Conservation introduction of Illicium difengpi, an endangered medicinal plant in southern China is feasible

Abstract Illicium difengpi is an over-harvested and threatened medicinal plant endemic in economically poor karst regions in southern China. To assess the feasibility of conservation introduction of I. difengpi and its microhabitat requirements, this species were transplanted into three sites with the following characteristics: karst slope with soil (KSS), karst bare rock (KBR), and non-karst hill (NKH), and the properties of I. difengpi in the three conservation introduction sites and those of wild individuals in the original site (OH) were compared. The results showed that the survival, plant height, stem diameter at the soil surface, crown width, and total biomass of I. difengpi were significantly higher in the KSS site than in the KBR or NKH site. I. difengpi reproductive traits were also generally better in the KSS site than in the KBR or the NKH site. The contents of medicinal ingredients (quercitrin and magnolol) in different parts of I. difengpi were higher in the KBR site than in the KSS site, and were higher in the KSS site than in the NKH site. In summary, I. difengpi showed strong growth adaptability to the KBR site. I. difengpi performed poorly when transplanted into the NKH site but performed well when transplanted into the KSS site. We concluded that the conservation introduction of I. difengpi is feasible, which can offer a path to sustainable utilization of I. difengpi. If similar approach can be applied to other native rare and endangered medicinal plants in impoverished karst areas, it can promote regional economic sustainable development and plant conservation.