Biosystematic Study on the Genus Viola in Korea - Comparative Morphology of the Viola albida Complex -

한국산 제비꽃속의 종분화론적 연구 - 태백제비꽃군의 비교형태학적 연구 -

The main objective of this study was to clarify the taxonomic status and the speciation mechanism of Viola albida complex in Korea. The complex includes three very closely related taxa, taxonomic ranks of which are much in dispute. These taxa in the complex are sympatric in distribution, and they are very similar in most morphological characteristics. Comparative morphological analyses revealed that they can be distinguished on the basis of leaf shape, although they show complicated patterns of variation in leaf shape. The variation of leaf shape in each taxon appeared to be maintained through developmental process, and extensive cleistogamy and vegetative reproduction in these taxa are suggested as the mechanisms maintaining the variation. Genetic variation in this complex was monomorphic in all 14 loci examined. Palynological study also showed that these taxa have the same pollen morphology. These results strongly suggested that they should be recognized as varieties of V. albida; var, albida, var. chaerophylloides, and var. takahashii. The results also suggested that some individuals that can be assigned to var. takahashii might be hybrids between var. albida and var. chaerophylloides.