The subnival–nival vascular plant species of Iran: a unique high-mountain flora and its threat from climate warming

This study provides a first country-wide overview of the vertical distribution patterns and the chorology of vascular plant species that occur in the uppermost elevation zones in Iran. The current distribution patterns are discussed with respect to potential warming-induced species losses. Iran’s subnival and nival vegetation zones are found at elevations above 3600–3900 m in a highly fragmented distribution across Alborz, Zagros, and NW-Iran. Based on literature research and on field observations, all vascular plant species living in the subnival–nival zone of Iranian mountains were identified (151 species) and classified into three altitudinal groups: Group A comprises species that occur mainly in subnival–nival habitats (51 species). Group B are species being common in subnival–nival areas but are equally present in the alpine zone (56 species). Group C are species that can reach to subnival areas but also grow in alpine, subalpine and sometimes lower altitudes (44 species). The chorological patterns differ among the three groups. The percentage of species being endemic to Iran decreases from group A, to B and C, with 68, 53 and 20%, respectively. A narrow altitudinal distribution at high elevations is clearly related to a small-scaled geographical distribution range. The outstanding rate of high-altitude endemism appears to result mainly from orographic isolation of the country’s highly scattered cold areas and by the absence of extensive Pleistocene glaciations. The narrow distribution of most of Iran’s cold-adapted mountain flora and the low potential of alternative cold habitats render it highly vulnerable to climate change.     

Identification of the areas of endemism (AOEs) of the genus Acantholimon (Plumbaginaceae) in Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify areas of endemism for Acantholimon species using parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and to detect endemic species richness of the genus in the region. The results obtained from the two methods used in this study were used in determining the priorities for the conservation of Acantholimon species in Iran. The distribution database of 62 endemic species belonging to this genus was formed by 1250 georeferenced observations in Iran. The study area was divided into 1?×1? grids of operative geographical units (OGUs) and the species?×?area matrix including presence/absence data was created. The endemic species richness was calculated using circular neighborhood with a radius of 50?km in 10?×?10?km² raster cells using DIVA-GIS software. The results of PAE analysis have shown four areas of endemism (AOEs) in Iran. AOE1: including Alborz and Zagros mountains, the mountains of central Iran. AOE2 and AOE3 are located in Khorassan subregion and AOE4 contains parts of western Iran. The map of endemic species richness indicated that the highest number of endemic species occurs in central Alborz region as well as Kerman, Chahar-Mahal and Bakhtiari, and Isfahan provinces.     

A preliminary study on the distribution patterns of endemic species of Fulgoromorpha (Hemiptera,?Auchenorrhyncha) in Iran

Iran is known as the most complex and varied country in southwest Asia, in terms of geography, vegetation, climate and consequently biological diversity. The rather high number of recorded endemic species of Fulgoromorpha in Iran indicates a high potential for speciation in some areas.In this study, in order to identify the endemic zones for Fulgoromorpha of Iran, three main biogeographic regions of the country were divided into 13 primary zones, mainly according to the distribution of published and unpublished locality records of endemic species. Using Venn diagrams and cluster analyses on the primary zones, 6 final endemic zones were recognized: Caspian zone, southern slopes of Alborz, Zagros Mountains, Kerman Mountains, Khorasan Mountains, and Baluchestan and Persian Gulf coasts. Then a similarity map was produced for endemic zones using a Multidimensional analysis (Alscal) and the differences between the positions of the same zones in the similarity and geographic maps were discussed.     

中国东北地区植物特有性研究

为了更好地理解植物区系的起源、种系分化及演化进程,推进特有植物保护工作,本文对东北地区内分布的中国特有植物、东北地区特有植物和植物区系地区特有植物的物种组成、科属结构、生活型组成、区系特征和地理分布情况进行了系统研究。结果表明：①研究区域内共有中国特有植物289种、东北地区特有植物109种、长白植物区系地区特有植物154种、大兴安岭植物区系地区特有植物16种、蒙古草原植物区系地区特有植物10种、华北植物区系地区特有植物20种。②各类特有植物中均以草本植物种数最多,其中多年生草本植物占绝对优势,乔木、灌木和藤本相对较少。③中国特有植物集中分布在东北地区大兴安岭山脉和长白山山脉。④东北地区特有植物集中分布地区与东北地区主要山脉走向一致,说明东北地区特有植物以山地起源植物为主。⑤长白植物区系地区植物特有性较强,表现出区系较为成熟的性质。大兴安岭植物区系地区、蒙古草原植物区系地区和华北植物区系地区特有性较弱,表现出区系较年轻的性质。⑥长白植物区系地区特有植物集中分布在吉林长白山山脉和长白山山脉向南延伸的余脉上。大兴安岭植物区系地区特有植物在区内分布较均匀,华北植物区系地区和蒙古草原植物区系地区特有植物在区内分布较零散。     

