Search

A palynological study of genus Dioscorea L. in Korea was conducted to evaluate the taxonomic implications. As a result of confirming the palynological characteristics of seven taxa of Dioscorea L., including six that are distributed in Korea and D. tokoro found in Japan, sections or species were classified according to the characteristics, such as the number of apertures, the polar end shape, and exine sculpturing. Specifically, the exine sculptures of D. coreana and D. tokoro, erroneously known to be distributed in Korea, are distinguished. The change in the number of apertures is closely associated with microsporogenesis, and it can be presumed that disulcate pollen might have been derived from monosulcate pollen in Dioscorea.

Clematis pseudotubulosa (Ranunculaceae), a new species from Gyeonggi-do in the Republic of Korea, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to C. takedana but differs in its leaves, which are always ternate with shallowly lobed leaflets (vs. 1-pinnate with deeply lobed three to five leaflets), and its oblong-shaped flower buds (vs. ovoid), larger flowers (vs. smaller flowers), and pantoporate pollen (vs. tricolpate). A detailed species description, geographical distribution, and an identification key for all species of Clematis that occur in Korea are also provided.

Background and Aims Artemisia is a mega-diverse genus consisting of ~400 species. Despite its medicinal importance and ecological significance, a well-resolved phylogeny for global Artemisia, a natural generic delimitation and infrageneric taxonomy remain missing, owing to the obstructions from limited taxon sampling and insufficient information on DNA markers. Its morphological characters, such as capitulum, life form and leaf, show marked variations and are widely used in its infrageneric taxonomy. However, their evolution within Artemisia is poorly understood. Here, we aimed to reconstruct a well-resolved phylogeny for global Artemisia via a phylogenomic approach, to infer the evolutionary patterns of its key morphological characters and to update its circumscription and infrageneric taxonomy. Methods We sampled 228 species (258 samples) of Artemisia and its allies from both fresh and herbarium collections, covering all the subgenera and its main geographical areas, and conducted a phylogenomic analysis based on nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained from genome skimming data. Based on the phylogenetic framework, we inferred the possible evolutionary patterns of six key morphological characters widely used in its previous taxonomy. Key Results The genus Kaschgaria was revealed to be nested in Artemisia with strong support. A well-resolved phylogeny of Artemisia consisting of eight highly supported clades was recovered, two of which were identified for the first time. Most of the previously recognized subgenera were not supported as monophyletic. Evolutionary inferences based on the six morphological characters showed that different states of these characters originated independently more than once. Conclusions The circumscription of Artemisia is enlarged to include the genus Kaschgaria. The morphological characters traditionally used for the infrageneric taxonomy of Artemisia do not match the new phylogenetic tree. They experienced a more complex evolutionary history than previously thought. We propose a revised infrageneric taxonomy of the newly circumscribed Artemisia, with eight recognized subgenera to accommodate the new results., This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 31870179, 31570204, 31270237 and J1310002), the International Partnership Program (grant no. 151853KYSB20190027), Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (grant no. SAJC201614), Key technology projects of Jiangxi Province's major scientific and technological research and development project (grant no. 20223AAF01007), Survey of Wildlife Resources in Key Areas of Tibet (grant no. ZL202203601) and National Plant Specimen Resource Center (grant no. E0117G1001) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Project at Central Government Level: The Ability Establishment of Sustainable Use of Valuable Chinese Medicine Resources (grant no. 2060302) and Project of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (grant no. AAAA-A21-121011290024-5)., INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION Conclusions SUPPLEMENTARY DATA FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONFLICT OF INTEREST LITERATURE CITED Supplementary data

In the flora of Korea, Carex L. is one of the most species-rich genera. Among nearly 157 Carex taxa, less than 30 have had their chromosome numbers reported. We report the meiotic chromosome numbers of eight Carex taxa from Korean populations, which include the first count for C. accrescens Ohwi (n = 37II) and the first chromosome investigations of Korean populations for three taxa: C. bostrychostigma Maxim. (n = 22II), C. lanceolata Boott (n = 36II), and C. paxii Kük. (n = 38II). In most species, chromosome counts observed in the study are included within the variation ranges of previous chromosome numbers. However, C. bostrychostigma Maxim. (n = 22II) and C. planiculmis Kom. (n = 29II) are assigned new chromosome numbers. Carex is known to have holocentric chromosomes, lacking visible primary constrictions and exhibiting great variance in its chromosome number. Further investigations of the diversity of Carex chromosomes will provide basic information with which to understand the high species diversity of the genus.

Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae, a Korean endemic plant, should be treated as a species rank because it is clearly distinguished from A. altaicus var. altaicus by the morphological characteristics of the plant habit, leaf width, and head size. Nevertheless, when A. altaicus var. uchiyamae was treated as a species rank, the epithet uchiyamae was unavailable in Aster owing to the earlier name A. uchiyamae, which was a replacement name for the illegitimate name A. depauperatus. Therefore, we propose A. danyangensis as a new replacement name for A. altaicus var. uchiyamae. The specific epithet danyangensis refers to the geographic location of Danyang-gun, where the species was discovered. We also designate the lectotype and isolectotype of A. danyangensis.

Seven species and two varieties belonging to the genus Boehmeria Jacq. (Urticaceae) are known to be distributed in Korea. Among them, B. spicata, B. tricuspis, and B. tricuspis var. unicuspis were subjected to an external morphological study. Among the individuals believed to exhibit variations in the leaf shape, B. gracilis and B. silvestrii were newly recognized. Unlike related taxa, B. gracilis has middle leaves with an elliptic, broadly elliptic, ovate, or broadly depressed ovate shape, a regular and serrulate-dentate margin, and an unlobed and short caudate or cuspidate apex. Boehmeria silvestrii has middle leaves with 5-angled ovate, orbicular ovate or broadly ovate shapes, and 3- or 5-lobed and caudate apices. Therefore, we assigned the corresponding names ‘Top-geo-buk-kko-ri’ and ‘Cham-geo-buk-kko-ri’. Meanwhile, the B. spicata complex (B. gracilis, B. silvestrii, B. spicata, and B. tricuspis var. unicuspis) is very closely related in terms of the morphological characters, whereas B. tricuspis exhibits no relationship. Furthermore, because the scientific name and type specimen of B. tricuspis var. unicuspis (Pul-geo-buk-kko-ri) are problematic, the correct name B. paraspicata Nakai and corresponding holotype are presented. Additionally, lectotypes of B. gracilis and B. silvestrii are newly designated here. A taxonomic treatment, descriptions, a key, photographs, type specimens, and leaf variation images of the B. spicata complex are provided in this study.

Variation or constancy in the chromosome number, within taxa of different categories, proves to be important characters for taxonomic groupings. To expand the current knowledge on somatic chromosome numbers of South Korean vascular plants, chromosome counts were made for 36 species (27 genera of 16 families). New chromosome numbers compared to previous studies were counted in Sedum oryzifolium, Cinnamomum japonicum, Lysimachia clethroides, and Chrysosplenium flagelliferum, respectively. Among studied species, the diploids prevail. In addition, Eupatorium lindleyanum, L. clethroides, and Lysimachia mauritiana showed polyploidy.

A taxonomic revision of Korean Ligustrum species is presented based on critical observations of wild populations and herbarium specimens. Species delimitations were re-evaluated on the basis of morphological characters, such as plant height, texture and shape of leaf, shape of inflorescence, shape of drupe and seed, and texture of endocarp. From the results, L. leucanthum (= L. acutissimum), being recorded in Korea, is excluded from the Korean flora because it comes from misidentifications of the herbarium specimen, whose identity is L. obtusifolium. We also treated L.obtusifolium subsp. suave and L. obtusifolium subsp. microphyllum as synonyms of L.obtusifolium. Ligustrum quihoui var. latifolium is placed into synonym of L. quihoui. In addition, the record of L. ovalifolium from Korea has proved to be a misidentification of herbarium specimens, the correct identity of which is L. salicinum. Consequently, we recognized the following six Ligustrum species in Korea: L. japonicum, L. lucidum, L. quihoui, L. salicinum, L. foliosum, and L. obtusifolium. Photographs and a key to six species of Ligustrum were provided in addition to complete descriptions including information on nomenclatural types, synonyms, and taxonomic notes.

Cynanchum L. in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae) includes four recognized species on the Korean peninsula, two of which are native to South Korea. However, the species ranges in South Korea are poorly defined. During a field survey, we discovered C. thesioides, previously unrecorded in South Korea, in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, and found an additional population of C. chinense, for which only one population has been reported in South Korea. The two taxa are considered rare species with extremely restricted distributions in South Korea, especially C. thesioides. We provide fundamental information, including descriptions, images of the habitats and morphological characters, and a taxonomic key for identification and assessments of the conservation status of Cynanchum species in Korea.

