Guangzhou: The South China Botanical Garden in Guangzhou is showcasing a meticulously curated shelf filled with plant specimens all the way from Peru. Affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the garden now houses a collection of 6,300 species samples from the Latin American country. One standout item among them is a large yellow leaf from a bromeliad plant, known as the Queen of the Andes.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the plant is native to Peru and is regarded as a treasure. It can be found exclusively in the high Andes, at elevations ranging from 3,000 meters to 4,800 meters. This plant can grow to a height of over 10 meters, making it the largest bromeliad on Earth.
Peru is home to many endangered plant species, including the well-known Cinchona tree, the source of quinine used in malaria treatment. The Queen of the Andes is another plant that Peruvians take pride in. This rare species blooms just once in its lifetime, lasting anywhere from 40 to 100 years.
Ge Xuejun, a researcher at the
garden, recalled his first encounter with the plant during field research in Peru in 2009. “We were fortunate to witness the recently deceased plant. Its seeds look like grains of rice, with millions of tiny seeds resembling millet,” he said.
Due to its limited genetic diversity and frequent destruction for logging and new pasture creation, the survival of the Peruvian plant is at risk. Since 2010, researchers from China and Peru have collaborated to safeguard these invaluable species.
In recent years, Ge and his team have worked with Peruvian researchers to publish papers on the genes and genetic conservation of these species. Liu Lu, a PhD researcher, has devoted over six years to studying the Peruvian treasure. In August, her team achieved significant progress in the plant’s genomics research, leading to international publication.
Liu noted that their study used scientific methods to demonstrate the endangered status and extinction risk of species. These findings, recognized by Peruvian scientists, will
provide a scientific basis for formulating subsequent protection strategies for the Queen of the Andes.
China and Peru have been collaborating on tropical biodiversity and ecology research since 2006. The Guangzhou-based garden has played a key role in this cooperation. Ge reflected on their first research trip to Peru in December 2008, emphasizing the unfamiliarity and challenges faced during their quest.
Despite the challenges, the research trip was filled with delightful surprises for the Chinese plant researchers. “Latin America has an incredible richness of plant species,” Ge said, noting that this region alone harbors over 110,000 higher plant species.
Liscely Tumi, a participant in the China-Peru science exchanges, studied the Queen of the Andes in Guangzhou and published her findings on genetic diversity. “I gained valuable experiences during the research,” Tumi told Xinhua.
As exchanges and cooperation between researchers from both sides have become more frequent, Ge realized that his work extend
s beyond academic research. The Guangzhou-based botanical garden has signed agreements with various universities and research institutions in Latin America, organizing science education activities to raise public awareness of biodiversity protection.
According to Ge, research on ecological protection is a long-term endeavor, and the cooperation between China and Latin American countries requires patience. “By establishing a strong foundation for collaboration and exchanges, we can effectively address the shared challenges in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development,” Ge added.
