Studies on Traits of Concomitant Community of Endangered Plant Berchemiella wilsonii

Berchemiella wilsonii is an endangered species listed in China Red Book. In 1907, Wilson, an English botanist, first discovered it in Xingshan, Hubei. Since then it had disappeared from its original habitat for nearly a century. In June of 2001, during a series of plant community ecology investigation at Houhe Reserves, Wufeng, Hubei, we discovered this endangered species accidentally. Since then more and more attentions were paid to B. wilsonii. We discovered the causes of surviving of B. wilsonii in its habitat by studying the life forms of the plants, vertical structure of the community, species diversity and community stabilization. First, there is plenty of sunshine and rainfall, which are suitable for the growth of the plants; life forms suggest the subtropical characters of the climate. In addition, B. wilsonii belongs in the top layer of the community and so it is able to get enough sunshine. The structure of the community is stable and the richness of the species is high. B. wilsonii is rather rare and the methods of investigation, protection and breeding are needed to enlarge its populations, namely it is recommended that (1) more B. wilsonii be searched for in similar habitat; (2) the habitats be well protected; (3) the research of seed physiology be developed to discover the method to raise germination rate and meanwhile seedlings be developed by use of tissue culture.