Quantitative Analysis of Genera Endemic to China

Abstract

Abstract:

Chinese flora with many endemic elements is highly important in the world’s

flora. According to recent statistics there are about 196 genera of spermatophytes, be-

ing 6.5% of total Chinese genera. These endemic genera comprising 377 species belong

to 68 families, among which the Gesneriaceae (28 genera), Umbelliferae (13), Compo-

sitae (13), Orchidaceae (12) and Labiatae (10) are predominant. The tropical type

containing 24 families and 80 genera is dominant. After it follows the temperate type

with 23 families and 50 genera. There are also 4 families endemic to China, i.e. Gin-

kgoaceae, Bretschneideraceae, Eucommiaceae and Davidiaceae. It shows that genera

endemic to China are obviously related to the tropical and temperate flora in essence.

The endemic monotypic genera (139) and endemic obligotypic genera (48) combin-

ed make up more than 95% of the total number of genera endemic to China. Phylo-

genetically more than half of them are ancient or primitive. The life forms of all ende-

mic genera are also diverse. Herbs, especially perennial herbs, prevail with the propor-

tion of about 62%, and trees and shrubs are the next, with 33%, and the rest are lianas.

Based upon the calculated number of genera endemic to China in each province and

the similarity coefficents between any two provinces, some conclusions may be drawn

as follows:

Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces combined are the distribution centre of genera en-

demic to China and may be their original or differentiation area, because numerous

endemic genera, including various groups, exist in these two provinces. The second is

Guizhou where there are 62 endemic genera. Others form a declining order, south

China, central China and east China. But towards the north China endemic genera de-

crease gradually, and the Qinling Range is an important distributional limit.

The largest simitarity coefficient, over 50%, appears between Shaanxi and Gansu

probably because of the Qinling Range linking these two provinces. But between any

other two provinces it is less than 30% and it is generaly larger between two south pro-

vinces than between two north provinces.

These characteristics mentioned above are correlated with topography and climate,

and they may be resulted from the diversification in geography and climatic influence

for a long time.

Key words: China, Endemic genera, Floristic statistics, Spectrum of life forms, Similarity coefficient of genera, Flora

Wang He-Sheng. Quantitative Analysis of Genera Endemic to China[J]. .

[1]	LI Jia, TANG He, RAO Weilong, ZHANG Lan, SUN Wenke. Influence of South-to-North Water Transfer Project on the changes of terrestrial water storage in North China Plain [J]. , 2020, 37(6): 775-783.
[2]	GU Yongjian, LI Yumei, HAN Long, SU Xin. Relationships between surface soil magnetic susceptibility and modern climatic factors in eastern China and their environmental significance [J]. , 2019, 36(4): 498-509.
[3]	BI Kaiyi, NIU Zheng, HUANG Ni, KOU Peiying. Effects of road network on landscape ecological risk: a case study of “China and Indochina Peninsula economic corridor” [J]. , 2019, 36(3): 347-353.
[4]	YANG Zhen, LEI Jun. Spatio-temporal pattern and influencing factors of urbanization development of cities at prefecture level and above in China [J]. , 2019, 36(1): 82-92.
[5]	LIU Xianzhao, ZHANG Yong, SU Qing, LI Zhenguo, FENG Teng, SONG Yan. Gradient variation of δ¹⁵N values in herbs and its indication to environmental information in the agro-pastoral ecotone in the north of China [J]. , 2018, 35(6): 749-760.
[6]	JIA Xiaoting, LEI Jun, ZHANG Xiaolei. Social spatial structure of Urumqi City during the period of Republic of China [J]. , 2018, 35(6): 795-804.
[7]	WANG Linfeng, ZHANG Pingyu, LI He, LIU Shiwei. Vulnerability of social-ecosystem in agro-pastoral ecotone in western Northeast China [J]. , 2018, 35(3): 345-352.
[8]	XIONG Lin, ZHANG Pingyu, TAN Juntao, LIU Wenxin. Spatial-temporal coupling characteristics between population structure and economic development in Northeast China [J]. , 2017, 34(3): 342-350.
[9]	CHANG Le, QIAN An, YI Shuang, XU Changyi, SUN Wenke. Sea level change in China adjacent seas studied using satellite altimeter, satellite gravity, and thermohaline data [J]. , 2017, 34(3): 371-379.
[10]	SHENG Yanwen, MA Yanji. Output efficiency and economic contribution of scientific and technological resources in the three provinces of Northeast China based on panel data of 34 prefectural cities [J]. , 2016, 33(5): 632-640.
[11]	HUANG Yawen, HUA Lijuan, ZHONG Linhao, FENG Shide. Characteristics of mesoscale eddies in South China Sea [J]. , 2016, 33(1): 97-106.
[12]	MA Xiaolei, MA Yanji. Efficiency evaluation of equipment manufacturing industries in Northeast China based on DEA model [J]. , 2015, 32(5): 627-634.
[13]	LIN Xueyan, LIN Jingqiang, GUAN Le, WANG Lei. China standard cryptographic algorithm implementation in virtual desktop system [J]. , 2015, 32(5): 701-707.
[14]	CHEN Xiaoqing, YU Xiangwei. Relocation of earthquakes in North China using absolute and relative earthquake relocation methods [J]. , 2015, 32(2): 243-251,280.
[15]	XIE Zuxin, HAN Zhiwei. Investigation of interannual variations in anthropogenic emission in China based on several emission inventories [J]. , 2014, 31(3): 289-296.

Quantitative Analysis of Genera Endemic to China

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

References

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments