11th July, 2017, a rare and nearly extinct species of Primulina, P. cardaminifolia, which was assessed as Extinct in the field (EW), was rediscovered a population in the field.

Primulina cardaminifolia Yan Liu &W.B. Xu is the second species of Primulina having big corollas, anotheris P. pinnata (W. T.Wang)Y. Z.Wang. Allavailable data support the recognition of the new species P. cardaminifolia and suggest that it could have derived from homoploid hybrid speciation, but it need to be developed deeply. Unfortunately, when it was published at that time, the individuals in the field were very, very few. The type locality was thoroughly destroyed by collapse. Local people have been planting Eucalyptus for making money, the structure of the limestone hill body and hydrologic condition were being influenced and changed. In 2013, after raining cats and dogs for some weeks, the terrible collapse directly buried all living plants of type locality. The best out of the worst, when this new taxon was studied by those researchers of GXIB and institute and university of Taiwan, China, some individuals were introduced by KBCC. Soon afterwards, GXIB re-introduced from KBCC and is cultivating it in Center for Plant Resources & Phytogeographical Studies of GXIB. Thus, the IUCN endangered grade is assessed as “Extinct in thefield, EW”.

In May 2014, Guilin Botanical Garden presided a project of Chinese Union of Botanical Gardens- The investigation and protection of Guangxi Native Plants- for the full coverage protection of native plants in China. Guilin Botanical Garden understood that Primulina cardaminifolia was assessed as “EW”, and wanted to re-introduce some individuals of P. cardaminifolia from KBCC, then to develop some experiments for re-introduction in the field. It seems barely comprehensible that KBCC declined Guilin Botanical Garden’s offer so that the good plan was stranded. This makes this rare species possible to disappear in the near future because of fewer individuals and fewer maintained localites.

The members of GCCC extended the investigation range surrounding the type locality. The fans of GCCC guided members to walk more than ten kilometers (four hours), arrived the new distributed locality of P. cardaminifolia. There is about 12 kilometer as the crow flies from the type locality . 

After P. spadiciformis (W.T. Wang) Mich. Möller & A. Weber, P. cardaminifolia is the second species which was once assessed as “EW” but is re-assessed as other grade and is no longer “EW” by GCCC. We checked all individuals one by one, we were sure that there is 27 mature individuals and 119 young seedlings (having 2-4 euphyllas). All individuals grow under a hanging limestone cliff, they need to develop propagation and conservation

After carefully checking, we found fewer survival capsules but no seeds inside. Thus we collected one leaf from every mature individual to make leaf cutting (total 27 leaves), and try to keep the all genetic diversity of this population. Soon afterwards, GCCC and Guilin Botanical Garden will carry out researches, and make re-introduction for this beautiful species.

The members of GCCC climbed cliff to takephoto for Primulina cardaminifolia

The rare and endangered species, Primulina cardaminifolia, in flowering 

The rare and endangered species, Primulina cardaminifolia, in flowering