Rhododendron is one of the top ten famous flowers in China, in Kunming's palanquin mountain, every May will usher in an intoxicating sea of rhododendrons. In order to better protect these alpine rhododendrons, the Shan Zi Shan Nature Reserve has built an innovative demonstration base for the germplasm resources of alpine rhododendrons.
At the turn of spring and summer, large patches of lilac and pink smudge the forest, clusters of rhododendrons crowd the branches, and the sea of flowers stretches out like an oil painting.
Rhododendron is extremely vigorous and resistant to severe cold, and is suitable for growing in alpine areas with cold climates, humid air, clouds and abundant rainfall. From high-altitude mountains above 2,000 meters to more than 4,500 meters, rhododendrons can be forested. The highest altitude of The Palanzi Mountain National Nature Reserve in Yunnan is about 4344 meters, forming a three-dimensional climate of cold, warm and hot, and as the altitude continues to rise, the climate between the mountains is becoming more and more changeable.
The currently recorded cuckoo species in the Palanquin Mountain Conservation Area mainly include the King Cuckoo, the Snow-like Cuckoo, and the Red Haired Cuckoo. In May this year, on the side of the Sifangjing Visitor Center in the Palanquin Mountain Conservation Area, the alpine rhododendron germplasm resources innovation demonstration base was completed, and the 100-acre alpine rhododendron planting base occupied the entire mountain.
Yang Song, Chairman of the Party Committee of Kunming Palanquin Mountain Tourism Development Co., Ltd.: "What is it for doing alpine rhododendrons?" Because ecological protection is reflected in three levels, one is ecology, one is species, and the other is genes, now we have introduced 128 species, and we have planted more than 20,000 cuckoos through genetic combinations. ”
The Alpine Rhododendron Germplasm Resources Innovation Demonstration Base is jointly established by the Management and Conservation Bureau of the Reserve and the National Engineering research center for Ornamental Horticulture, which collects the seeds of the Alpine Rhododendron in the reserve, adopts native seeds for artificial breeding and cultivation, and then adopts the method of field return planting experiment to carry out pilot ecological restoration of the damaged alpine Rhododendron vegetation community in the Sifangjing area.
Hu Chunxiang, senior engineer of the Scientific Research Institute of the Management and Conservation Bureau of The Palanquin Mountain National Nature Reserve in Yunnan, said: "There are now 40 species of rhododendrons in our reserve, and now we are cooperating with Yunnan University to study the dynamic characteristics of alpine rhododendrons. ”
Yang Song, chairman of the party committee of Kunming Palanquin Mountain Tourism Development Co., Ltd., said: "If there are genes, there are species, and if there are species, we will restore our ecology." ”
Through the construction of demonstration bases and the setting up of monitoring plots, the alpine rhododendrons of Palanquin Mountain jointly build a community of life in harmony and co-prosperity between man and nature while developing and ecological restoration of tourism resources.
Reporter: Shu Shan Chang Enhao
Edit: Cow Cow