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To understand the variation limit of taxomomic characters, the Korean Astilbe species were reviewed exomorphologically. Based on the results, it was revealed that two types of trichomes on young shoots and inflorescence rachises are most important characters for identifying Astilbe species: multicellular long nonglandular hair and multicellular short glandular hair. On the basis of type specimens, original descriptions, and relevant articles, Astilbe chinensis is a more reasonable scientific name than Astilbe rubra. The restricted natural habitats, such as high rocky terrains of Mt. Halla-san, shorter or smaller vegetative organs, distinctly shorter primary and secondary inflorescence rachises, and larger size of flowers and floral organs made it possible to distinguish Astilbe taquetii from other species. Astilbe koreana is also verified, with its identity distinguished from other species by having one rhizomatous leaf and dense multicellular short glandular hairs on the young shoot, stem, and inflorescence. Because the angle between the secondary leaf axes and the extent to which the secondary inflorescence axis droops showed great variations among species and even in a species, it could not be used as diagnostic characters. Keywords: Astilbe chinensis, Astilbe koreana, Astilbe rubra, Astilbe taquetii, Morphological characters

The composition of monocotyledonous geophytes of the Fergana Valley, one of the most densely populated regions of Middle Asia, consisting of 206 species, 27 genera, and 10 families was documented. Among them, four species were detected for the first time in the Uzbekistan flora and eight species were added to the composition of the mountain ridges surrounding the valley. The major families are Amaryllidaceae (84; 40.77%), Liliaceae (63; 30.58%), Iridaceae (22; 10.67%), and Asphodelaceae (13; 6.46%). The flora is dominated by the Mountain Middle Asian elements—136 species that are 67% of all monocotyledonous geophytes of the Fergana Valley. Forty-five species are endemic or subendemic species of the Fergana Valley. Twenty-two species of them are included in The Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Keywords: Flora, Geophytes, Fergana Valley, Mountain Central Asia, Endemic

Variation or constancy in the chromosome number within taxa of different categories have been proven to be important characters for taxonomic groupings. In order to expand the current knowledge on somatic chromosome numbers of South Korean vascular plants, chromosome counts were made for 50 species (38 genera of 17 families). The first chromosome information for Glaux maritima var. obtusifolia Fernald, Hemerocallis hakuunensis Nakai, Hylotelephium verticillatum (L.) H. Ohba, Orostachys iwarenge f. magnus Y.N. Lee, and Teucrium viscidum var. miquelianum (Maxim.) Hara is presented. New chromosome numbers compared with previous studies are also counted in Aconitum pseudolaeve Nakai, Securinega suffruticosa (Pall.) Rehder, and Tricyrtis macropoda Miq., respectively. In addition, Eupatorium japonicum Thunb. is proven to show polyploidy with tetra- and pentaploid. Among studied species, the diploids (66%) and tetraploids (24%) prevail.

The distribution of native plants of Cheondeungsan Mountain (807 m, N 37°05'00“–37°05'30”, E 128°00'0“–128°02'0”) in Chungcheongbuk-do was determined and the major flora were identified. During field investigations carried out from May 2011 to October 2011, 87 families, 254 genera, and 369 taxonomic groups (327 species, 4 subspecies, 33 varieties, and 5 forms) were confirmed, and the distribution of 219 taxonomic groups was discovered for the first time. The distribution of four endemic plants of Korea, including Ajuga spectabilis Nakai and Salvia chanryoenica Nakai, and that of Penthorum chinense Pursh, a Grade V specific plant species, was found. There were 20 taxa of naturalized plants at Cheondeungsan; the growth and development of plants that are harmful to the ecosystem, such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Ambrosia trifida L., Eupatorium rugosum Houtt., and Aster pilosus Willd., was observed around the forest paths and lowlands.

The flora of Chilgapsan Provincial Park in Cheongyang-gun (Chungcheongnam-do), Korea was surveyed from 2000 to 2014. In 19 field surveys, vascular plants were revealed 490 taxa belonging to 97 families, 309 genera, 433 species, four subspecies, 48 varieties, and five forms. Plants of various categories were discovered in this study. For the Korean endemic plants 15 taxa were recorded, and 11 taxa designated by the Korean Forest Service as rare plants were investigated in this region. The plants above the third degree among the floristic regional indicator plants designated by the Korean Ministry of Environment were 10 taxa. In addition, 33 taxa of naturalized and 73 taxa of cultivated plants were recorded.