• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.350-356
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• 2015

Abeliophyllum distichum is a monotypic taxon of Oleaceae and endemic to Korea. A comprehensive study on embryogeny and fruit and seed coat ontogeny in Abeliophyllum was carried out via microtome and light microscopy. The fertilization occurs during mid– to late April and embryo matures by early July. The embryo development follows the general fashion from globular embryo – transition embryo – heart shaped embryo – torpedo embryo – walking-stick embryo to mature embryo. The pericarp clearly differentiates into three histological zones: exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The young seed comprises 10-12 cells thick seed coat and the mature seed coat comprises an exotesta, 6-8 mesotesta and an endotesta. Any crystals, phenolic-like compounds, idioblasts, and the sclereids are not found in pericarp as well as seed coat. An overall development confirms Solanade type of embryogenesis in Abeliophyllum. The endocarp becomes more prominent in mature fruit and all the layers of endocarp are highly lignified. On the basis of mechanical layer the seed coat is of exotestal type.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2006

Prunus choreiana, invalidly published without Latin description in the original text, is validated here. The species has been known as a Korean endemic plant species of deciduous shrub, and a typical calciferous plant mainly distributed in Pyeongnam Province and Hamnam Province, North Korea. However, recently new population was reported from Mt. Myon and another new population is reported here from Mt. Jabyeong in Gangwon-do.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.456-474
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• 2015

We have investigated the flora of Yeongheungdo Island in Ongjin-gun, Incheon. A total of 13 separate field trips were carried out from March 2012 to October 2013. As a result, 302 taxa including 80 families, 211 genera, 261 species, 6 subspecies, 31 varieties and 4 forms were identified. These include the following: 1 taxon protected under the Act on the Protection and Management of Wildlife, 3 Korean endemic taxa, 8 floristic indicator species including 2 taxa of grade V, 3 of grade II and 3 of grade I, 33 naturalized taxa with the naturalization rate of 10.9% and 1 northern taxon vulnerable to climate change.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.146-156
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• 2023

Background: Endemic species are important components in the flora of most world regions. Most of these species have become threatened and exposed to extinction within the last few years. The present study aims to evaluate the ecosystem services offered by the endemic plant taxa in Egypt and the threats that affect them. Twenty-five field visits were conducted during summer 2018 to spring 2022 to several locations all over Egypt. In each location, the main habitats, national distribution, abundance, goods and threats were recorded. Results: Egypt has 41 endemic taxa belonging to 36 genera and 20 families inhabiting 10 main habitats. Rocky surfaces and sandy formations have the highest number of endemic species. The relation between the number of endemic taxa and the abundance categories indicated that 2 taxa are rare (4.9% of the total taxa), while the remaining were very rare (95%). The most represented offered good was the medicinal uses (32 taxa = 78%), while fuel plants were only represented by 2 taxa (2 taxa = 4.9%). Besides, 14 taxa (34.1% of the total studied taxa) have at least 1 environmental service. Soil fertility (7 taxa = 50%) was the most represented, followed by sand accumulations (6 taxa out of 14 taxa = 43%), while shading plant was the least (1 taxon = 7.1%) (Rosa arabica). The most represented threat is over-cutting and over-collecting (38 taxa = 92.7%), while mining and quarrying is the least represented (4 taxa = 9.8%). Conclusions: The potential and actual goods, services and threats of the endemic taxa were assessed as follows; field observation, information collected from local inhabitants and herbalists, and a literature review. The present study recommended planning a strategy about the importance, threats and conservation of endemic taxa in Egypt that would help in the protection and rescue of these plants and increase awareness about the importance of these plants.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.342-346
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• 2006

Anatomical characters of the Bupleurum latissimum Nakai, an endemic species of Korea, were investigated to confirm its phylogenetic relationships. Compare to other species with anatomical characters, B. latissimum is very similar with B, euphorbioides and B, longeradiatum in point of lacking of pith in the stem, shape of involucres, number of vascular bundles in radical leaf and cauline leaf, and lacking stomata in adaxial leaf surface. The other hand, protruded pollen aperture character appears in B. latissimum and B. euphorbioides. On the based of anatomical characters, therefore, B. latissimum has closest relationships with B. euphorbioides and B. longeradiatum. It also needs molecular study including Asian species in order to confirm phylogenetic position and speciation process apparently.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 2021

