Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden receives the silver prize at the third Annual Academic Conference and Begonia Exhibition in Xiamen for its Begonia Coptidifolia. [Photo/WeChat ID: sheshanlvyou]
The Begonia Coptidifolia, a species of begonias that has been listed as an endangered plant species and is under State-level protection, was recently presented by Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden at the third Annual Academic Conference and Begonia Exhibition in Xiamen and won the 2022 "Endangered Species Protection" silver prize in the rare and endangered group, which was given by the Begonia Professional Committee of China Wildlife Conservation Association.
As the most prestigious begonia event in China, the event is highly selective and the award committee of the Begonia Exhibition is composed of four expert judges. Eighty-one physical exhibits and videos and photographs from 17 units or individuals in China were divided into groups including the rare and endangered group, the original seed cultivation group, the variety cultivation group and the applied creative group. Sixteen awards were handed out to contestants. Fifteen exhibits received honors.
The Begonia Coptidifolia is a unique species of begonias in China with multiple leaves, which gives the plant a high ornamental value and a very important scientific research value, according to Li Li, a horticultural engineer at Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden.
The natural environment of the Begonia Coptidifolia is very narrow and limited. Only a small amount of the begonias were discovered on some stones in several ditches in Ehuangzhang Provincial Nature Reserve in Yangchun city, Guangdong province. Its growing environment is very particular, which is why it is listed as critically endangered on the "China Biodiversity Red List-Higher Plants Volume" and the "International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species". It is also a national second-class protected plant listed on the "National Key Protected Wild Plants List".
Tian Daike said in a presentation on the topic of "New Overview of Begonia Species in China and Preliminary Report on the Evaluation of Endangered Grades" that "The begonia is one of the most diverse plant groups, with more than 2,500 species estimated worldwide. The number of begonia species in China is estimated to be between 300 and 350, with the largest number of species being found in Yunnan and Guangxi," which was delivered at the annual academic conference. Tian is a researcher at the Chenshan Science Research Center of the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Molecular Plant Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Begonia Professional Committee of China Wild Plant Conservation Association.
Based on the existing field survey and specimen data as well as the evaluation criteria of the Red List, about 30 percent of the domestic begonias are classified as critically endangered, but only seven species, such as the Begonia Coptidifolia, Hong Kong Begonia and Hainan Begonia, are listed in the national second-class protected plant list, according to the report.
"The protection and breeding of the Begonia Coptidifolia is extremely important, and we will continue to carry out related breeding work, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in the field, and further promote the cultivation and application of begonias," Li said.
