Today, 11^thJuly, 2017, a rare and nearly extinct species of Primulina, P. cardaminifolia, which was assessed as Extinct in the field (EW) (Figs. 1 & Figs. 2) formerly by the research group of Guangxi Institute of Botany, CAS (GXIB) and Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanica Conservation Center, Taiwan of China (KBCC), was rediscovered a population in the field today after falling in Dr. Wen Fang and fans of GCCC's effort! (*Note: The research group of GXIB published this rare species).

Figs. 1  The rare species, Primulina cardaminifolia and its’ discoverer, Mr. Wei Hong-Jin

Figs. 2  The IUCN grade of Primulina cardaminifoliaby KBCC

        Primulina cardaminifolia Yan Liu & W.B. Xu, was firstly discovered and collected by Mr. Wei Hong-Jin (Net name: Jin She Lang , Golden Shooting Wolf), who is working in the Shanghai Chen Shan Botanical Garden at present (Figs. 1 & Figs. 2). Then in a study of this rare species, Dr. Xu Wei-Bin and Prof. Liu Yan of GXIB, Yoshiko Kono and Prof. Ching-I Peng of Herbarium (HAST), Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan of China, Hsuan Chang and Dr. Kuo-Fang Chung of School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taiwan of China,co-published it in 2013.This new taxon looks very special, is the second species of Primulina having big corollas, another is P. pinnata (W. T.Wang)Y. Z.Wang. All available 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. Before we carry out research deeply for this species, the type locality was thoroughly destroyed by collapse! Because 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 the field, EW”.

Figs. 3  The history of Mr. Wei Hong-Jin and Primulina cardaminifolia

Figs. 4  The description of this new taxon, Primulina cardaminifolia

In May 2014, Guilin Botanical Garden presided a project of Chinese Botanic Garden Union, “Sub-project: The investigation and protection of Guangxi Native Plants” of “The Check and Protection of Chinese Native Plants (Pilot Project)”. Because 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.

    However, GCCC never gives up hope to re-discover this species in the field, as for many visiting and investigating in the type locality of Gyrogyne subaequifolia W.T. Wang. The members of GCCC extended the investigation range surrounding the type locality. They are too frantic tasting everything on that, no matter what Hot summer and Cold winter, or torrential downpour and screaming wind. When the members of GCCC got the exciting information about Primulina cardaminifolia at 8^th July, and they decided to go to investigate right now, although the blue weather warning for torrential downpour for Laibin city, Liuzhou city and Guilin city by National Meteorological Center, China at 10^th July. The fans of GCCC guided us to walk more than ten kilometers (four hours), crossed many rapid streams, we arrived the new distributed locality of P. cardaminifolia! There is about 12 kilometer as the crow flies from the type locality (Based on the Baidu Map online, for protecting this species, we hide all information of the new locality). 

Figs. 5  The members of GCCC walked in the terrible stream

Figs. 6  The members of GCCC climbed cliff to take photo for Primulina cardaminifolia

    When we saw the wonderful plants and beautiful flowers of Primulina cardaminifolia, we think it all worthwhile! 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 (Figs. 7 & Figs. 8).

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 outresearches, and make re-introduction for this beautiful species.

Thanks those Fans of GCC, thanks “Yi Xiao ** Hua (Mr. Xu)”, Mr. Z, Mr. L and Mr. H for their helps!

Figs. 7  The rare and endangered species, Primulina cardaminifolia, in flowering (I)

Figs. 8  The rare and endangered species, Primulina cardaminifolia, in flowering (II)