Sedum xunvense has been spotted on Jianglang mountain, a world natural heritage site in Jiangshan, Quzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: quzhoufb]

A new species of Sedum xunvense, belonging to the Crassulaceae family, has been discovered at the Jianglang Mountain scenic area in Jiangshan, a county-level city in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.

This newly discovered species has been formally named Sedum xunvense Y.L.Xu＆P.Li, and its related research findings have been published in the esteemed international journal Plant Taxonomy.

This significant discovery marks the first instance of a new species being identified by local plant experts since Jianglang Mountain was included on the World Natural Heritage List in 2010.

Sedum xunvense is an annual herbaceous plant with slender, solitary stems, thriving on the cliffs of Jianglang Mountain and on moss-covered rock surfaces. The mountain's distinctive Danxia landform is uniquely capable of supporting the species' growth.

Its growth cycle is relatively short, typically germinating in March, flowering in May, and wilting by July, according to Chai Maolin, a senior engineer from the Jiangshan Forestry Technology Extension Station, who discovered the plant in March 2022.

Only one group of Sedum xunvense has been found on the mountain, totaling over 200 plants.