The South China Botanical Garden in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, is flourishing with a remarkable collection of Peruvian plant specimens. Over the past decade, the garden, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has expanded its collection from a few hundred to an impressive 6,300 species samples from Peru.
Among these diverse plants stands out the Queen of the Andes, a bromeliad renowned for its large yellow leaves. Native to the high Andes, this plant thrives at elevations between 3,000 and 4,800 meters, making it a true treasure of Peru's biodiversity.
Ge Xuejun, a dedicated researcher at the garden, highlights the Queen of the Andes as a star species in the botanical world. Capable of growing over 10 meters tall, it holds the title of the largest bromeliad on Earth. This remarkable growth not only showcases the plant’s unique characteristics but also underscores the success of the China-Peru collaboration in protecting and promoting biodiversity.
The partnership between China and Peru in cultivating and preserving such exquisite plant species exemplifies a commitment to environmental sustainability and global ecological cooperation. As the South China Botanical Garden continues to expand its Peruvian collection, it serves as a living testament to the positive impacts of international collaboration in conserving the natural world.
Reference(s):
'Treasure' plant drives China-Peru cooperation to protect biodiversity
cgtn.com
