National key protected plant discovered in Hechi

A rare flower is discovered at Anma town, Yizhou district in Hechi. [Photo by Meng Qingan/hcwang.cn]

A villager of Anma town, Yizhou district of Hechi, accidentally discovered a national key protected plant-- eulophia zollingeri -- which is so rare that no one had seen it before in the district.

The plant, upright with no leaves, is enlisted a second-grade wild plant under key national protection. With brown yellow petals on its single stalk, eulophia zollingeri has a delicate refreshing fragrance. The plant is distributed in South and Southeast China including Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan, and grows best in moist soil with rich humus.