Hobbyists on mission to discover new and lost flora

It was on one of his regular hikes in the mountains on the outskirts of Beijing that botanist Mu Xianyun came across a tiny flower growing in the moss. He had just sat down for a well-earned rest, when the floret caught his eye. A study of the flower revealed it belonged to the Rubiaceae family, and was a species rarely found in North China.

Mu, who is in his 40s, has turned his hikes in the mountains around the capital in his spare time into a research project of sorts. The walks have allowed him to discover new species of orchids and several flowers and trees that were not known to exist in the region, opening up a world of rich diversity and providing visitors who beat a path to the remote mountainous areas more reasons to visit.

Like Mu, the others are drawn to Beijing's improving natural environment, with its forest cover of nearly 45 percent, and are eager to enjoy different types of flowers and wild grass that grow in the deep autumn season.

For Mu, the initial aim was just to enjoy nature. "I am a quiet person. It's nice to be in nature, seeing the light passing through the forest and falling on the moss under the trees. It makes me feel good," he said.

As he started discovering more and more rare and unique flora and fauna, Mu became motivated to embark on more excursions and fieldwork.

Compared with conventional plant classification at nurseries, finding new species of flowers and wild grass in the mountains takes more effort and involves some luck.

"When observing a likely new species of wildflowers in the mountains, you need to be careful and keep it intact," Mu said.

Mu has studied wildlife conservation, specifically plant taxonomy, in graduate school. He graduated with a bachelor's degree, majoring in biological science.

The history of plant classification can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and is regarded as the foundation of botany.

"First we know what the plant and its name is, then we get to know the genetic relations between different species, the kin recognition and where they originated, how they spread, and how they have evolved," said Mu.

His field of study has helped him to cultivate a sharp eye for plants he sees in daily life. When climbing in the mountains, he photographs plants that look unique.

"If some plants look different to me, I take extra photos. I'd take casual pictures of plants that seemed to be variations within a species, maybe a bit large or small, and I would take it home for further research," he said. "It is often upon careful examination that I discover I have captured a completely different species."