Floristic diversity in southern Himalayan region

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This study aims to reveal floristic diversity of southern Himalayan region including Myanmar, whose specimens had been very scarce, and found characteristics of the plants of the region. For the last four years a total of ten expeditions were sent to this region : mainly to the Popa, Natma Taung and Alandou Cathapa National Parks in Myanmar. More than 6,000 specimens have been collected and placed in the Herbarium, Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden (MBK) and toe Herbarium of The University of Tokyo (TI) as well as the Department of Forestry, Myanmar Government. The studies of plant systematics were carried out based on the specimens and the first report, "Mosses of Natma Taung (Mt.Victoria) National Park, Myanmar", was published in 2003. "A checklist of the plants of Mt.Popa" and "A checklist of the plants of Natma Taung" are being prepared. Samples for counting chromosome numbers and DNA analysis were also collected in the field. Based on the materials cytological and molecular phylogenetic analyses have been carried out for such groups as Arisaema, Aristolochia, Dixonia, Lobelia and Piper. At this moment, many new species and species new to Myanmar to be reported have been found. Floristically the southern Himalayan region may be characterized as a part of the western extremity of the Sino-Japanese floristic region.