On the humid rocks in Jingdong County, mosses are not the only residents; orchids also take roots and bloom. The elegant flowers are often considered a symbol of nobility because they spread fragrance in the deep valley even if no one is around to appreciate it. 

Many orchids have become endangered because people hunt them for economic value. The six orchids below are now all under the second-class state protection in China. If you come across these orchids in the wild, remember not to bring them home. Among them, Pleione hookeriana is especially precious and is distributed in a small region. Its population has dropped dramatically in recent years due to habitat loss and poaching. 

About "Flora of Jingdong"

Jingdong Yi Autonomous County in Pu'er City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has two national nature reserves – the Ailao Mountain and Wuliang Mountain National Nature Reserve. The complex terrain and diverse climate here have created great plant diversity. The county is thus hailed as a "Demonstration County of International Biodiversity Project." This series will take you on a visual tour of diverse flora in Jingdong County.

Flora of Jingdong: These flowers you can only see in Yunnan's Jingdong

Flora of Jingdong: Plants with weird names

(All photos taken by Liu Wenhui and Qu Shang, designed by CGTN's Du Chenxin.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)