Source: China Daily

Chinese scientists have identified a critically endangered new species of the herb paris, a valuable herb in traditional Chinese medicines, in Southwest China's Yunnan province. The finding was published in the botanic journal Phytotaxa after researchers at Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed the new species, which was named after renowned Chinese botanist Li Heng. Herb paris, known as "chonglou" or "flower with seven leaves" in China, includes 27 known species and most of them are valued as an effective cure for sores and snake bites. It is an ingredient in a number of Chinese patented medicines including Yunnan Baiyao.