Imagine stumbling upon a wild plant that smells just like lemon 🍋 deep in the evergreen forests of Xingyi Global Geopark in the Chinese mainland’s Guizhou Province.
Researchers from the academy of agricultural and forestry sciences of Qianxinan in Guizhou recently published their discovery of a brand-new species, Neocinnamomum citratum, in the international plant taxonomy journal PhytoKeys.
This plant’s intense citrus aroma had scientists doing a double take—they first thought they’d found a lemon tree! But unique leaf shapes and botanical details set it apart from any known species.
Thriving at 1,000 to 1,300 meters above sea level, over 100 individuals have been spotted across five limestone mountain locations. Local villagers have long harvested its leaves and branches to spice up their dishes, hinting at exciting new culinary uses 🌮👀.
Besides adding a fragrant twist to the kitchen, this find boosts the Chinese mainland’s biodiversity records and showcases the ecological treasures of Xingyi Global Geopark, which joined UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Network in March 2024 for its Triassic fossil sites and stunning karst landscapes 🌍🏞.
Who knows? This lemon-scented gem might soon inspire new flavors and fragrances around the world!
Reference(s):
New plant species with lemon fragrance discovered in China's Guizhou
cgtn.com