Field surveys were conducted in the northern part of Mongolia in 2017 and 2018. Vascular plants floristic data are based on collections from the study area, and more than 800 new collections are made in this study. In total, 289 taxa (8 subspecies and 6 variates) were identified, representing 173 genera from 60 families of vascular plants. The families most diverse in species were Rosaceae with 28 taxa, followed by Ranunculaceae (25 taxa), Asteraceae (19 taxa), and Fabaceae (19 taxa). The largest genera were Salix with 11 species, followed by Viola (9 species) and Carex (9 species). Thirty-seven taxa are newly recorded for Mongolian Dauria (8), Khangai (8), Khentei (4) and Khuvsgul (17) regions. Several threatened species were found in the field area. We provide photographs and distribution maps for species of Cypripedium (C. calceolus L., C. guttatum Sw., C. macranthos Sw., and C. ventricosum Sw.). In addition, Campanula cervicaria was newly recorded for the flora of Mongolia. Keywords: Campanula, Cypripedium, New records, Northern Mongolia, Plant diversity

A floristic study of Eastern Mongolian Steppes has been conducted during the growing season of 2014 and continued in 2017, when we focused more on the Numrug Strictly Protected Area. Major objectives of this study were to assess floristic diversity of Eastern Mongolian Steppes and to review the conservation status of some endangered, rare, and very rare species. A total of 488 taxa of vascular plants, which belong to 254 genera of 75 families, including three endemic and 16 subendemic species were sampled. Among these were three endangered, three vulnerable, five near threatened, 16 very rare, and 39 rare species. Remarkably, Myriophyllum sibiricum and Typha latifolia are newly recorded for the flora of Mongolia. Moreover, new distribution records of some species were noted in four phytogeographical regions of Eastern Mongolia, such as Foothills of Great Khingan (30), East Mongolia (12), Mongolian Dauria (11), and Middle Khalkha (3). Finally, we assessed regional conservation status of the five species (two endangered and three vulnerable) from the East Mongolia using the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List criteria and categories. Keywords: Conservation status, Floral diversity, New records, Numrug SPA

We examined the floral morphology of 15 taxa of five genera (Cynanchum, Marsdenia, Metaplexis, Tylophora, and Vincetoxicum) in Korean Asclepiadoideae using a stereoscopic and scanning electronic microscope to clarify and describe the floral characteristics. In this study, the corolla and corona types, the types of corona lobes, appendages on the corona lobes, and the apex shape of the style head are considered as diagnostic characteristics at the generic level. The genus Vincetoxicum, which is treated as a synonym of the genus Cynanchum in Korea, is distinguished from Cynanchum by the interstaminal part on the corona, fleshy and mainly triangular or ellipsoid corona lobes, and various corolla colors. In Cynanchum, various corona types have been observed, while Vincetoxicum have similar corona types among the taxa. In addition, the main floral characteristics at the species level were as follows: flowering time, inflorescence, corolla color, trichomes on the corolla surfaces, apex shape of the corona lobe, and trichomes on the ovary. This study presents the taxonomic importance of floral morphology by providing descriptions and diagnostic characteristics among the genera and species investigated.

The Munkhkhairkhan mountain area is a unique highland ecosystem with a diverse regional alpine flora. This mountain habitat is located at the overlap of different floristic regions: on its western side KazakhstanâTuran flora is dominating, and on the eastern side East Asian flora is observed. It is known that the whole area has a large number of endemics and rare plant species, because of its specific, harsh habitat conditions. Therefore, the flora of different habitats in the Munkhkhairkhan mountain needs to be investigated and properly protected. Munkhkhairkhan National Park has been founded in 2006, and our survey concentrated on the protected area as well as the surrounding areas of the mountains. All recorded species in this study were based on the collected voucher specimens. Conservation status for remarkable species was also reviewed based on the literature. As a result, we recorded 40 families, 150 genera, and 267 species of vascular plants, including four endemic and 34 subendemic species and 15 species' new distribution notes. Around the Munkhkhairkhan mountain, 16 very rare, 21 rare, eight endangered, and two near threatened species are growing, indicating the high conservation value of this area and the necessity for research. Keywords: Conservation status, Mongolia, Munkhkhairkhan national park, Vascular flora

The taxonomic status and scientific names of Artemisia gmelinii and its allied taxa have long been debated. To provide correct names and taxonomic status, A. gmelinii and its allied taxa were reviewed in this study based on morphological characters. After a comparison of original descriptions and type specimens, the names of A. freyniana f. discolor and A. freyniana f. vestita used in Korea were recognized as A. sacrorum var. sacrorum and A. sacrorum var. incana, respectively, based on the characters of the trichome on the leaf, the geographical distributions, the chromosome numbers, and the existence of a pinule connection on the exine of the pollen. A. iwayomogi, the scientific name misused as A. gmelinii, was combined and newly named A. sacrorum var. iwayomogi (Kitam.) M. S. Park & G. Y. Chung based on its morphological similarity to the A. sacrorum group. A description, illustration, and key for each of the taxa are provided here.

