Botanical Illustrated Guide to Hong Kong Native Plants (Volume II) (Bilingual Edition)

Silent Flora, Blooming Hong Kong's Finest Four Generations of Botanists from the "Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium" Trek Mountains, Delve Deep, and Illustrate Meticulously To Create an Eternal Chronicle of Hong Kong's Native Flora 20 Precious and Rare Names, Before We Regret Their Loss The Deeper We Know Them, The Better We Can Coexist Allowing these Native Plants to Flourish on this Land of Hong Kong, Preventing Extinction This book is the second volume of the *Botanical Illustrated Guide to Hong Kong Native Plants*. Continuing the approach of combining scientific illustration with artistic ink drawings from the first volume, it provides detailed introductions to 20 rare and endangered native plant species in Hong Kong. These plants are protected by law and are listed, playing a vital role in Hong Kong's ecosystem. The herbarium employs various research methods, including literature review, field observation, studies of floral and fruit anatomy, and ink drawings, to document each precious plant species. This enriches the foundational scientific information on Hong Kong's rare and endangered plants, promoting advancements in plant conservation efforts. This volume additionally features a new section showcasing 'Scanning Electron Microscope Images,' clearly presenting the microscopic beauty of pollen and spores, akin to a kaleidoscope, to the readers. This appealingly illustrated book is the second volume of *Botanical Illustrated Guide to Hong Kong Native Plants*. It presents a meticulously curated collection of 20 rare and endangered native plant species found in Hong Kong, featuring scientific, detailed pen-and-ink illustrations and morphological descriptions. This volume introduces a new section showcasing ‘Scanning Electron Microscope Images’ that reveals the intricate beauty of pollen and spores. This guide provides essential reference materials for species authentication and is of particular significance for plant preservation efforts in Hong Kong. Full Title: Botanical Illustrated Guide to Hong Kong Native Plants (Volume II): Rare and Endangered Plants (Bilingual Edition) ISBN: 978-988-237-319-8 Binding: Hardcover Language: Chinese-English Bilingual Pages: 376 Dimensions: 280 x 195 mm **About the Authors and Editors** **Dr. David T. W. Lau (Author)** Curator of the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Dr. David T. W. Lau is a botanist who has been researching plant taxonomy, herbal authentication and pharmacology. He is now a curator of the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium in the School of Life Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and is responsible for managing the ‘Hong Kong Flora and Vegetation’ project. His research and education interests include plant taxonomy, biodiversity and Chinese medicine authentication. **Hiu-Yan Wong (Author, Editor & Botanical Illustrator)** Research Coordinator, Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong After graduating as an Environmental Science major at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hiu-Yan Wong is now working at the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her job duties include field collection, scientific illustration, botany education, intern training, specimen digitization and scanning electron microscopy imaging. She started working in the herbarium as an intern in 2018 and was astonished by the manuscripts left behind by two top botanical illustrators, Xiao-Lian Zeng and Ping Ma. In 2023, Ping Ma offered training to the team and refined the botanical plates, during which the team learnt advanced observation, analytical and illustration skills from him. She hopes the artisan spirit of the former illustrators will be passed on via this book. **Man-Ching Li (Author & Botanical Illustrator)** Research Coordinator, Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Man-Ching Li graduated from the Master’s programme in Environmental Management at the University of Hong Kong. She is currently working at the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where her major role is creating scientific illustrations. Last year, it was a great honour to have the top botanical artist Ping Ma demonstrate how to create a scientific illustration, and she felt great gratitude to Ping Ma for refining most of the botanical illustrations. She hopes this illustrated book can act as a medium to promote the Rare and Precious Plants of Hong Kong, as well as pass on the enthusiasm of the experienced taxonomists and illustrators in the field of plant taxonomy and scientific illustration. **Testimonials** The team at the Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, has diligently continued their work, documenting plant species of significant scientific value in Hong Kong in this second volume, presenting exceptionally rich content. This includes historical and contemporary plant specimens, taxonomic authentication, habitat records, literature reviews, ink drawings, anatomical photographs, and electron microscope imagery, all accompanied by scientific terminology and descriptions. The book masterfully integrates elements of science, botanical art, and education, making it highly suitable for life science research and teaching, as well as an important reference for species conservation. —Kam-Bo WONG Dean, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong With numerous well-drawn and precise botanical line drawings detailing plant morphological features, this second volume of botanical illustrated guide is not only a remarkable reference for botanical researchers, but also an interesting guide for plant lovers. Of particular interest are the microscopic scanning images of pollen and pollinarium of some species, providing a novel perspective to learn about and appreciate these rare and endangered plants of Hong Kong. —I. LUK Curator of Hong Kong Herbarium Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Scientific research forms the roots, while science popularization is the foundation. This illustrated guide firmly grasps these two intertwined, distinct yet interdependent threads. The authors' intention is particularly thoughtful, focusing on native plants as a theme. This serves not only as a local research topic but also fosters a sense of familiarity when engaging in science popularization. Furthermore, the illustrators' precise and detailed depiction of species identification features sets this work apart from other botanical texts, making it highly beneficial for teaching. The plates use academic terms to label various organs, further aiding readers in clearly understanding the basic characteristics of each species. This book, integrating scientific research and popular science education, presents itself to the reader in a uniquely crafted manner, truly deserving of admiration. —Ping MA Senior Botanical Illustrator & Chief Editor of "Magnificent Flora: A Hundred Years of Chinese Botanical Scientific Painting" Native plants, especially rare and endangered species, are an important and vital component of a region’s heritage. *Botanical Illustrated Guide to Hong Kong Native Plants (Volume II): Rare and Endangered Plants*, provides a rich source of information on some of the most critical plants in Hong Kong. To know these plants so intimately will help to preserve them. This unique book is not only of valuable to the plant sciences, but is also a guide to the special kinds of plants that can grow in Hong Kong because of the way we care for the places where they thrive. I sincerely recommend this book to all researchers, teachers, students and the general public. It has much to offer to those who peruse its pages. —David E. Bouord Senior Research Scientist, Harvard University Herbaria & Editorial Committee Member of Flora of China