Researchers have recently identified and formally described two new species discovered in Danxia Mountain in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, bringing the total number of new species found in the area to 59.
The first species, Aspidistra danxiashanensis, was identified by a research team from the School of Life Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University after it was first spotted beneath bamboo forests in 2024. The species features narrow leaves and distinctive purple floral structures. Field surveys found only around 150 individuals, confined to a single isolated population within the Danxia Mountain's unique red sandstone habitat. It has been classified as Critically Endangered (CR) under IUCN criteria.
The second species, Leucoinocybe danxiashanensis, was discovered by researchers from the Guangdong Institute of Microbiology in leaf litter within the area. It is the ninth newly recorded macrofungus species in Danxia Mountain, featuring an umbonate pileus and a slender stem covered with orange-white pubescence. Researchers noted that its edibility and toxicity remain unclear and warned the public not to consume wild mushrooms without proper identification.
Since the launch of systematic biodiversity surveys in 2021, Danxia Mountain has recorded new species at an average rate of about one per month, spanning plants, fungi, and insects.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Danxia Mountain
