• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.99-114
• /
• 2005

Chromosome number, morphological variation and RAPD analysis were investigated to study on the speciation of Indigofera in Korea. Chromosome numbers of I. kirilowii (2n=16) and I. koreana (2n=32) are consistent with the previous reports. In this study tetraploid (2n=32) and hexaploid (2n=48) of I. grandiflora are newly observed. Indigofera grandiflora is distributed around Mt. Kaya area together with I. kirilowii and I. koreana. The former species has the larger sizes in plant height, leaves and flowers than the latter two and shows intermediate form between the two species in hairs on leaves and flowers which are one of the most important taxonomic characters in this group. In the RAPD analysis, I. grandiflora is similar to I. koreana than I. kirilowii but RAPD band patterns revealed difference between tetra- and hexaploid of the species. These results suggested that Korean endemic species of I. grandiflora (2n=16, 32, 48) might has multiple origin through polyploidization and/or hybridization between I. kirilowii (2n=16) and I. koreana (2n=32) around Mt. Kaya area where the latter two grow together.