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Aconitum quelpaertense Nakai is an endemic species of Jeju Island of South Korea. Here, we characterized complete chloroplast genome sequence of A. quelpaertense and inferred its phylogenetic position within the genus Aconitum. The complete chloroplast genome was 155,636 bp in length with typical quadripartite structure. Length of large single copy was 86,695 bp, whereas small single copy was 17,087 bp. A pair of inverted repeats were 25,927 bp. In total, 128 genes were encoded and comprising 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. rpl32 and rps16 genes were pseudogenized in this plastome. The phylogenetic analysis based on complete chloroplast genome sequences showed that A. quelpaertense was closely related to another endemic species of South Korea, A. pseudolaeve.

Aconitum carmichaelii var. truppelianum (Ulbr.) W.T.Wang & P.K.Hsiao [Korean name: 송이바꽃 (Song-I-ba-kkot)] is known to be distributed in China and Vietnam. However, 25 populations of this species were found along the midwestern coasts of Korean Peninsula for the first time. This species is similar to A. carmichaelii Debeaux var. carmichaelii and A. kusnezoffii Rchb. in possessing characters such as an erect stem and panicle-raceme inflorescence. Nevertheless, it can be distinguished from these species by its densely spreading pubescence on the rachis, pedicels, and carpels. The aim of this study was to provide a morphological description, photographs, illustrations, information on distribution areas, and a taxonomic key for A. carmichaelii var. truppelianum and related taxa.

In the present study, we report two lepidopteran pests and their damage on the cones of Abies koreana E. H. Wilson from Mt. Halla, Jeju, South Korea: Cydia kamijoi Oku and Dioryctria abietella (Denis & Schiffermüller). The former is new to Korea, and the latter is well known as an insect pest on cones of various coniferous trees. Larvae of these species bore into the immature cones of the host tree. Damaged cones can be easily distinguished by reddish brown frass piled around the holes that were made by the moths, and the cones that are severely damaged become crooked and eventually are folded in half. The average damage rate on the cones was 75.3±2.34% from the survey sites in 2014, but the insect damage could not be found again from the sites as the host did not bear any cones in 2015. Descriptions and images of C. kamijoi and D. abietella are provided along with a list of host species and distribution.