Abstract:

Henan Province, located in central China, is a crucial transitional zone where the warm temperate and subtropical climates converge, and also serves as a key belt transitioning from the humid climate of the east to the semi-arid climate of the northwest. Due to its unique geographical location and climatic conditions, the region boasts a complex and diverse flora with varied components. The publication timeline of Henan Flora (1980-1997) was prolonged due to limitations in available literature at the time, coupled with advancements in the discipline that led to revisions or mergers of some plant names. With continuous discoveries of new species, Henan Province still lacks an accurate and comprehensive list of plant species. To address this, this study comprehensively utilizes multiple sources including Henan Flora, Flora of China, relevant journal articles, master's and doctoral dissertations, along with field-collected plant specimens and website references, to compile a vascular plant catalog and county-level distribution data for Henan Province. As of March 2025, Henan has recorded 1,840 families and 1,065 genera of wild vascular plants, totaling 3,916 taxonomic units (including species and varieties). Among these, 5 species of 3 fern families were included; 25 families and 68 genera of ferns comprising 254 species; 25 species of gymnosperms from 5 families and 12 genera; while angiosperms constitute the most abundant group with 3,632 species across 153 families and 982 genera. Compared to the merged version in Henan Flora, the number of species increased by 655, with 618 new species added across 116 families and 314 genera. Additionally, statistics indicate that Henan hosts 94 nationally protected wild plant species distributed across 39 families and 65 genera. The results of this study can provide a solid theoretical support and data basis for plant resource background survey, field dynamic monitoring, germplasm resources preservation and biodiversity conservation in Henan.

Key words: vascular plant checklist, floristic distribution, diversity, conservation plants, Henan