Xisha Islands, South China

Xisha Islands is situated on the South China Sea, at 15° 46′ −17° 08′ N. and 111° 11′–112° 54′ E., with an altitude of 2.6–15.9m. The major types of vegetation are the evergreen coral island forest, and beach vegetation. The major types of vegetation are the evergreen coral island forest, scrub forest and beach vegetation. The dominant species of the forest communities arePisonia grandis, Guettarda speciosa, Scaevola sericea and Messer schmidia argentea. There are 212 species of wild vascular plants belonging to 52 families and 147 genera in this area, of which there are 4 families, 4 genera and 5 species of pteridophyte and 48 families, 143 genera and 207 species of Angiosperms. The main families of the flora are Poaceae, Papilionaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Nyctaginaceae and Boraginaceae etc. According to the geographical distribution, Spermatophytic genera in Xisha Islands may be classified into 9 types, of which pantropic genera accounts for 70% of total genera. At specific level, elements of Tropical Asia to Tropical Australia are dominant part in the forest communities. In this area there is no species endemic to itself. Many primitive taxa such as Gymnosperms, Anonaceae and many others are not found in the flora. Comparing the composition of the flora with those of 6 neighboring regions, the flora of Xisha Islands is quite similar to those of Hainan Island. The similarity indices of genera and species are 98.46% and 94.09% respectively.Indigofera chunianais endemic to the two regions.Xisha Islands is situated on the South China Sea, at 15° 46′ −17° 08′ N. and 111° 11′–112° 54′ E., with an altitude of 2.6–15.9m. The major types of vegetation are the evergreen coral island forest, and beach vegetation. The major types of vegetation are the evergreen coral island forest, scrub forest and beach vegetation. The dominant species of the forest communities arePisonia grandis, Guettarda speciosa, Scaevola sericea and Messer schmidia argentea. There are 212 species of wild vascular plants belonging to 52 families and 147 genera in this area, of which there are 4 families, 4 genera and 5 species of pteridophyte and 48 families, 143 genera and 207 species of Angiosperms. The main families of the flora are Poaceae, Papilionaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Nyctaginaceae and Boraginaceae etc. According to the geographical distribution, Spermatophytic genera in Xisha Islands may be classified into 9 types, of which pantropic genera accounts for 70% of total genera. At specific level, elements of Tropical Asia to Tropical Australia are dominant part in the forest communities. In this area there is no species endemic to itself. Many primitive taxa such as Gymnosperms, Anonaceae and many others are not found in the flora. Comparing the composition of the flora with those of 6 neighboring regions, the flora of Xisha Islands is quite similar to those of Hainan Island. The similarity indices of genera and species are 98.46% and 94.09% respectively.Indigofera chunianais endemic to the two regions.

Lectotypification of Three Species in the Fern Genus Pteris (Pteridaceae) from China

Abstract.  Based on specimen and literature studies of the fern genus Pteris L. from China (Pteridaceae), three species are lectotypified: P. dalhousieae Hook., P. esquirolii H. Christ, and P. henryi H. Christ. Distribution for P. dalhousieae, which is not found in China, is also provided.

Studies on Sexual Reproductive Characteristics of Pteris vittata L. in Soil Culture

Abstract In order to understand sexual reproductive characteristics of an arsenic hyperaccumulator, Pteris vittata L., in soil culture and provide valuable suggestions for its commercial production, two experiments were performed focused on how storage time of spores, collection time, substrate sterilization methods, and culture conditions affect sexual reproductive efficiency. Results demonstrate that spores of P. vittata remain at high viability after several month storage, can live through hot water and spores collected in winter have a higher viability than those collected in spring. Furthermore, light is indispensable for gametophyte growth of P. vittata. During the gametophyte phase and the early sporophyte phase, P. vittata demonstrated a wide adaptability to differing light intensities, but grew best under 40% shade. Additionally, it grew in sand though it prefers fertile substrates. A proper combination of light, substrate, and densities of spores and gametophytes promises efficient reproduction.

A New Species of Hetaeria (Orchidaceae) from Hainan, China

Abstract Hetaeria shiuyingiana L. Li & F. W. Xing, a new species of Orchidaceae (Orchidoideae, Cranichideae, Goodyerinae) from Hainan, China, is described and illustrated. It has previously been misidentified as the related H. nitida Ridley, but differs in its larger flowers, broader, obovate petals, lip hypochile with finger-like tripartite papillae, and column with two fleshy sigmoid wings. A key is provided to distinguish the seven species of Hetaeria Blume known from China.

A New Species of Viola (Violaceae) from Guangdong, China

Abstract A new species of Viola L. from Guangdong Province, China, V. guangzhouensis A. Q. Dong, J. S. Zhou & F. W. Xing, is described and illustrated here. The new taxon represents a fifth species in Viola sect. Diffusae (W. Becker) Ching J. Wang, and a taxonomic key to distinguish these taxa in China is included. Viola guangzhouensis is distinct from the sympatric V. diffusa Gingins by having obviously aerial stems, brownish purple stolons, and a bearded anterior petal. The new species is a narrow endemic, collected only from Dalingshan in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, and is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).

Chamaegastrodia nanlingensis (Orchidaceae), a New Species from Guangdong, China

ABSTRACT Chamaegastrodia nanlingensis H. Z. Tian & F. W. Xing, a new species from Ruyuan county, in northern Guangdong, South China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to C. poilanei (Gagnepain) Seidenfaden & A. N. Rao, from which it differs in having smaller flowers, a yellow lip without a pair of elongate introrse lobules at the epichile lobe, a slightly erose margin, and much smaller dorsal sepals and petals.

A New Name in Chinese Bolbitidaceae

ABSTRACT During preparation of the account of Bolbitidaceae for the Flora of China, volume 3, it was noticed that one species accepted in some earlier treatments is based on an illegitimate combination, Bolbitis bipinnatifida (J. Smith) K. Iwatsuki, not Bolbitis bipinnatifida (Kuhn) Ching. The following replacement name is proposed here: Bolbitis longiaurita F. G. Wang & F. W. Xing.

Study on the wild plants biodiversity and vegetation of Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong.

We determined there were 237 wild vascular plants from 184 genera in 73 families in Cheung Chau Island.The dominant vegetation types were secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest,followed by shrubland.The flora was dominated by tropical and subtropical elements.The flora of Cheung Chau Island is very important in Hong Kong and is similar to its neighboring regions.Because of human activities and exotic plant introduction,the floristic composition,species diversity,and vegetation protection should be an important area of focus.