VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have recently announced two new camellia species in Lam Dong and Dong Nai provinces.

The newly-discovered camellia species. Photo Vu Ngoc Long/SIE.

The two species are named Camellia longii Orel & Luu sp. nov and Orel & Luu curryana Camellia sp. nov.

Previously, many people believed that the camellia species was only in the north but the new findings show that the southern mountainous areas also have this species.

According to the website of the Southern Institute of Ecology, two years ago, during a survey of the current state of biodiversity in the area of the Dong Nai 6 and 6A hydropower plants in Cat Loc Forest, in Dong Nai Thuong Commune, Cat Tien District, Dr. Vu Ngoc Long, Director of the Southern Institute of Ecology collected samples of the Camellia longii species. This species is 2.4-4m high, with leaves of 27-31cm long and the peduncle of 2cm long.

Meanwhile, Camellia curryana was found only at the foot of a nameless mountain on the Da Lat plateau. They are 2.5 m high, with petioles of up to 10 mm long and flowers nearly without peduncle. They usually grow in moist tropical forests, relative humidity , low light conditions.

Scientists are considering proposing this species as critically endangered category of the IUCN.

The findings are published in the Nordic Journal of Botany last month.This is the discovery of the scientists from the Australia Royal Botanic Garden and the Centre for Biodiversity and Development (of the Southern Institute of Ecology).

Na Son