Plant endemism in the Nepal Himalayas and phytogeographical implications

Nepal is located in the central part of the greater Himalayan range with a unique series of mountain chains formed by recent mountain building geological events. As one of the youngest mountains in the world it contributes to diversity of plants and also provided barriers to and corridors through which plants migrated during the ice ages. The higher altitudinal variation with the high mountains, deep river valleys and lowland plains combine with the effects of the summer monsoon and dry winter result with an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems including flora and fauna in a relatively small land area. The existing checklists for Nepal record some 6000 species of flowering plants and about 530 ferns. However, the botanical experts estimate that numbers may go up to 7000 when the poorly known remote regions are fully explored. The information on plant endemism in Nepal Himalaya is not adequately known as Nepal is still struggling to complete long awaited Flora of Nepal project. Endemic species are confined to specific areas and are the first to be affected by land use and other global changes. We sought to explore the spatial distribution of endemic plant species in Nepal in relation to the consequences associated with climatic and geologic changes over time in the region with the help of published literature. It was found that the endemism showed marked spatial variation between open moist habitat and dry inner valleys, the former with higher endemism. The updated records showed 312 flowering plant species to be endemic to Nepal with higher endemism around the elevation of 3800e4200 m at sea level. The recent human population explosion, intensified deforestation, habitat fragmentation and modern day environmental changes are posing greater threats to endemic plant in Nepal. The conservation status and threats to these peculiar species are unknown. Nevertheless, environmental degradation and high poverty rates create a potent mix of threats to biodiversity in this landscape.     

色季拉山区高山寒带种子植物区系研究

通过对西藏色季拉山高山寒带进行实地野外调查,鉴定统计得到种子植物285种,分属于33科103属,其中双子叶植物有26科、77属、236种,裸子植物有1科、1属、4种,中国特有植物125种。对该区域种子植物区系从科、属、种三级水平统计分析,初步探讨了其植物区系的性质和基本特点。地理成分简单,但特有现象明显,在种类上缺乏古老、原始的类型;从科、属和种的分布类型统计分析,基本上都是温带成分,反映出典型的温带区系特征和区系的年青性,因而具有高寒区系的显著特色。在区系成分中存在较多中国-喜马拉雅成分,表明了该区系具有明显的高原及高山植物区系的特色。     

The new locally endemic genus Yazdana (Caryophyllaceae) and patterns of endemism highlight the high conservation priority of the poorly studied Shirkuh Mountains (central Iran)

Although mountain ranges are often recognized as global biodiversity hotspots with a high level of endemism, diversity and biogeographic connections of isolated and weakly explored mountains remain poorly understood. This is also the case for Shirkuh Mts. in central Iran. Here, Yazdana shirkuhensis gen. & spec. nov. (Caryophylleae, Caryophyllaceae) is described and illustrated from the high alpine zone of this mountain. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuclear and plastid DNA sequence data show that Y. shirkuhensis is related to Cyathophylla and Heterochroa (tribe Caryophylleae). The newly described genus and species accentuate Shirkuh Mts. as a center of endemism, which harbors a high number of narrowly distributed species, mostly in high elevations reaching alpine habitats. As this area is currently not protected, a conservation priority is highlighted for high elevations of Shirkuh Mts.     

