• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-80
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• 2005

Morphological variation of Quercus L. subgen. Quercus in Korea was examined by numerical methods including principal components analysis of major morphological characters. Principal components analysis revealed the presence of five major species groups of the subgen. Quercus in Korea; these include 1) a group consisiting of Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis individuals, 2) Q. dentata, 3) Q. aliena, 4) Q. mongolica, and 5) Q. serrata. The putative interspecific hybrid individuals occupied intermediate position between the putative parent species in the PCA plot. The analysis also strongly suggested that size and shape of leaf blade and teeth or lobes, twig diameter, size and shape of nuts, and length and width of scales are very useful in distinguishing the species and the putative hybrids of the subgen. Quercus.