The morphological characters were observed in six taxa in the genus Dioscorea of Korea (D. polys- tachya, D. japonica, D. nipponica, D. quinqueloba, D. tenuipes, and D. dokoro). The underground structure and the formation of bulbil were useful characters for separating sect. Enanatiophyllum from sect. Stenophora. The important characters for discriminating taxonomic entities were as follows: the position of the anther and the shape of the pistil in the microstructural characters, including the protuberance of the base of the petiole, the shape and color of the flower, the shape of the fruit, and the shape of the seed wing. Based on the results, a key to Korean Dioscorea is provided and the distribution of these species in Korea is described.

The palynological characters of 14 taxa of 4 genera (Cynanchum, Metaplexis, Tylophora, Marsdenia) inAsclepiadoideae were observed and measured using SM and SEM. The orientation and granulate surface patterns ofthe pollinia were important characters for delimitating the genera. The position of the attachment of the translator armsto the pollinia, considered to be an important character for recognizing the above genera, was an overlapping char-acter among the genera and can therefore be utilized only as taxonomy at the species level. Also, we found for the firsttime that only Tylophora floribunda has an incised margin of the corpusculum. The quantitative characters of the pol-linia, arms and corpusculum were useful keys for the delimitation of the species. Keywords: Asclepiadoideae, pollinaria, pollinia, translator-arm, corpusculum 적요: 한국산박주가리아과(Asclepiadoideae)에속하는 4속(Cynanchum, Marsdenia Metaplexis, Tylophora)의14분류군을 대상으로 해부현미경과 주사전자현미경을 이용하여 화분학적 형질을 관찰 및 측정하였다. 연구결과, 화분괴(pollinia)의 방향, 세립상의 화분괴 표면무늬는 속을 구분하는 유용한 형질로 나타났다. 한편, 기존에 속 이상의 계급에서 주요 화분학적 형질로 여겨지던 화분괴병(translator-arm)이 붙는 화분괴의 위치는나도은조롱속(Marsdenia)을 제외하고는 뚜렷이 구분되지 않아 속간 한계를 구분하기에는 어려운 것으로 확인되었다. 또한 왜박주가리속(Tylophora)의 왜박주가리(Tylophora floribunda)에서 유일하게 구상체(corpusculum)의가장자리가 결각상인 것으로 본 연구에서 처음 관찰되었다. 이외에 화분괴, 화분괴병 및 구상체의 양적 형질에서 크기가 다양하게 나타나 종간 분류에 유용한 것으로 조사되었다.

This study was carried out to elucidate the distribution of vascular plants and their usefulness of Mt. Myeonsan (1,245 m) and Myobong (1,168 m) in Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The vascular plants that were collected 15 times from April 2012 to October 2013 consisted a total of 551 taxa; 96 families, 314 genera, 489 species, 3 subspecies, 54 varieties and 6 forms. The plants that are specially noteworthy are 17 taxa of Korean endemic plants, 2 taxa of Critical Endangered Species (CR), 3 taxa of Endangered Species (EN) and 12 taxa of Vulnerable Species (VU) in rare plants as categorized by the Korean Forest Service. Furthermore, V, IV, III degrees of floristic regional indicator plants as categorized by the Korean Ministry of Environment included 2 taxa, 22 taxa and 26 taxa, respectively. Among them, edible, pasture, medicinal, ornamental, timber, dye, fiber, industrial and unknown usefulness plants included 215 taxa, 184 taxa, 163 taxa, 59 taxa, 17 taxa, 6 taxa, 5 taxa, 5 taxa and 138 taxa, respectively. In addition, 25 taxa of naturalized plants were observed.

