Chinese Research Team Leads Breakthrough in Solving Artemisia Taxonomy Challenges

　　A research team led by scientists from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has recently constructed the most comprehensive global phylogenetic framework and a complete taxonomic hypothesis for the genus Artemisia, solving a century-old challenge in the field which lacked a global phylogenetic framework and taxonomic hypothesis for this genus.

　　This research achievement has been published online in the international journal Nature Communications. The team deciphered the evolutionary patterns of 20 morphological traits for the first time and, based on this, proposed a new global taxonomic system for Artemisia plants. This system divides the genus into 8 subgenera and 24 sections, providing detailed taxonomic hypotheses for 99.6% of the species within the entire genus.

　　Large plant genera account for over 25% of the total species of flowering plants globally. However, due to their large numbers, wide distribution, and frequent radiative evolution, they have become a "black hole" in taxonomy, with Artemisia being a typical example. As a large genus within the Asteraceae family, its more than 500 species possess significant medicinal and ecological value. Establishing a high-resolution global phylogenetic framework and a complete taxonomic hypothesis for Artemisia is therefore crucial.

　　Dr. Gao Tiangang, Associate Researcher at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained that this system deconstructs Artemisia into smaller units manageable for taxonomic research within limited timeframes and defines the morphological characteristics of each unit. This lays the foundation for understanding the evolutionary history and ecological adaptation mechanisms of Artemisia plants from a global perspective, as well as for further development and utilization of its rich resources.

　　It is reported that the research team will simultaneously release a second edition of the illustrated guide to the phylogeny and taxonomy of global Artemisia plants in multiple languages, including Chinese, English, French, Spanish, and Japanese, to facilitate use by researchers and developers worldwide.