The Mysterious Plant of 24°-25° North Latitude – Dendrobium shixingense
Shixing Dendrobium (scientific name: *Dendrobium shixingense*) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Dendrobium genus within the Orchidaceae family.
It was first discovered in May 2009 within the Chebaling National Nature Reserve in Guangdong Province.
The type specimen originates from Shixing County, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province.
It primarily grows in the mountainous regions of northern Guangdong and the adjacent southern areas of Jiangxi Province. In 2021, it was listed as a Class II protected plant in the National Key Protected Wild Plants List.
Conservation efforts include ex situ conservation, artificial propagation, and reintroduction to the wild.
The 2023 project “Reintroduction and Long-Term Monitoring of Shixing Dendrobium, a National Class II Protected Plant,” has completed the initial planting of 70 specimens.
As an endemic species to China, Shixing Dendrobium possesses medicinal value for nourishing yin and boosting qi, with its stems exhibiting a distinctive luster.
About Dendrobium shixingense
Scientific name: Dendrobium shixingense
Family: Orchidaceae Genus: Dendrobium
Protection Level: National Second-Class Key Protected Plant
Model Place of Origin: Shixing County, Guangdong Province
Distribution Area: Northern Guangdong, Southern Jiangxi
Discovery Date: May 2009
Classification Status
Shixing Dendrobium belongs to the genus Dendrobium within the subfamily Dendrobioideae of the orchid family.
All species within this genus are protected under the National Key Protected Wild Plant List.
Its scientific name *Dendrobium shixingense* was formally published by the team from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in May 2010.
The genus name “Dendrobium” originates from the Greek word meaning “tree-dwelling,” while the specific epithet “shixingense” is derived from the place name of Shixing County, the locality of the type specimen.
Geographical Distribution
This species is concentrated in the Guangdong-Jiangxi border region between 24° and 25° north latitude, with a vertical distribution range of subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests at elevations of 400–600 meters.
It primarily epiphytically grows on the trunks of Fagaceae trees such as Quercus and Castanopsis, or on rock surfaces beneath the canopy.
Population Conservation
The conservation project implemented in 2023 comprises three key phases:
Germplasm Resource Conservation: The Shenzhen Orchid Conservation Research Center has cultivated over 10,000 plants through aseptic sowing and tissue culture techniques
Artificial propagation: Building upon the cultivation of 9,700 plants in greenhouses, a trial involving 500 plants under semi-wild cultivation conditions was conducted
Wild Reintroduction: In May 2023, the first batch of 70 plants were successfully established in the Chebaling World Biosphere Reserve, establishing a long-term monitoring system
Research Protection Activities
The monitoring station jointly established by Guangdong Chebaling National Nature Reserve and Shenzhen Orchid Research Center was officially inaugurated on May 20, 2023. This platform will integrate the following research directions:
Monitoring Plant Growth Adaptability
Population Genetic Diversity Research
Extraction and Sustainable Utilization of Medicinal Components
Standardization of Ecological Restoration Technologies
Project leader Zhang Yingming stated that they will continue to track biological indicators such as flowering and fruiting rates, as well as pest and disease incidence, in the reintroduced plants [1][4]. As of June 2023, five fixed monitoring plots have been established within the reserve
Distinguishing Features
The typical characteristics distinguishing Shixing Dendrobium from other species within the same genus include:
Stems are clustered, cylindrical with longitudinal ridges, and exhibit a waxy sheen on the surface
Inflorescences are lateral on the middle to upper part of the stem, bearing 3–8 flowers
Pollen grains are waxy and possess specialized adhesive structures
The base of the lip forms a sac-like spur, with finely serrated margins
