New species of Salvia discovered in Hunan

Named for county it was found in, herb is part of widely distributed subgroup

Editor's Note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

In August 2022, a scientific exploration team trekked into the forests of Guidong county, Hunan province, an expedition that ultimately led to the discovery of a new species of Salvia (commonly known as sage) that was recently reported in a botanical journal.

The team, which consisted of engineers Huang Yanbo and Ge Binjie from the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, as well as researcher Qi Zhechen from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, aimed to explore the wild habitat of Salvia, the largest genus within the mint family that boasts nearly 1,000 species distributed globally.