Endemism in the Flora of China—Studies on the Endemic Genera

China, under highly varied ecological conditions resulted from wide latitudinal and altitudinal ranges and from the adequate precipitation, has developed a very rich flora of great diversity. As far as flowering plants are concerned, there are 2980 genera, 214 of which, belonging to 64 families, are endemic. Among these endemic genera, there are 9 genera of taxads and conifers, 19 genera of monocots and others of dicots. Of the approximately 129 herbaceous endemic genera in the Chinese flora as a whole, about 22 (17%) are annual and 107 (83%) are biennial or perennial. In the present paper the ecological distribution, the nature of endemic genera and the centers of endemism are discussed. 1. Three types of endemic genera are distinguished, neoendemics, palaeoendemics and active epibiotics, The endemic genera in the flora of China are, for the most part, considered to be very old ones, and most of them are of temperate nature. 2. the degree of endemism in our 22 floristic regions is shown in Figure 1. The areas richest in endemic genera in the Chinese flora as a whole are the 13, 16 and 17 regions. The poorest are the 2, 4, 9 and 10 regions, and no one in the 1 and 3 regions These results on floristic richness are of general applicability. As shown in table 1, the difference in the degree of endemism among the seven Chinese floristic subkingdoms are most pronounced. 101 endemic genera are known to occur in one subkingdom, 72 to occur in two subkingdoms, and 3 to occur in four subkingdoms, only one genus widely distributed in five subkingdoms. However, there is no genus occurring in seven subkingdoms. The difference in the degree of endemism in each subkingdom reveals that the distribution of endemic genera is not well-distributed in the Chinese flora as a whole. Analysis of the vertical distribution of the 200 endemic genera of the Chinese flora bears out that there is no evident increase in endemism as a whole with altitude. 3. Three centers of endemism are found (Fig. 2). These are as follows: a). Eastern Sichuan-western Hubei center. b). Southeastern Yunnan-western Guangxi center. c). Western Sichuan-northwestern Yunnan center. The degree of endemism andcharacters of endemic genera in each center are discussed.     

Vegetation Patterns of the Irano-Turanian Steppe along a 3,000 m Altitudinal Gradient in the Alborz Mountains of Northern Iran

The Irano-Turanian floristic region is a major center of endemism in the Holarctic of Eurasia. The Alborz Mountains of northern Iran are a complex and heterogeneous environmental system with rich water resources and great habitat diversity. We have investigated steppe plant communities along an altitudinal gradient ranging from approximately 1,000 m a.s.l. in the semi-desert steppes near Tehran to a height of 3,966 m a.s.l. at the summit of Mount Tochal. Our two-way indicator species analysis of 1,069 vegetation samples resulted in classification of five major vegetation zones: (1) a semi-desert Artemisia steppe near Tehran, (2) a Stipa grassland in the alluvial undulating hills north and west of Tehran, (3) a submontane and steppe zone, (4) a subalpine cushion formation zone and (5) an alpine meadow and subnival zone of Mount Tochal. Annuals and ephemerals in the semi-desert vegetation decline as altitude increases and almost disappear in the alpine zone. Past human impacts of ancient Persian civilization and a traditional pastoral economy have affected the physiognomy of plant communities; thorny dwarf shrubs now dominate the treeless vegetation of the region. Lower competition for space, different phenology and the presence of edaphic and hydrological layers associated with anthropogenic impacts are major reasons for entanglement of different plant communities in the arid- and semi-arid steppe. The phytogeography of the region changes from omni-Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Sindian transgressive species at lower altitudes to a more limited range of western Irano-Turanian species and local endemics at higher altitudes.     

Spatial patterns of the Iberian and Balearic endemic vascular flora

The Iberian flora has a high degree of originality (1328 endemic species, 24% of endemism), comparable to other regions in the Mediterranean Basin. The richness of Iberian endemic species is unevenly distributed; the greatest diversity is found in the main mountain ranges although the southwestern Atlantic coast and specially the Balearic Islands are rich in range-restricted endemic species. The largest number of endemic genera is found in the northwestern mountains, which might have acted as a refugium area. The Baetic System, which includes nearly half (46%) of the total Iberian endemic species, is by far the richest region of the territory. Its endemic flora is characterized by the great richness of narrow endemics and the high species turnover rate. The k-means partitioning analysis enables us to identify 11 units, generally well defined by the natural geographic features. The clusters including the northwestern mountains, the Cantabrian Mountains, the southwestern coast and especially the Balearic Islands, the Pyrenees and the Baetic System are compact and consist of a high proportion of diagnostic species, and can therefore be considered areas of endemism on a large scale. The regionalization reflects a primary longitudinal division of Iberia between a basic eastern and an acidic western region, but also partly reveals a climatic division between Eurosiberian and Mediterranean regions. Southeastern Iberia seems to be an important center of differentiation for several typically Mediterranean genera (e.g. Centaurea, Linaria, Armeria, Teucrium and Thymus), but other large genera are also highly diversified.     

