Ai Tiemin, a professor with Peking University and honorary director of the specialists committee of medical plants under the Botanical Society of China, said the new findings were a major breakthrough in the exploration of species resources in Hainan province and have special value for scientific research on flora, which enriches the island's species diversity.

Liu, who has studied grass plants for more than 30 years, with a special focus on Cyperaceae, said scientists at the national academy will research the science, medical or even horticultural value of the new species, look to see how to preserve them and properly use them as breeding materials to expand their families.