Three unrecorded species, Carex chungii Z. P. Wang, C. tsushimensis (Ohwi) Ohwi , C. multifolia Ohwiwere found in Korea. C. chungii Z. P. Wang was found in Is. Wan and Is. Geogeum, Jeollanam-do and Namhae, Gyeo-ngsangnam-do. This species is distinguished from C. leuchoclora Bunge by achenes constricted above in the middle.C. tsushimensis (Ohwi) Ohwi was found in Is. Gageo, Sinan, Jeollanam-do. This species is distinguished from C. con-ica Boott by pistillate scales with a long arista. C. multifolia Ohwi was found in Haenam, Jeollanam-do . This speciesis distinguished from C. sachalinensis var. sikokiana (Franch. & Sav.) Ohwi by caespitose and leaf of light gray. Weprovide here their description, illustration, photographs and the key of related species. Keywords: Carex chungii, Carex tsushimensis, Carex multifolia, sect. Mitratae, First record : (Carex chungii Z. P. Wang), !" (C. tsushimensis (Ohwi) Ohwi), #$ (C.multifolia Ohwi) % & ' 3()*+ ,-./0 . (C. chungii Z. P. Wang)1 234 54 , 67489:34 3; ?0 . (C. leuchoclora Bunge) 8 >@ A % BC+ AD>E FG+ H(I0 .!" (C. tsushimensis (Ohwi) Ohwi)1 234 J * K64 @ OP Q T U VWLX H(I0 . #$ (C. multifolia Ohwi) 1 234 ;3* YZ[ \]^_ @ c>M d+ (ef ghLX H(I0 . 3()* ?0 .

The morphological characters and scientific names of Korean Artemisia sect. Absinthium were reviewed based on the type specimen, the original description, observation of the living materials and voucher specimens. The form of the habitat, the structure of underground, the leaf shape and capitulum features were valuable characters in identifying the taxa. The sect. Absinthium in Korea was classified as three taxa of A. sieversiana, A. lagocephala, A. fauriei. The illustration and description of each taxa were provided. Particularly, A. fauriei in this section with hair on receptacle and A. fukudo in sect. Abrotanum without hair on receptacle grow in mixed groups on the West shore of Korea. Two species with populations which grow in mixed groups, was observed as being putative hybrid individuals based on morphological characters.

Somatic chromosome numbers of 28 Korean native species in the buttercup family are observed and analyzed. The plants include 10 genera with seven endemic taxa to the Korean peninsula, and most of t...

The taxonomic identity and distribution of Artemisia integrifolia L. were reviewed based on the specimens collected from Bukchangpyeong, Onseong-gun, Hamgyeongbuk-do (in KYO), Hamrimsan, Gyeongheung-gun, Hamgyeongbuk-do (in KYO) and Hoeyang-gun Gangwon-do (in SKK). A. integrifolia is distinguishable from A. viridissima and A. subulata by middle cauline characteristics such as cauline leaves ellipticlanceolate, 1-3 pairs with coarsely serrated margins. The illustration, description and key to similar species are provided.

Somatic chromosome numbers for 10 taxa and karyotypes analysis for 6 taxa of Korean Vicia were investigated. Somatic chromosome numbers of treated taxa were 2n

Aiming to determine the taxonomic identity of Gang-hwa-yak-ssuk as a cultivated plant, this studyanalyzes ITS sequences and compares their external morphologies with the genus Artemisia, which have a sim-ilar external morphology. Thus far, we have considered A. indica as the original plant of Gang-hwa-yak-ssuk,but Gang-hwa-yak-ssuk is better grouped with A. argyi, not A. indica, for the following reasons: Gang-hwa-yak-ssuk has the same characteristics as A. argyi in terms of the natural habitat, in that it is 1-bipinnately cleft orparted in the external morphology of its leaves, and because the white glandular trichome is distributed on theadaxial surface. This is in addition to the result of ITS sequence analysis. Therefore, we can define Gang-hwa-yak-ssuk as a cultivated plant that originates from A. argyi and not A. indica. Keywords: Gang-hwa-yak-ssuk, Artemisia argyi, A. indica, taxonomic identity쑥속(Artemisia L.)은 국화과(Asteraceae), 국화족(Anthemideae) 내에 속하는 가장 큰 속으로서 전 세계적으로 종과 종하분류군을 포함하여 500여 분류군 이상이 주로 북반구의 중·고위도 온대성 기후지역에 넓게 분포하며, 일부 분류군이 한대성 기후지역과 건조지역, 남반구지역에 각각 분포하는 것으로 알려져 있다(McArthur,1979; Ling, 1991, 1992, 1995a, b; Heywood and Humphries,1977; Bremer and Humphries, 1993).쑥속식물은 분류군간의 형태적인 유사성으로 동정이어려울 뿐만 아니라 지리적 혹은 동일집단 간에도 외부형태학적 변이가 다양하여, 분류군에 대한 한계설정의 문제로 학명에 대한 이견 또한 다양한 실정이다.이러한 실정임에도 불구하고 국내에서는 기원이 명확하지 않는 쑥속식물을 대상으로 민간 또는 다양한 연구분야에서 오용되고 있다. 그중 강화약쑥은 유용성이 높아강화군에서 특화작목으로 각광을 받고 있으며, 다양한 분야에 이용되고 있지만 현재까지 명확한 기원식물을 찾지못하고 있는 실정이다. Anonymous (2007)은 쑥속식물을대상으로 외부형태와 DNA분석을 통하여 쑥을 기원식물로 판단하였고, 이에 따라 현재 많은 응용분야에서 강화약쑥에 쑥의 학명을 사용하는 오류를 범하고 있다. 반면Lee et al. (2010)은 한국산 쑥속식물의 ITS분석을 통해 강화약쑥이 황해쑥(A. argyi)과 가까운 유연관계가 있으며,형태학적, 분자생물학적 분석을 통해 정확한 분류학적 연구가 필요할 것을 언급한 바 있다.본 연구는 기원에 있어서 혼란이 있는 강화약쑥의 외부형태형질, 분자생물학적인 연구를 토대로 기원식물을 명*Author for correspondence: gychung@andong.ac.kr 확히 밝히고, 강화약쑥의 분류학적 위치를 검토함으로서

