Tibet is a region in the central part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about 2,500,000 km2 (970,000 sq mi). It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as the Monpa, Tamang, Qiang, Sherpa and Lhoba peoples and, since the 20th century, considerable numbers of Han Chinese and Hui settlers. Since the 1951 annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China, the entire plateau has been under the administration of the People's Republic of China. Tibet is divided administratively into the Tibet Autonomous Region, and parts of the Qinghai and Sichuan provinces. Tibet is also constitutionally claimed by the Republic of China as the Tibet Area since 1912.
Syringa is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere.
The Tibetan people are an East Asian ethnic group native to Tibet. Their current population is estimated to be around 6.7 million. In addition to the majority living in Tibet Autonomous Region of China, significant numbers of Tibetans live in the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan, as well as in India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Ophiocordyceps sinensis, known colloquially as caterpillar fungus, is an entomopathogenic fungus in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. It is mainly found in the meadows above 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) on the Tibetan Plateau in Tibet and the Himalayan regions of Bhutan and Nepal. It parasitizes larvae of ghost moths and produces a fruiting body which used to be valued as a herbal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. Caterpillar fungus contains the compound cordycepin, an adenosine derivative. However, the fruiting bodies harvested in nature usually contain high amounts of arsenic and other heavy metals, so they are potentially toxic and sales have been strictly regulated by China's State Administration for Market Regulation since 2016.
Arisaema is a large and diverse genus of the flowering plant family Araceae. The largest concentration of species is in China and Japan, with other species native to other parts of southern Asia as well as eastern and central Africa, Mexico and eastern North America. Asiatic species are often called cobra lilies, while western species are often called jack-in-the-pulpit; both names refer to the distinctive appearance of the flower, which consists of an erect central spadix rising from a spathe.
Adenophora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae, the bellflowers. Plants of this genus are known commonly as ladybells. Most are native to eastern Asia, with a few in Europe. Many are endemic to either China or Siberia.
Paris is a genus of flowering plants described by Linnaeus in 1753. It is widespread across Europe and Asia, with a center of diversity in China.
This is a list of topics related to Tibet.
Herminium is a genus of plants in family Orchidaceae, widespread across much of Europe and Asia.
Kobresia is a genus of plants in the sedge family. They are sometimes called bog sedges. These perennial sedges are quite similar to Carex species in appearance. The genus is widespread across much of Europe, Asia and North America, with many species native to the Himalayas.
Soroseris is a genus of Asian plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae.
Nannoglottis is a genus of Asian flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
Oreorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It is native to Asia. Species currently accepted as of June 2014:
- Oreorchis angustataL.O.Williams ex N.Pearce & P.J.Cribb - Sichuan, Yunnan
- Oreorchis aurantiacaP.J.Cribb & N.Pearce - Myanmar
- Oreorchis bilamellataFukuy. - Taiwan
- Oreorchis discigeraW.W.Sm. - Myanmar
- Oreorchis erythrochryseaHand.-Mazz. - Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan
- Oreorchis fargesiiFinet - Fujian, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang
- Oreorchis foliosa(Lindl.) Lindl. - India, Assam, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tibet, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan
- Oreorchis itoana(F.Maek.) Perner - Honshu
- Oreorchis micranthaLindl. - Tibet, Taiwan, Assam, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar
- Oreorchis nanaSchltr. - Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei
- Oreorchis nepalensisN.Pearce & P.J.Cribb - Nepal, Tibet
- Oreorchis oliganthaSchltr. - Gansu, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan
- Oreorchis parvulaSchltr. - Sichuan, Yunnan
- Oreorchis patens(Lindl.) Lindl. - Japan, Korea, Russian Far East, China
- Oreorchis porphyranthesTuyama - Nepal
- Oreorchis sanguinea(N.Pearce & P.J.Cribb) N.Pearce & P.J.Cribb - Bhutan
Ptilagrostis is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae. They are distributed in Asia and North America. They are known commonly as false needlegrasses.
Thitarodes caligophilus is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is found in Bhutan. It is a host of the entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, a species of the genus Cordyceps. The fruiting bodies of Ophiocordyceps sinensis are used extensively in Traditional Chinese medicine. As a result, T. caligophilus-sourced Cordyceps harvested in Bhutan have become "widely used".
Thitarodes namnai is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is found in Bhutan.
Thitarodes namlinensis is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It is found in China.
Habrosyne intermedia is a moth in the family Drepanidae. It is found in the Russian Far East, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, India, Nepal and China.
Thitarodes shambalaensis is a species of moth of the family Hepialidae. It was described by Zhengyang Wang, along with Hailing Zhuang, Min Wang, and Naomi E. Pierce in 2019, and is known from Sichuan, China from the Tibetan Plateau, where it was found on the Yanzigou glacial valley, Mt. Gongga. It was differentiated as a new species using morphological and genetic evidence, including genome-wide SNP analysis and CO1 phylogeny. Notably, this species is a host for the caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which is economically important for its use in traditional herbal medicine. This fungus is in decline due to overharvesting and climate change. Species in the genus Thitarodes are largely unknown due to logistical difficulties in collecting adult, male specimens, correct identification of their genitalia, and lack of accessible holotypes.
