Source: photo taken during the observation of sunshine forest expedition by PDA

        Original plants are species that has adapted well to the environment (including climate, geographical location, zoology), well-grown and eugenic. Taiwan endemic species are original fascicular plants only available on Taiwan Island, Penghu Archipelago, Lan Yu and Green Island. The definition of endemic species is the offspring of species evolving locally in some given area. So the definition of Taiwan endemic species is the species evolving locally in Taiwan, which has adapted well to Taiwan’s geologic, hydrological and climatic environment. In brief, Taiwan endemic species are original fascicular plants only available on Taiwan Island, Penghu Archipelago, Lan Yu and Green Island.

        Thus, Taiwan endemic plants are definitely Taiwan original plants.

        In this unit, we are going to learn the definition of Taiwan endemic plants. Since early 20th century, taxonomists have published a lot of Taiwan endemic plants. This situation keeps on until today.

        The most representational groups are top 5 conifers of Taiwan: Taiwan yellow cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa var formosana), Taiwan Red Cypress (Chamaecyparis formosensis ), Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides ), Taiwan Incense-cedar(Calocedrus formosana), Konishi-fir (Cunninghamia konishii); and top 5 broadleaves of Taiwan: Taiwan zelkova (Zelkova formosana), Formosan Michelia (Michelia compressa), Stout Camphor (Cinnamomum micranthum), Camphor (Cinnamomum Camphora), Taiwan Sassafras (Sassafras randaiense). Exclusively, Camphor is not a Taiwan endemic species, it was chosen for its contribution and being a quintessence.