1,200 individuals of the critically endangered plant species Tsaiodendron dioicum ("Xitaomu" or "Tsaiodendron") have been reintroduced to the Yuanjiang National Nature Reserve on August 13-14. The work was jointly finished by researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and Yuanjiang National Nature Reserve Administration.

Discovered in Yuanjiang County in 2014, Tsaiodendron dioicum is a newly identified species in the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family. Named in honor of the late Professor Cai Xitao, founder of XTBG and a pioneer in tropical plant research, this deciduous shrub (0.5-1.5m tall) is dioecious (having separate male and female plants).

The new genus is monotypic. Its native habitat is restricted to forests and cliff edges at elevations of 300-800 meters within the Yuanjiang dry-hot Valley. Due to its extremely narrow distribution and high scientific value, it was listed in the 2021 draft of Yunnan Province's Conservation List of Wild Plants with Extremely Small Populations.

The researchers first mapped the plant's distribution and population size within the Yuanjiang basin. Crucially, they developed an effective method for its rapid propagation, successfully cultivating over 3,000 seedlings to date.

"This reintroduction is vital for the survival of Tsaiodendron dioicum," said a project representative. "We hope it not only secures this unique species but also provides valuable insights for conserving other rare and endangered plants and restoring fragile ecosystems within dry-hot valleys."

Cultivation of Tsaiodendron dioicum.

Tsaiodendron dioicum returns to its home.

Tsaiodendron dioicum