Biodiv Sci ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (10): 25226.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2025226  cstr: 32101.14.biods.2025226

• Data Papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Floristic diversity catalog and distribution dataset of vascular plants in Henan, China

Yun Chen, Zhonghu Geng, Jiao Lin, Lei Guo, Yongzhong Ye, Zhiliang Yuan*()()   

  1. College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
  • Received:2025-06-13 Accepted:2025-09-23 Online:2025-10-20 Published:2025-11-20
  • Contact: * E-mail: zhiliangyuan@henau.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Biodiversity Conservation Research(GZS2023006);National Key Wildlife Conservation Projects Funded by the Central Government in 2025(30603205)

Abstract:

Located in central China, Henan Province 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. Flora of Henan (1980-1997) had a prolonged publication timeline 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 Flora of Henan, 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 184 families and 1,065 genera of wild vascular plants, totaling 3,916 taxonomic units (including taxa under species). Among these, there are 26 families and 71 genera of 259 species of lycophytes and ferns; 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 Flora of Henan, the number of species increased by 655, with 618 new species added across 116 families and 314 genera. Furthermore, statistics indicate that Henan hosts 94 nationally protected wild plant species distributed across 39 families and 65 genera. The results can provide a solid theoretical and data basis for plant resource background survey, field dynamic monitoring, germplasm resources preservation and biodiversity conservation in Henan.

Database/Dataset Profile

Title Floristic diversity catalog and distribution dataset of vascular plants in Henan, China
Data author(s) Yun Chen, Zhonghu Geng, Jiao Lin, Lei Guo, Yongzhong Ye, Zhiliang Yuan
Data corresponding author Zhiliang Yuan (zhiliangyuan@henau.edu.cn)
Time range 1980-2025.3
Geographical scope Henan Province
File size 625.1 KB
Data format *.xlsx
Data link https://10.57760/sciencedb.j00152.00057
https://www.biodiversity-science.net/fileup1005-0094/DATA/2025226.zip/
Database/Dataset
composition
The dataset consists of 7 sheets: (1) A checklist of wild vascular plants in Henan, which contains 3,916 records and 11 fields of data: phylum Chinese name, phylum, family Chinese name, family, genus Chinese name, genus, vernacular name, scientific name, distribution of counties and districts in Henan Province, credential information and data source. (2) List of suspected species of wild vascular plants in Henan, which contains 301 records. (3) List of national key protected wild plants in Henan Province, which contains 94 records with 10 fields: family Chinese name, family, genus Chinese name, genus, vernacular name, scientific name, distribution of counties and districts in Henan Province, credential information, data source and protection level. (4) List of key protected plants in Henan Province, which contains 97 records. (5) Newly added plant checklist in Henan Province, which contains 618 records. (6) List of invasive plants in Henan Province, which contains 138 records. (7) List of common cultivated plant in Henan Province, which contains 687 records.

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