Flora of the People's Republic of China
Encyclopedia
The Flora of the People's Republic of China
is diverse. More than 30,000 plant species are native to China
, representing nearly one-eighth of the world's total plant species, including thousands found nowhere else on Earth.
China contains a variety of forest
types. Both northeast and northwest reaches contain mountains and cold coniferous forests, supporting animal species which include moose
and Asiatic black bear
, along with some 120 types of birds. Moist conifer forests can have thickets of bamboo
as an understorey, replaced by rhododendrons in higher montane stands of juniper
and yew
. Subtropical forests, which dominate central and southern China, support an astounding 146,000 species of flora
. Tropical rainforest and seasonal rainforests, though confined to Yunnan
and Hainan Island, actually contain a quarter of all the plant and animal species
found in China.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
is diverse. More than 30,000 plant species are native to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, representing nearly one-eighth of the world's total plant species, including thousands found nowhere else on Earth.
China contains a variety of forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
types. Both northeast and northwest reaches contain mountains and cold coniferous forests, supporting animal species which include moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
and Asiatic black bear
Asiatic Black Bear
The Asian black bear , also known as the moon bear or white-chested bear is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, which occurs through much of southern Asia, Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far east and Honshū and Shikoku islands of Japan...
, along with some 120 types of birds. Moist conifer forests can have thickets of bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
as an understorey, replaced by rhododendrons in higher montane stands of juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
and yew
Taxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
. Subtropical forests, which dominate central and southern China, support an astounding 146,000 species of flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
. Tropical rainforest and seasonal rainforests, though confined to Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
and Hainan Island, actually contain a quarter of all the plant and animal species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
found in China.
External links
See also
- Chinese herbologyChinese herbologyChinese Herbology is the theory of Traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in Traditional Chinese medicine ....