chunyuensis

Chunyuensis is a flowering plant in the genus Plantago of the family Plantaginaceae. It was first described by botanists Li and Chen in 1983 and is named in honor of the botanist Chun Yu, who extensively studied the flora of Yunnan Province, China. The species is endemic to the high‑altitude regions of the western part of Yunnan, occurring at elevations between 2,000 and 2,700 metres on rocky slopes, scree fields and the margins of jade pine (Pinus fenzeliana) forests. The plant is a low, tufted perennial with narrow oblong leaves arranged in a basal rosette. It produces solitary white flowers on short stalks during July and August. Fruit is an elongated capsule that releases numerous tiny seeds.

Chunyuensis occupies a relatively narrow ecological niche. It prefers well‑drained, limestone‑rich soils and can tolerate the harsh, dry summers characteristic of the region. While still uncommon, the species is not currently considered threatened by the IUCN and has not been formally assessed. Conservation status is thought to be stable, but its limited distribution makes it susceptible to habitat disturbance by logging and land conversion. Follow‑up studies are needed to clarify its ecological interactions, population size, and potential uses in traditional medicine or horticulture.