The palynological study of 31 taxa of Korean Artemisia L. was carried out to evaluate their taxonomic characteristics and to determine the relationships among the taxa. The size and shape of the pollen are not used as characteristics to classify the taxa of Korean Artemisia L., but the granule distribution ands pinule connection on the exine were useful for an interspecific classification and for reflecting the relationship between some taxa. It is considered that Artemisia pollen has evolved from a connected spinule and a nearly psilate surface into 1) a connected spinule and a granule surface, 2) a disconnected spinule and a granule surface, 3) a disconnected spinule and a dense granule surface. These pollen characteristics with external morphological characteristics, a geographical distribution and a somatic chromosome number are considered to be good characteristics for distinguishing the relationship of some taxa, such as the A. japonica group (A. hallaisanensis, A. angustissima, A. littoricola) and the A. sacrorum group (A. sacrorum var. sacrorum, A. sacrorum var. incana, A. sacrorum var. iwayomogi).

The vascular flora in the Mt. Cheongtae area, located Pyeongchang-gun in Gangwon-do, were surveyed 14 times from April of 2008 to October of 2011. The result of this survey revealed 663 taxa in total, comprising 89 families, 342 genera, 577 species, 6 subspecies, 73 varieties and 7 forms. In the flora of this area, 19 taxa were Korean endemic plants and 24 taxa were rare and endangered plants of Korea. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 136 taxa comprising 4 taxa of grade V, 16 taxa of grade IV, 31 taxa of grade III, 41 taxa of grade II and 44 taxa of grade I. Naturalized plants in Korea numbered37 taxa. In addition, 485 taxa were categorized by usage into 8 groups, as follows: 240 edible, 8 fiber, 177 medical, 60 ornamental, 245 pasturing, 2 industrial, 12 dyeing and 16 timer plants.

The morphological characteristics of the Korean Scopolia japonica Maxim., commonly known as 'Mi-chi-gwang-i-pul' in Korean, were re-evaluated in comparison with results from previous research, while the distribution map was formulated according to existing flora and voucher specimens. The result of the re-evaluation has shown that there are some distinctive discrepancies compared to the previous reports of some characteristics such as the color of the basal stem, numbers of lateral veins, apex shape of calyx and corolla including the color of corolla. The Korean Scopolia japonica Maxim is found throughout Korea except Jeju-do province. The intra-specific species such as S. parviflora (Dunn.) Nakai, S. lutescens Y.N. Lee and S. kwangdokensis Y.N. Lee were treated as synonyms of S. japonica Maxim. in this research.

Various aneuploidy and polyploidy have been reported in the genus Aconitum L. (ca. 300 species worldwide, Ranunculaceae), and there is a demonstrated association between major lineage diversification and polyploidy. This study reports chromosome counts of eight Aconitum from Korea, including the first counts for A. japonicum Thunb. subsp. napiforme (H. Lv. & Vaniot) Kadota (2n = 32) and A. longecassidatum Nakai (2n = 16). The study also includes chromosome numbers for two taxa on the Critically Endangered species list in Korea. Among Korean native species, chromosome numbers in Aconitum subgenus Aconitum range from 2n = 16 to 2n = 64 with diverse levels of polyploidy (2x, 4x, and 8x), whereas Aconitum subg. Lycoctonum exhibits only diploids (2n = 16). Greater chromosome number diversity in subg. Aconitum than subg. Lycoctonum might explain higher species diversity within the former subgenus (more than 250 species worldwide). Investigating chromosome number diversity of Aconitum in a phylogenetic framework will be a critical step to understand species richness of the genus.