Marine macroalgal biodiversity hotspots: why is there high species richness and endemism in southern Australian marine benthic flora?

The southern Australian marine macroalgal flora has the highest levels of species richness and endemism of any regional macroalgal flora in the world. Analyses of species composition and distributions for the southern Australian flora have identified four different floristic elements, namely the southern Australian endemic element, the widely distributed temperate element, the tropical element and a cold water element. Within the southern Australian endemic element, four species distribution patterns are apparent, thought to largely result from the Jurassic to Oligocene fragmentation of East Gondwana, the subsequent migration of Tethyan ancestors from the west Australian coast and the later invasion of high latitude Pacific species. Climatic deterioration from the late Eocene to the present is thought responsible for the replacement of the previous tropical south coast flora by an endemic temperate flora which has subsequently diversified in response to fluctuating environmental conditions, abundant rocky substrata and substantial habitat heterogeneity. High levels of endemism are attributed to Australia's long isolation and maintained, as is the high species richness, by the lack of recent mass extinction events. The warm water Leeuwin Current has had profound influence in the region since the Eocene, flowing to disperse macroalgal species onto the south coast as well as ameliorating the local environment. It is now evident that the high species richness and endemism we now observe in the southern Australian marine macroalgal flora can be attributed to a complex interaction of biogeographical, ecological and phylogenetic processes over the last 160 million years.     

贡嘎山东坡植物区系的垂直分布格局

为了探讨贡嘎山植物区系的垂直分化特征及其与周边地区植物区系的联系,结合样带法与样方法,对贡嘎山东坡垂直植被带进行了调查,统计得出各垂直植被带的科、属的物种数量,分析了科、属、种级区系成分的构成及其沿海拔梯度的分布格局,并对各垂直植被带区系的相似性进行了聚类分析。结果表明：1)贡嘎山植物区系在整体上具有温带性质,但在干旱河谷地带,热带和温带区系成分的比例相当：热带成分的构成和分布反映古热带和古地中海区系的残遗性影响;2)东亚(含亚型)和东亚-北美成分对贡嘎山中部森林植物区系的影响最大,这些成分以温带古老性质为主;3)北温带成分是贡嘎山植物区系的主体之一,对青藏高原隆升以来贡嘎山植物区系进化类群和特有成分的发展有主要贡献,代表区系的年轻组分;4)中国特有种类型多样,占不同垂直植被带物种数量的40％-65％,其比例随海拔上升而增大。各类型比例的垂直变化突出反映了贡嘎山及横断山脉中海拔地段的植物区系与华中地区的联系,以及高海拔地段与青藏高原及东喜马拉雅的区系之间的联系。本文还就贡嘎山在生物地理分布上的意义以及贡嘎山和横断山脉植物区系特有性的性质进行了讨论。     

Phytogeography of Genu and Homag,two mountains with an Irano–Turanian flora in the Saharo–Sindian regional zone,south Iran

The Saharo–Sindian regional zone encompasses the flat and arid areas of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, southern Iran and the deserts of Pakistan and west India. There are some scattered mountains situated within this area, like Hoggar in Sahara, Saint Catherine in Sinai and Genu and Homag in southern Iran. These highlands serve as interglacial refugia for cold adapted plant species. In the present study, phytogeographical patterns and relationships of the flora of Genu and Homag mountains are described and discussed in relation to the phytogeography of the flora of low‐lying Hormoz Island. According to a chorological assesment of the flora, Genu and Homag mountains belong to the Irano–Turanian region with 59% of the species restricted to this area. In contrast, the surrounding lowland plains are part of the Saharo–Sindian area with a rather high proportion of widespread species (17%) and Somalia–Masai‐linking elements (20%). It is noteworthy that several Turanian enclaves also occur in the lowland zone. Furthermore, the distributional patterns imply that the mountainous Irano–Turkestanian region is an integrated area which is supposedly distinct from the Turanian lowland areas in the north and from the Saharo–Sindian lowland areas in the south. On the other hand, the expansive floras of Turanian and Saharo–Sindian regions are linked to each other. Endemic species in lowland areas in south Iran are mostly either frost sensitive vicariants of cold adapted Turanian species or of Saharo–Sindian origin, while the highland endemics in the area trace their origins to the Irano–Turkestanian region.     

