7 research outputs found
Uses and conservation of plant diversity in Ben En National Park, Vietnam
Get PDFBen En National Park is one of the 30 National Parks in Vietnam. In this study its botanical wealth has been comprehensively inventoried as well as the very important roles that plants play in the daily life and economy of the people inhabiting the Park. Floristic diversity - In our survey 1389 vascular plant species were recorded, belonging to 650 genera and 173 families. Useful plants - A total of 386 plant species are used by local people for a diversity of end-uses, including health care. No less than 56 species are commercialized and contribute 23% of the average income of individual households. Human impact - Human disturbance had a strong negative impact on forest structure, leading to lowered densities of trees and useful plants, even though species diversity was not greatly altered. Conclusion - Despite the fact that many forest areas in the Park have been and still are disturbed by local people, the plant diversity is very high and worth conserving. Recommendations are made for greater sustainability of local plant use and for restoration of heavily disturbed parts of the Park.The Vietnamese government, National herbarium of the Netherlands, International Foundation of ScienceUBL - phd migration 201
Exploration of Hiptage (Malpighiaceae) diversity in Vietnam reveals a new species with wingless fruits
No full textHiptage (Malpighiaceae) is a genus almost exclusively native to Asia, with a single species, Hiptage benghalensis, being a noxious invasive plant in several areas of the world and particularly threatening the native flora of the Mascarene Islands. Whereas 17 Hiptage species have been reported from Vietnam, there is currently no available genetic information that could be used to confirm the species diversity in the country. Through a study combining phylogenetic and morphological analyses of newly-collected samples and herbarium specimens, we were able to accurately identify five Hiptage species in Vietnam. One of these, Hiptage aptera, represents a species new to science. Specimens of the new species show white to slightly pink petals, erect to forward-curved petals, eight tiny calyx glands and wingless fruits, a unique feature within this genus. Our results strongly support Vietnam as one of the diversity centres of the Hiptage genus with 18 species out of the 48 species. Although we could not determine the source of introduction of Hiptage in the Mascarenes Archipelago, our findings highlight the genetic similarity of all Hiptage benghalensis samples collected in its secondary distribution areas, suggesting a probable single introduction. This is consistent with historical reports dating the plant’s introduction to the Mascarenes to the 18th century
