Cuc Phuong is very diverse in flora species composition structure. With such an area equaling to 0.07 % out of the total area nationwide, it accounts for 57.93 % of flora families, 36.09 % of genetic diversity and 17.27 % of the species as compared with total figures for the country.
Lan Việt – Vietorchis aurea Aver. & Aver. (Orchidaceae)
Morphology: Leafless orchid, stem white, saprobiotic. Inflorescences erect, up to 10-20 cm long; flowers yellow. Habitat: Deep shade on forest floor, valley and edges of limestone hills. Flowering season 3-5. Value: This is a new genus and species for science, discovered in Cucphuong; very rare, priority for conservation.
Lan hài đốm – Paphiopedilum concolor (Bateman) Pfitzer (Orchidaceae)
Morphology: Terrestrial orchid 10-15 cm tall. Leaves alternate, upper surface with white-marbled splotches, lower surface red. Inflorescences 1-4-flowered; flowers yellow with dark red spots. Habitat: Cliffs of limestone hills. Common at the peak of Cave of Prehistoric Man. Flowering season 3-5, fruiting 6-7. Value: Of value as an ornamental plant; also used medicinally to reduce fever and to detoxify.
Lan hài lông – Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum (Lindl. ex Hook. f.) Stein (Orchidaceae)
Morphology: Terrestrial orchid, stem 20-30 cm tall. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 20-40 x 1.5-2 cm. Inflorescences hairy, flower solitary, but sometimes 2; odorless, faded yellow to green, pink-violet at the top. Habitat: Growing on rock crevices at the peak of limestone hills. Flowering season 3-5, fruiting 6-8. Value: Of ornamental value.
Thu hải đường Cúc Phương – Begonia cucphuongensis H. Q. Nguyen & Tebbitt (Begoniaceae)
Morphology: Herb, succulent. Leaves alternate, ovate, base oblique. Inflorescences short, axillary; flowers white. Fruit a capsule with 3 wings. Habitat: Damp places, on rock crevices. Primary forest. Often seen on the way to One-Thousand-Year-Old Tree. Flowering and fruiting seasons 5-8. Value : Stem and leaves are used in cooking a sour soup. (Photo: Nguyen Manh Cuong)
Hải đường không cánh – Begonia aptera Blume
Morphology: Herb, succulent, 50 cm tall. Leaves oblique, apex acute, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary; flowers white. Fruits with 3 wings. Habitat: Primary forest, damp places in forest floor. Often seen on the path to Silver Cloudy Peak. Flowering season 5-8. Value: An ornamental plant, the leaves are used to cook. (Photo: Nguyen Manh Cuong)
Hải đường thân ngắn – Begonia handelii Irmsch
Morphology: Herb, stem short. Leaves ovate, base oblique, hairy, petiole longer than blade. Flowers white, fragrant. Habitat: Damp places on forest floor in primary forest. Often seen on the path to Silver Cloudy Peak. Flowering and fruiting seasons 5-11. Value: An ornamental plant, it is used to prepare a medicine to relieve fever. (Photo: Nguyen Manh Cuong)
Thu hải đường boisiana – Begonia boisiana Gagnep. (Begoniaceae)
Morphology: Annual herb. Leaves narrowly oblong, base oblique, margins serrate, lower surface red. Inflorescences terminal. Flowers pinkish white to red. Fruit a samara, red. Habitat: Limestone hills, under forest cover. Flowering season 5-12. Value: Of ornamental value. (Photo: Nguyen Manh Cuong)
Thu hải đường – Begonia simicava Irmsch. (Bignoniaceae)
Morphology: Herb, stem short, 2-3 cm. Leaves rounded, yellow-hairy, base oblique, upper surface rough. Inflorescences short; flowers white to pinkish white. Habitat: Limestone hills. Flowering season 5-7. Value: Of ornamental value. (Photo: Nguyen Manh Cuong)
Xã Cúc Phương, Huyện Nho Quan, Ninh Bình