云南怒江河谷种子植物区系的特有现象

怒江是我国西南地区重要的大河之一,研究其河谷植物区系特有现象对于认识该区植物区系的特点、发生和演变以及生物多样性保护等具有十分重要的意义。本文采用样方调查和样线调查法,沿怒江河谷从最南端的中缅边境(木城)到滇藏交界地区(秋那桶)对云南怒江河谷的种子植物进行了实地调查,并通过查阅文献和标本鉴定,统计得到该区域野生种子植物164科776属1718种。其中东亚特有科4科,中国特有属1属,中国特有种316种(含68种云南特有种,包括怒江河谷特有种3种)。对该区域种子植物区系及特有性研究结果显示,其种子植物区系地理成分复杂,与其他地区植物区系联系广泛,并具有强烈的热带性;该区域种子植物科、属、种的特有性均不显著,科级特有现象表明本区系属于东亚植物区系的一部分;本区域的中国特有种在云南层面与滇西南、滇西北联系密切,在全国层面与南方与西南关系密切,在东亚层面与中国-喜马拉雅地区联系最为紧密。     

Vegetation of Kilimanjaro: hidden endemics and missing bamboo

Kilimanjaro has a large variety of forest types over an altitudinal range of 3000 m containing over 1200 vascular plant species. Montane Ocotea forests occur on the wet southern slope. Cassipourea and Juniperus forests grow on the dry northern slope. Subalpine Erica forests at 4100 m represent the highest elevation cloud forests in Africa. In contrast to this enormous biodiversity, the degree of endemism is low. However, forest relicts in the deepest valleys of the cultivated lower areas suggest that a rich forest flora inhabited Mt Kilimanjaro in the past, with restricted‐range species otherwise only known from the Eastern Arc mountains. The low degree of endemism on Kilimanjaro may result from destruction of lower altitude forest rather than the relatively young age of the mountain. Another feature of the forests of Kilimanjaro is the absence of a bamboo zone, which occurs on all other tall mountains in East Africa with a similarly high rainfall. Sinarundinaria alpina stands are favoured by elephants and buffaloes. On Kilimanjaro these megaherbivores occur on the northern slopes, where it is too dry for a large bamboo zone to develop. They are excluded from the wet southern slope forests by topography and humans, who have cultivated the foothills for at least 2000 years. This interplay of biotic and abiotic factors could explain not only the lack of a bamboo zone on Kilimanjaro but also offers possible explanations for the patterns of diversity and endemism. Kilimanjaro's forests can therefore serve as a striking example of the large and long‐lasting influence of both animals and humans on the African landscape.     

峨眉山槭属植物的地理分布和区系特点

本文报道了分布于四川峨眉山槭属植物,计26种1变种。讨论了槭属植物在峨眉山的垂直分布与水平分布规律。峨眉山槭属植物的区系组成是亚热带和温带东亚区系成分。     

Comparative avian phylogeography of Cameroon and equatorial Guinea mountains: implications for conservation

We illustrate the use of Faith's 'Phylogenetic Diversity' measure to compare the phylogeographic structure of two bird species with patterns of avian endemism across six mountains in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The Mountain Greenbul and Cameroon Blue-headed Sunbird showed phylogeographic patterns that together defined three biogeographic regions: Bioko, Mt. Cameroon, and the northern mountains of Cameroon. In contrast, the distributions of endemic species were largely a function of geographical distance, with close mountains sharing more endemic species than distant mountains. Moreover, for both species, populations on Mt. Cameroon were distinctive with respect to the ecologically relevant character bill size. Our results, while preliminary, illustrate the utility of a comparative approach for identifying geographical regions that harbour evolutionarily distinct populations and caution against using only the distributional patterns of endemics to prioritize regions for conservation. Results show that patterns of endemism may not be concordant with patterns of phylogenetic diversity nor morphological variation in a character important in fitness. While incorporation of additional species from unrelated taxa will be necessary to draw definitive conclusions about evolutionarily distinct regions, our preliminary results suggest a conservation approach for the Afromontane region of the Gulf of Guinea that would: (i) emphasize protection of both Bioko and Mt. Cameroon, thereby maximizing preservation of within-species phylogenetic and morphologic diversity; (ii) emphasize protection within the northern mountains to further conserve intraspecific phylogenetic diversity and maximize protection of endemic species.     

