According to information from Bu Gia Map National Park, Binh Phuoc province, this unit has just coordinated with domestic scientists and scientists from the Kunming - Yunnan Institute of Botany, under the Academy of Sciences China, announced to the world a new species of camellia for science in the magazine "DALAT UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE (Volume 14, Issue 1, 2024 37-44)", with the scientific name Camellia hoaana HT Khuong & Production Yang, sp. Nov.
This is an extremely rare plant species, carrying many applied scientific values and the value of preserving rare genetic resources in Bu Gia Map National Park.
Camellia hoaana HT Khuong & SX Yang, sp. nov is a white-flowered camellia species belonging to the genus Camellia - tea family (Theaceae) - tea order (Theales), recorded for the first time in the strictly protected zone (core zone) of Bu Gia Map National Park.
Trees grow scattered under the canopy of rich evergreen forest and some trees were recorded under the canopy of mixed wood-locus forest (HG1). Camellia hoaana HT Khuong & SX Yang, sp. nov, has the Vietnamese name Tra Hoa and the species name is named after Dr. Vuong Duc Hoa (Director of Bu Gia Map National Park) to honor the person who discovered the tree and collected research samples as well as to honor the contributions of Dr. Vuong Duc Hoa in research activities to preserve biodiversity and protect forest resources in Bu Gia Map National Park in particular and Binh Phuoc province in general.
Tra Hoa, a rare species of Tra Hoa in Bu Gia Map National Park (Binh Phuoc).
Tra Hoa was first recorded in October 10, at an altitude of 2019m (above sea level) under the canopy of rich evergreen forest, in sub-zone 467, Bu Gia Map National Park. Since then, the research team has monitored the growth and development of the tree and collected samples of branches and leaves, flower samples, fruit samples... for anatomy and analysis to describe the characteristics of the species. By May 14, complete the biological description of the species. Then compared with standard samples of similar species of tea myrtle, there were clear differences and separated into a separate new species (detailed description and comparison at https://tckh.dlu.edu. vn/index.php/tckhdhdl/article/view/5/2023).
The discovery and announcement of the tea species in Bu Gia Map National Park is extremely important for biodiversity conservation, conservation of rare forest plant genetic resources and research activities. Applied science for developing forest organisms in Bu Gia Map National Park.
This announcement is the second Camellia species discovered only in Bu Gia Map National Park (Camellia bugiamapensis species announced in 2014). This shows that Bu Gia Map National Park is a place with both high biodiversity and unique characteristics that cannot be found anywhere else.
Biodiversity conservation, scientific research and application of forest organisms, and development and conservation of genetic resources of rare forest organisms in Bu Gia Map National Park are receiving attention. Specifically, in 2023, the People's Committee of Binh Phuoc province has approved the research project to conserve genetic resources of camellia species in Bu Gia Map National Park.
This is an opportunity for the park to improve its scientific research capacity, as well as improve the efficiency of conservation and development of rare genetic resources in the region.
