• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2022

Background: Plant vegetation appears in heterogeneous and patchy forms in arid and semi-arid regions. In these regions, underneath the plant patches and the empty spaces between them are covered by biological soil crusts (moss, lichen, cyanobacteria, and fungi). Biological soil crusts lead to the formation and development of fertile islands in between vegetation patches via nitrogen and carbon fixation and the permeation of runoff water and nutrients in the soil. Results: The present study has investigated the association of biological soil crusts, the development of fertile islands, and the formation of plant patches in part of the Takht-e Soltan protected area, located in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. Three sites were randomly selected as the working units and differentiated based on their geomorphological characteristics to the alluvial fan, hillslope, and fluvial terrace landforms. Two-step systematic random sampling was conducted along a 100-meter transect using a 5 m² plot at a 0-5 cm depth in three repetitions. Fifteen samplings were carried out at each site with a total of 45 samples taken. The results showed that the difference in altitude has a significant relationship with species diversity and decreases with decreasing altitude. Results have revealed that the moisture content of the site, with biocrust has had a considerable increase compared to the other sites, helping to form vegetation patterns and fertile islands. Conclusions: The findings indicated that biological crusts had impacted the allocation of soil parameters. They affect the formation of plant patches by increasing the soil's organic carbon, nitrogen, moisture and nutrient content provide a suitable space for plant growth by increasing the soil fertility in the inter-patch space.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.27-45
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• 2017

A taxonomic study of the genus Hosta (Lilliaceae) in Korea was conducted based on morphological characteristics. Hosta clausa varieties share several characteristics (rhizomes with underground stolons, smooth scapes, and purple anthers). Hosta clausa var. normalis has an open perianth, long pistils, and fertile fruit. H. clausa var. clausa can be distinguished from H. clausa var. normalis by its closed perianth and sterile fruit. H. clausa var. geumgangensis has sterile fruit, green petioles, short pistils, and short narrow perianth tubes. H. clausa var. ensata has very narrow, sword-shaped leaves. It can be included in H. clausa var. normalis, which has a large degree of variation in leaf and petiole shape. H. jonesii has smooth scapes, yellow anthers, and bell-shaped flowers. It can be distinguished from the related species H. tsushimensis found on the Tushima islands in Japan by its wide perianth tube. H. yingeri is distinguished by its funnel-shaped flowers, 3 long and 3 short stamens, and smooth scape; the related species H. laevigata has 6 equally-sized stamens, narrowly lanceolate leaves, and wavy leaf margins. Because H. laevigata is not found in its type locality Isl. Heugsando, its taxonomic position must be determined at a later time. H. minor shares several characteristics (scapes with ridges and yellow-colored anthers) with the related taxa H. venusta. However, H. venusta is changed to H. minor var. venusta because it has overlapping characteristics in plant size, number of flowers, leaf size, and leaf shape. Consequently, the genus Hosta in Korea is classified into 5 species, 3 varieties, and 6 forms.