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Ecological distribution of endemic genera of Taxads and Conifers in China and neighbouring area in relation to phytogeographical significance

Ying Tsün-Shen, Li Liang-Qian   

  1. (Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica)
  • Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:1981-11-18 Published:1981-11-18
  • Contact: Ying Tsün-Shen

Abstract:

 With highly varied ecological conditions resulted from wide latitudinal and altitu-
dinal ranges and from adequate precipitation, China has developed a very rich flora of
great diversity.  As far as Taxads and Conifers is concerned, there are 158 species and
43 varieties of them in China, belonging to 6 families and 30 genera, of which 9 genera
are endemic.  In the present paper the ecological distribution of these endemic genera
and its phytogeographical significance are discussed.
      1.  There are 9 endemic genera of Taxads and Conifers in China and neighbouring
area.  They are distributed in the mountain areas of southern, southeastern and south-
western China (fig. 1-2) at an altitude of 100-1800 meters, with a  few endemic
genera reaching as high as 2800 meters.
      2.  The mean annual temperature varies between 10℃-20℃, with an extreme
minimum between -6.3℃ to-11.3℃.  The soil pH is between 4.5-5.5, indicating an
 acidic reaction.
      3.  As is shown in figure 3, 24 endemic genera of Taxads and Conifers are known
 to occur in differant parts of the world. Among them, China  and neighbouring area
 ranks the first in having 9 genera.  Australia is the second with 5 genera, southern
 Chile is third (3), followed by Japan (2), western North America (2), New Caledonia
 (2), and southeastern Siberia, USSR (1).  Of the Chinese endemic genera, the first
 appearence in the fossil records is in the deposits of late Cretaceous or Tertiary (table
 1.).  It is probable that the southern, southeastern and south-western parts of China is
 not only the main centre of recent distribution, but also one of the chief survival cen-
ters of endemic genera of Taxads and Conifers in the world.

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