This study was carried out to classify the regional folk plants in Gyeongsangnam-do. According to the survey results from 293 survey sheets of 60 residents at 52 places of 17 counties and cities from March to October, 2009, the folk plants in Gyeongsangnam-do consisted of a total 182 taxa; 73 families, 157 genera, 168 species, 2 subspecies, 11 varieties, and 1 form. The use by its usage was: 129 taxa; edible, 41 taxa; medicinal, 3 taxa; dye, 2 taxa; aroma, 2 taxa; spice, 2 taxa; ornamental, 6 taxa; fiber, 2 taxa; oil, 25 taxa; others, respectively, so the edible use was the highest. The most useful part was the leaf, followed by all parts, fruit and root.

This study was carried out to classify the folk plants in southern region of Gangwon-do. According to the survey results from 1,103 survey sheets of 83 residents at 32 places of 9 counties and cities from March to October, 2010, the folk plants in the southern region of Gangwon-do consisted of a total 311 taxa; 92 families, 222 genera, 274 species, 2 subspecies, 29 varieties, and 6 form. The use by its usage was: 227 taxa; Edible, 174 taxa; Medicinal, 14 taxa; Ornamental, 5 taxa; Oil, 5 taxa; Spice, 4 taxa; Dye, 1 taxa; Fiber, 1 taxa; Aroma, 1 taxa; Fuel, 32 taxa; Others, respectively, so the edible use is the highest. The most useful part was the leaf, followed by root and fruit. The consistency comparison between the scientific name and the local name were the highest in the 50`s and the lowest in 80`s.

The present study is aimed at examining the effects of the physico-chemical environmental factors of water systems on water bloom at Homin and Gagok reservoirs in Pungcheon-Myeon, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The mean water temperature and the contents of chlorophyll-a, total-nitrogen, total-phosphorus and phosphate-phosphorus were higher at the Gagok reservoir. On the other hand, the pH mean value was higher at the Homin reservoir. The mean value of microelements (Na, K, Mg, Fe, Si) was higher at the Gagok reservoir. The cyanobacteria which was considered to be the cause of water bloom at the two reservoirs was Microcystis aeruginosa. It started to grow in May and showed the highest standing crop in August. Between the increase of standing crop of M. aeruginosa and the water quality, correlation values of (r

The pollen of 5 taxa on Korean Oldenlandia L. was investigated by LM and SEM. The pollen grains were monads, 20.7-36.0 m in polar length, with an equatorial diameter of 21.0-38.4 m. The pollen shapes were oblate-spheroidal or spherical (P/E ratio 0.93-1.00). The apertures numbered 3-7 in number, colporate in shape, with a colpus length of 4.2-20.4 m and a colpus width of 2.6-3.4 m. The sexine was 0.9-2.4 m in terms of its thickness, the surface pattern was reticulate, scabrate or neither. Based on these results, the size of the pollen grain, the number of apertures, and the surface pattern of the sexine were all useful for an interspecific classification. The genus Neanotis, established via the pollen characteristics, was thought to be reviewed in its entity regarding the continuous variation of generic characteristics.

Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and A. scoparia Waldst. & Kit. are classified by their root shape, leaf size and capitulum size. However, these characteristics are not nearly as useful when attempting to identify the two species owing to the continuous variation in them. Another important taxonomic characteristics is the habit, whether it is the subshrubs or perennial herbs of A. capillaris Thunb. or the annual or biennial herbs of A. scoparia Waldst. & Kit.. All observed specimens and living individuals in Korea are subshrubs or perennial herbs, and annual or biennial examples are not found. Therefore, it is considered that A. scoparia Waldst. & Kit. is not distributed in Korea.

The external morphological characters of the Korean Oldenlandia were reviewed, and numerical analysis of 25 quantitative characters carried out to evaluate the delimitation of the taxa. Among the qualitative characters, the leaf shape, inflorescence, pilose of insde corolla, expansion of capsule apex, and seed shape were used to delimit 5 species of Korean Oldenlandia. As the result of principal component analysis of quantitative characters, O. corymbosa, O. hirsuta and O. strigulosa were evidently separated on a two-dimensional plot by PC1 and PC2, and O. brachypoda and O. diffusa slightly overlapped. However, O. brachypoda was distinctly delimited from O. diffusa by the shape of calyx lobe, the lengths of pedicel, filament and stigma. Also each of those two species was in a group of its own by cluster analysis.