Veronica nakaiana Ohwi (Plantaginaceae) is an endemic taxon on Ulleungdo Island, Korea. We report the second complete chloroplast genome sequence of V. nakaiana. Its genome size is 152,319 bp in length, comprising a large single-copy of 83,195 bp, a small single-copy of 17,702 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 25,711 bp. The complete genome contains 115 genes, including 51 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 31 tRNA genes. When comparing the two chloroplast genomes of V. nakaiana, 11 variable sites are recognized: seven SNPs and four indels. Two substitutions in the coding regions are recognized: rpoC2 (synonymous substitution) and rpl22 (nonsynonymous substitution). In nine noncoding regions, one is in the tRNA gene (trnK-UUU), one is in the intron of atpF, and seven are in the intergenic spacers (trnH-GUG~psbA, trnK-UUU, rps16~trnQ-UUG, trnC-GCA~petN, psbZ~trnG-GCC, ycf3~trnS-GGA, ycf4~cemA, and psbB~psbT). The data provide the level of genetic variation in V. nakaiana. This result will be a useful resource to formulate conservation strategies for V. nakaiana, which is a rare endemic species in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2020

Tofieldia ulleungensis, a new species of the genus Tofieldia from the Nari Basin on Ulleungdo Island, Korea, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to T. yoshiiana var. koreana in terms of the plant height and in that it has having a long raceme, whitish tepals, and whitish stigma, but can be readily distinguished from the latter by the presence of 1-2 linear cauline leaves, a slightly bent leaf apex, basal leaves which are twice as wide, a shorter pedicel, a revolute style, and crescent-shaped seeds.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.345-352
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• 2023

Antibacterial activity against foodborne bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis) and inhibitory activity against murine norovirus, a human norovirus surrogate, of 28 extracts from plants endemic to Korea were investigated in this study. All plant extracts showed antibacterial activity only against gram-positive bacteria, B. cereus and S. aureus. Extracts from Callistemon speciosus and Nymphaea tetragona showed inhibition zones of 16.54 and 24.35 mm against B. cereus and S. aureus, respectively, presenting the highest antibacterial activities recorded in this study. Among all samples, Ardisia japonica extract at concentrations of 100 and 200 ㎍/mL showed the highest virucidal activities of 96.6 and 100.0%, respectively. Ardisia japonica, Duchesnea indica, Polygonum aviculare, and Geum japonicum extracts showed high antibacterial and virucidal activity simultaneously without Raw 264.7 cell cytotoxicity. These plant extracts may serve as potential antimicrobials to control foodborne infections.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.42-58
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• 2009

This study was carried out to survey the vascular plants of the construct-reserved site of ecological forest in Kohang-ri, Sangri-myeon, Yecheon-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. The results are as follows. The vascular plants in this site were recorded as 392 taxa; 85 families, 254 genera, 341 species, 45 varieties and 6 forma. The Korean endemic plants were 5 taxa; Salix hallaisanensis, Clematis trichotoma, Chrysosplenium barbatum, Philadelphus schrenckii and Weigela subsessilis. The rare plants designated by Korea Forest Service were 2 taxa; Iris ensata var. spontanea and Aristolochia contorta. The naturalized plants were 25 taxa; Bromus tectorum, Dactylis glomerata, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Bilderdykia dumetora and so forth. In the results of analysis by floristic region, the specific plants were summarized as 31 taxa; Matteuccia struthiopteris, Oxalis obtriangulata, Betula davurica, Cimicifuga heracleifolia and so forth. The plants with approval for delivering oversea were 4 taxa; Salix hallaisanensis, Aristolochia controrta, Clematis trichotoma and Chrysosplenium barbatum. The plant resources were 186 taxa of ornamental plant, 241 taxa of edible plant, 274 taxa of medicinal plant and 202 taxa of others.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2021

Background and objective: This study was conducted on Forsythia velutina, a special plant, in Gyeongsangnam-do Arboretum under the Gyeongsangnam-do Forest Environment Research Institute, which is located in the southern part of Korea. Methods: The research aimed to analyze the flowering characteristics of the plant by calculating the optimal temperature and humidity according to the flowering time and flowering period for 8 years from 2010 to 2017 in order to provide basic data for bioclimate studies of endemic plants. Results: It was observed that the Forsythia velutina showed a life cycle from mid-March and to mid-November. Average growth period was 243 (± 6.5) days. In testing the reliability of a single variable according to the meteorological factors, the Cronbach's Alpha was 0.701, which indicates that the findings were relatively reliable. The average date of flowering was March 16 (SD = 5.8) and the average date on which blossoms fall was March 29 (SD = 5.2). A substantial difference in flowering period was observed from year to year 11 to 23 days, with an average of 16 days (± 4.7). The temperature and humidity in February to March, which affect the flowering, were 2.9-5.5℃, and 66.5-73.0%, respectively, and showed differences every year. Conclusion: The correlation between flowering time and meteorological factors was positive, and the highest daily temperature and average daily temperature had the highest significance. When establishing basic data on plant species for the conservation of endemic plants, the changes in life cycle events and weather conditions are identified. It is believed that it will be helpful in establishing a conservation strategy for the plant species in the future.