The complete chloroplast genome of Firmiana danxiaensis, an endangered species endemic to Danxia landform in Southern China

Researchers have sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of Firmiana danxiaensis, an endangered tree species endemic to China's Danxia landform. The genome spans 161,253 base pairs (bp), featuring a large single-copy region (LSC) and a short single-copy region (SSC) separated by two inverted repeats (IRs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that F. danxiaensis is closely related to F. simplex, with both species sharing a close relationship with F. pulcherrima. The genome exhibits distinct GC content variations across regions, with the IRs showing the highest GC percentage at 42.97%. This study provides valuable genetic insights into the evolutionary relationships of Firmiana species, which are crucial for conservation efforts in their unique Danxia habitat.

Lu, Q., Luo, W., & Huang, Z. (2019). The complete chloroplast genome of Firmiana danxiaensis, an endangered species endemic to Danxia landform in Southern China. Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 4(2), 4071–4072. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2019.1689861