• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 2020

Korean Sedum formosanum N. E. Br. (Ju-geog-nip-gaet-bi-reum in Korean) was first recorded in 1887, 133 years ago. Since then, the species has not been collected and its current state has remained unclear. However, these plants were collected in 2020 and the corresponding taxonomic entity and distribution status were revealed. It is known to be distributed only in the southern region of Japan, the northern islands of the Philippines, and in Taiwan, with Taiwan being the collection site of the type specimen. However, on the basis of the findings of the fourth national natural environment survey, it has recently been established that this plant also grows in the crevices of rocks along the seashores of the Korean islands of Hataedo Island and Sangtaedo Island, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do. S. formosanum inhabiting Korea is a large succulent biennial that can attain a height of up to 65 cm and differs from its congeneric species in having erect follicles during the fruiting period. Notably, among the Korean Sedum species, S. formosanum is most similar to S. tosaense, although it can be distinguished from this species with respect to its monomorphic leaves that have rounded apices, and it also bears separate flowering and sterile stems. In this paper, we present a description and photographs of the Korean S. formosanum, indicate the differences between this and related species, and provide a key to related taxa.