Critically endangered tree discovered in Yunnan

This species belongs to the Salicaceae family. The primary distinction of this variant is its nearly hairless to completely hairless leaf undersides and petioles, with leaves generally smaller than those of the original species. It has an extremely restricted natural range, found only sporadically in the montane evergreen broadleaf forests of southwestern China. It faces numerous challenges, such as habitat fragmentation, low reproductive capacity, poor seed germination rates, heavy logging, and the impacts of global climate change.