Chinese botanists have set up the world's only gene pool for a rare type of camellia after four years of effort in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China.
The golden camellia, with the scientific name "Camellia Chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama," was notified to the world by Chinese botanist Hu Xiansu in 1965.
It is the only camellia which has golden petals. Experts called it the "panda of the botanic world" because of its low survival rate and limited distribution.
Studies of the golden camellia show that most of the variations grow in southern Guangxi, however some are dying out because of unlimited picking.
"Therefore we set up a gene pool in our natural reservation of golden camellia," said Huang Fuping, engineer of the golden camellia reservation in Fangcheng, a city in Guangxi.
"The gene pool can effectively protect the species and variations of the golden camellia, which will help the world protection, research and utilization of the golden camellia," said Huang.
(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2002)
