In order to get a better knowledge of the plant diversity of Gesneriaceae between China and Vietnam, during October 10^th to October 23^rd, 2017, a field survey group composed of two GCCC members, Dr. Wen Fang and Mr. Fu Long-Fei, and one key member of the Gesneriad Society, Dr. Stephen Maciejewski with the accompany of Dr. Do Van Truong from the Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN) has done a fantastic field investigation around the mountain areas in North Vietnam.

During the field investigation, a great number of unrecorded species in Vietnam have been discovered, including a large number of suspicious species and flowering species. The high biodiversity of the gesneriads in Vietnam impressed the visitors deeply. Under the fast economic development, the expending demand for the natural resources and the destruction of the local environment has drawn significant influence on the plant conservation. A large part of the Gesneriaceae plants are endangered or threatened now. Dr. Maciejewski also made a suggestion on building a Gesneriaceae Conservation Center of Vietnam and has gone to further discussions with Dr. Do Van Truong.

This co-investigation lasted for 2 weeks and a total of 50 species out of 20 genera of gesneriads were founded, including suspicious species, new species and unidentified species. According to an incomplete statistic, there are approximately 5 new records of existed species and 4 new species. However, there are still more need to be investigated. Please see table 1.

The most fantastic part of this journey was the rediscovery of Petrocodonbonii,which was firstly discovered in 1892 by a French missioner. After 125 years, we have again had the chance to appreciate the delicate beauty of the living collection of this rare endangered species, besides the herbarium specimens.

          The followings are some wonderful Gesneriaceae in North Vietnam.

Table 1 The list of Gesneriaceae from North Vietnam in this trip

Fig. 1 A species ofHemiboea

Fig. 2  Pseudochirita guangxiensis (S.Z. Huang) W.T.Wang var.glaucaY.G. Wei & Yan Liu

Fig. 3 Primulina jingxiensis(Yan Liu, W.B. Xu & H.S. Gao) W.B.Xu & K.F.Chung

Fig. 4  A species ofHenckeliaSpreng. , similar toH. anachoreta(Hance) D.J. Middleton & Mich. Möller

Fig. 5  A  species ofMicrochirita(C.B. Clarke) Y.Z. Wang

Fig. 6  A  species of Petrocodon Hance

Fig. 7  A  species of Microchirita (C.B. Clarke) Y.Z. Wang

Fig. 8  A  species ofPrimulinaHance