New tree species discovered in Guangxi

On Nov 12, 2024, a research team from the Guangxi Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered a new species of tall deciduous tree in the Salicaceae family in the process of conducting a comprehensive scientific survey in karst forests in Leye county, Baise city of Guangxi.

This new species, named Carrierea leyensis, is characterized by its fruit that strikingly resembles a goat's horn, hence the name. It is a unique species in the karst regions of Guangxi, with the number of species in this genus now increasing to three.

The plant exhibited distinct differences in leaf characteristics compared to the previously known species of Goat's Horn Tree, with short leaf stalks measuring only 3 to 8 millimeters in length and elliptical-shaped leaves.

After the research team's initial discovery of the species in 2023, a follow-up study was conducted this May. It was confirmed as a previously undescribed species through detailed dissections, literature reviews, and comparisons with herbarium specimens. A formal description was recently published in the international botanical journal PhytoKeys.

Carrierea was initially recorded in southern China to northern Vietnam, with only two known species, Carrierea calycina and Carrierea dunniana. The discovery of the Carrierea leyensis has increased the number of species in this genus to three, enriching the karst plant diversity in Guangxi and providing valuable baseline data for establishing a national park in the karst region.

A view of the Carrierea leyensis. [Photo/Guangxi Daily]