• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.24-36
• /
• 2018

A morphological and molecular survey was conducted to determine the taxonomic status of Saussurea maximowiczii var. triceps on Jejudo Island. Although it tends to be smaller than S. maximowiczii with regard to typical quantitative characters of vegetative organs, including the plant height and leaf size, these two taxa cannot be distinguished from each other based on major reproductive characters, including the involucre and florets. Molecular data support the contention that S. triceps and S. maximowiczii are monophyletic taxa. Saussurea maximowiczii var. triceps is found to be an ecological phenotype of S. maximowiczii that has adapted particularly to the windy highlands of Hallasan Mountain on Jejudo Island.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.144-155
• /
• 2011

The infraspecific taxa of Adonis amurensis Regel et Radde are currently known to include one subspecies (subsp. nanus Y. Lee), two varieties (var. ramosa Makino, and var. dissectipetalis Y. Lee) and two forms (for. argentatus Y. Lee, and for. viridescensicalyx Y. Lee). Among them, the remaining three taxa except for subsp. nanus and var. dissectipetalis are unified with A. amurensis. Therefore, we examined the morphological characteristics and geographical distribution of A. amurensis in effort to elucidate the taxonomic status of subsp. nanus and var. dissectipetalis. After the subsp. nanus samples had been transplanted from their type locality, i.e. highland at more than 1,000 m above sea level, to a lowland habitat, we measured the samples' morphological characteristics. The range of values we recorded of the plant height and floral diameter from the subsp. nanus samples were within the parameters used to characterize A. amurensis. Accordingly, subsp. nanus has been characterized as an ecophene of A. amurensis. It is considered as a synonym of A. amurensis. Among the populations of A. amurensis (sensu Y.Lee, author), those with highly dissected petals at their apices have previously been described as var. dissectipetalis. However, this characteristic has been observed together with obtuse or rounded petal apices not only in one population but also in a single individual. However, populations with these characteristics belong to A. pseudoamurensis due to the simultaneous development of leaves and flowers, branched stems, acute leaf apices, and petals that are shorter than sepals. Therefore, we suggest that A. amurensis var. dissectipetalis be unified with A. pseudoamurensis. Very useful characteristics for distinguishing A. amurensis from its relative species are anthesis, the presence or absence of branches, the development of scales into normal leaves, the relative length of the sepals and petals, and the position of the stipules. A. amurensis is geographically restricted to E. Asia, including E. Siberia, and especially on the Korean Peninsula, it is distributed throughout the northern provinces of Gyeonggi province and in Gangwon province, Gyeongbuk province (Mt. Bohyeon-san) and Jeonbuk province (Mt Jeoksang-san) along Baekdudaegan mountain.