New fern species discovered in Hechi, Guangxi

Researchers from the Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science have discovered a new species of fern plant, named Cyrtomium adenotrichum, in the Nandan area of Hechi, Guangxi. This research achievement was recently published in the international botanical taxonomy journal PhytoKeys.

Cyrtomium adenotrichum belongs to the family Dryopteridaceae and the genus Cyrtomium, with a plant height ranging from 5 to 15 centimeters. Through observations, the research team identified the most distinctive feature of Cyrtomium adenotrichum: sparse glandular hairs on its leaf axis.

This unique characteristic not only sets Cyrtomium adenotrichum apart morphologically from other Adenostoma species but also potentially endows it with unique ecological adaptability and physiological functions.

A view of Cyrtomium adenotrichum. [Photo/Hechi Daily]