The somatic chromosome number of four Korean species of Leontopodium were investigated. The chromosome number of L. leiolepis (2n = 24) is reported here as for the first time. The chromosome number of L. japonicum (2n = 28) is not varied among the 3 populations on the Korean Peninsula, but that condition is different from the previous reports for Korea (2n = 26) and Japan (2n = 21, 26). L. hallaisanense and L. japonicum, both of which are in sect. Nobilia and similar to each other in gross morphology, have the same chromosome number of 2n = 28. On the other hand the chromosome number of Korean L. leontopodioides (2n = 24) is different from that in Russian reports (2n = 26). The chromosome numbers of all Korean species of the genus Leontopodium could be inferred as tetraploid or aneuploid.

An unrecorded species of Oldenlandia brachypoda DC. is newly reported from Seogwipo-si, Jejudo, This species is distinguished from Oldenlandia diffusa, the related taxa by the surface and length of the pedicel, the number of flowerd, the shape of the calyx and capsule. The new Korean name 'je-ju-baeg-un-pul', was given considering the collect locality. The illustration, description and key of characters are provided.

This study was intended to investigate the capitulum morphology and to evaluate its taxonomic importance within the 23 taxa of Korean Artemisia L. The Korean Artemisia was classified into sterile subg. Dracunculus and fertile subg. Artemisia by the fertility of the disk florets, which is the traditional diagnostic character of subgenera. There are sections in subg. Artemisia: sect. Absinthium with a densely, sparsely hairy receptacle, and sect. Abrotanum and sect. Artemisia with a glabrous receptacle. However, A. fukudo and A. sacrorum belonging to sect. Abrotanum, and A. viridissima belonging to sect. Artemisia were observed to have sparsely hairy receptacles. Therefore, the presence of hair on a receptacle, which is now regarded as a key character distinguishing sections, has to be reevaluated. The whole shape and size of the capitulum, the characteristic of the stigma apex, the hair on the involucral bract, and the shape of the central or peripheral floret are thought to be the most valuable characters to consider in recognizing species.

Somatic chromosome numbers for 20 taxa of Korean Artemisia L. were investigated for the purpose of classification. Somatic chromosome numbers of treated taxa were 2n = 16, 18, 34, 36, 50, 52, 54, and therefore their basic chromosome numbers were x = 8, 9, 10, 13, 17. The chromosome number of A. japonica var. angustissima is being reported for the first time in this study. The chromosome numbers of 13 taxa were the same as in previous reports; A. capillaris (2n = 18), A. japonica var. hallaisanensis (2n = 36), A. japonica subsp. littoricola (2n = 36), A. annua (2n = 18), A. carvifolia (2n = 18), A. fukudo (2n = 16), A. keiskeana (2n = 18), A. stolonifera (2n = 36), A. sylvatica(2n = 16), A. selengensis (2n = 36), A. montana (2n = 52), A. lancea (2n = 16), A. sieversiana (2n = 18); however, the chromosome numbers of 6 taxa were different; A. japonica var. japonica (2n = 18, 36 vs 2n = 36), A. sacrorum (2n = 18, 54 vs 2n = 54), A. rubripes (2n = 16, 34 vs 2n = 16), A. indica (2n = 34, 36 vs 2n = 34), A. codonocephala (2n = 18, 50, 54 vs 2n = 50), A. argyi (2n = 34, 36, 50 vs 2n =34). The somatic chromosome numbers of Korean Artemisia are thought to be good characteristics for classifying some taxa such as A. japonica var. japonica, A. sacrorum, A. codonocephala, A. argyi, A. montana, A. sylvatica.

Background: Owing to their high volatile aroma, the dried rhizomes of Cnidium officinale ( C. officinale ) and Ligusticum chuanxiong ( L. chuanxiong ) are used as herbal drugs to treat blood pressure depressant, a deficiency disease of antivitamin, inhibition of small intestine sympathetic nerve and as cosmetics for skin care. However, little has been known about the protective effect of their essential oils against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced DNA damage. Methods : In this study, we report antioxidant activity of their essential oils using DPPH and ABTS scavenging assay. In addition, the composition of essential oils was measured by GC/MS. We also investigated whether these essential oils could inhibit UVB-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in the mammalian cell using intracellular DNA migration and expression level of phospho-H2A.X. Results : Twenty constituents in the essential oil were identified and they showed good antioxidant properties, in that IC 50 value in DPPH and ABTS showed 6.79 and 7.33μg/ml and 1.58 and 1.58μg/ml in C. officinale and L. chuanxiong . Their treatment inhibited the migration of damaged DNA induced by UV-B; furthermore, they decreased p21 expression and increased cyclin D1 expression as apoptosis-regulatory genes. Conclusions : These results suggest that essential oils in C. officinale and L. chuanxiong may exert inhibitory effects on DNA damage and apoptosis induced by UVB through their high free radical scavenging ability.