The formation and differentiation of the Leguminosae flora in Xizang (Tibet)

Xizang (Tibet) is rich in Leguminosae flora, comprising 41 genera and 254 species so far known, exclusive of the commonly cultivated taxa (including 11 genera and 16 species). There are 4 endemic genera (with 8 species), 10 temperate genera (with 175 species) and 19 tropical genera (with 46 species) as well as the representatives of those genera whose distribution centers are in East Asia-North America, Mediterranean and Central Asia. 1. There are altogether 4 endemic genera of Leguminosae in this region. According to their morphological characters, systematic position and geographical distribution, it would appear that Salweenia and Piptanthus are Tertiary paleo-endemics, while Straceya and Cochlianths are neo-endemics. Salweenia and Piptanthus may be some of more primitive members in the subfamily Papilionasae and their allies are largely distributed in the southern Hemisphere. The other two genera might have been derived from the northern temperate genus Hedysarum and the East Asian-North American genus Apios respectively, because of their morphological resemblance. They probably came into existanc during the uplifting of the Himalayas. 2. An analysis of temperate genera There are twelve temperate genera of Leguminosae in the region, of which the more important elements in composition of flora, is Astragalus, Oxytropis and Caragana. Astragalus is a cosmopolitan genus comprising 2000 species, with its center distribution in Central Asia. 250 species, are from China so far known, in alpine zone of Southwest and Northwest, with 70 species extending farther to the Himalayas and Xizang Plateau. Among them, there are 7 species (10%) common to Central Asia, 12 species (15.7%) to Southwest China and 40 species (60%) are endemic, it indicates that the differentiation of the species of the genus in the region is very active, especially in the subgenus Pogonophace with beards in stigma. 27 species amounting to 78.5% of the total species of the subgenus, are distributed in this region. The species in the region mainly occur in alpine zone between altitude of 3500—300 m. above sea-level. They have developed into a member of representative of arid and cold alpine regions. The endemic species of Astragalus in Xizang might be formed by specialization of the alien and native elements. It will be proved by a series of horizontal and vertical vicarism of endemic species. For example, Astragalus bomiensis and A. englerianus are horizontal and vertical vicarism species, the former being distributed in southeast part of Xizang and the latter in Yunnan; also A. arnoldii and A. chomutovii, the former being an endemic on Xizang Plateau and latter in Central Asia. The genus Oxytropis comprises 300 species which are mainly distributed in the north temperate zone. About 100 species are from China so far known, with 40 species extending to Himalayas and Xizang Plateau. The distribution, formation and differentiation of the genus in this region are resembled to Astragalus. These two genera are usually growing together, composing the main accompanying elements of alpine meadow and steppe. Caragana is an endemic genus in Eurasian temperate zone and one of constructive elements of alpine bush-wood. About 100 species are from China, with 16 species in Xizang. According to the elements of composition, 4 species are common to Inner Mongolia and Kausu, 4 species to Southwest of China, the others are endemic. This not only indicates that the species of Caragana in Xizang is closely related to those species of above mentioned regions, but the differentiation of the genus in the region is obviously effected by the uplifting of Himalayas, thus leading to the formations of endemic species reaching up to 50%. 3. An Analysis of Tropical Genera There are 19 tropical genera in the region. They concentrate in southeast of Xizang and southern flank of the Himalayas. All of them but Indigofera and Desmodium are represented by a few species, especially the endemic species. Thus, it can be seen that they are less differentiated than the temperate genera. However, the genus Desmodium which extends from tropical southeast and northeast Asia to Mexio is more active in differentiation than the other genera. According to OhaShi_,s system about the genus in 1973, the species of Desmodium distributed in Sino-Himalaya region mostly belong to the subgenus Dollinera and subgenus Podocarpium. The subgenus Dollinera concentrates in both Sino-Himalaya region and Indo-China with 14 species, of which 7 species are endemic in Sino-Himalaya. They are closely related to species of Indo-China, southern Yunnan and Assam and shows tha tthey have close connections in origin and that the former might be derived from the latter. Another subgenus extending from subtropical to temperate zone is Podocarpium. Five out of the total eight species belonging to the subgenus are distributed in Sino-Himalaya and three of them are endemic. An investigation on interspecific evolutionary relationship and geographic distribution of the subgenus shows that the primary center of differentiation of Podocarpium is in the Sino-Himalaya region. Finally, our survey shows that owing to the uplifting of the Himalayas which has brought about complicated geographic and climatic situations, the favorable conditions have been provided not only for the formation of the species but also for the genus in cer-tain degree.