The reporter learned from the Shennongjia National Park Administration that a new species of Primulaceae, "Primula weilii," has been newly discovered in Shennongjia, and its research results were published in the international botanical journal PhytoKeys a few days ago.

A new species, "Primula weilii," discovered in Shennongjia, Hubei. Photo courtesy of Shennongjia National Park

　　Several years ago, staff of Shennongjia National Park discovered a species of Primulaceae never seen before during field surveys. After studying its biological characteristics, it was determined to be a new species of the section Aleuritia of the genus Primula. To commemorate the Chinese ecologist and geobotanist Mr. Chen Weili, the researchers ultimately named this species "Primula weilii."

　　According to Flora of China and related materials, China has 49 species of plants in the section Aleuritia of the genus Primula, among which 47 are heterostylous species (having both long-styled and short-styled flowers) and 2 are homostylous species (having only long-styled flowers). The newly discovered "Primula weilii" is a homostylous type, and this discovery increases the data on plants of the section Aleuritia to 50 species.

A new species of Primulaceae, "Primula weilii." Photo courtesy of Shennongjia National Park

　　Staff of Shennongjia National Park introduced that "Primula weilii" grows in rock crevices of Bashan fir forests, where winters are severe cold and summers are cool and humid, living alongside other species. According to the species assessment rules of the IUCN Red List, the endangered level of "Primula weilii" meets the criteria for being listed as Critically Endangered (CR).