Rediscovery of Brasenia schreberi in Heilongjiang Marks Ecological Milestone

In a significant ecological development, researchers have rediscovered a wild population of Brasenia schreberi, a nationally protected aquatic herb, in Mudanjiang, located in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. This marks the first time this species has been documented in the wild within the province for more than 30 years, as shared by the Northeast Forestry University.

Li Zhongyue, a lecturer at Shandong Agricultural University, characterized Brasenia schreberi as a perennial aquatic herb belonging to the Cabombaceae family, which typically flourishes in areas like the Yangtze River Basin and southward regions of China. Renowned for its mucilage content, the plant is valued for its economic potential.

The provincial survey team, which includes researchers from Northeast Forestry University and Shandong Agricultural University, along with local conservation groups, unearthed this healthy population in a natural water body in Mudanjiang. The size and vitality of this population not only highlight its importance to the local ecosystem's recovery but also provide insights into the distribution of this species throughout China.

Previously, Brasenia schreberi went unobserved in Heilongjiang since 1992, with no documented sightings or references of its presence in the province according to authoritative botanical sources. Mu Liqiang, the director of the survey and a professor at Northeast Forestry University, emphasized that Heilongjiang's biodiversity conservation initiatives have been progressing consistently, now supporting approximately 40 species of national second-class protected plants.