Wild plants of tulipa mongolica, a species that had not been spotted for over 40 years and was once considered extinct, have recently been found in the Greater Hinggan Mountains area in the jurisdiction of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Tulipa mongolicas are short-lived perennials that grow in sandy areas of grasslands and are only found in Inner Mongolia. The recently discovered population covers an area of about 1 hectare.

"Finding tulipa mongolica in the Greater Hinggan Mountains area after nearly half a century has shown us the tremendous ecological improvement in this region," said Professor Zhao Liqing from the School of Ecology and Environment at Inner Mongolia University, recalling the scene of discovering the species with excitement in mid-August.

The plants with their bright yellow flowers were believed to be functionally extinct after the species was last collected in 1979.

"This rediscovery is truly rare and has significant scientific value for biodiversity conservation and the study of rare and endangered plants in China," added Zhao.

He further explained that the existence of Tulipa mongolica in the southern mountainous region of the Greater Hinggan Mountains demonstrates the close connection between the flora in the Mongolian Plateau and that in the regions of Central Asia and the Mediterranean.

This discovery holds important scientific significance for studying the origin of the grasslands of Inner Mongolia and their relationship with surrounding areas.