• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2023

A northern lineage plant, Stellaria filicaulis (Caryophyllaceae), was newly found in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do of South Korea. This species is distributed in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. On the Korean Peninsula, St. filicaulis, however, has been known to grow in North Korea. Species identification was confirmed using morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data, while comparing with materials obtained from herbarium specimens. Stellaria filicaulis is distinguished from St. longifolia by having smooth surface of stem, petals about twice longer than sepals. On the neighbor-joining tree, St. filicaulis formed a clade, and the species is closely related to St. longifolia of the Parviflorae clade. Details of the morphological characters, the type specimens, voucher specimens data, and photographs of St. filicaulis in South Korea are presented. In addition, it is likely that a new habitat will be found by plant biodiversity field surveys through the middle part of the Korean Peninsula. Further research is needed to determine its population size, distribution, and threats, as well as identify appropriate locations for conservation collection of germplasm.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.171-202
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• 2024

If the plant genetic resources and information-sharing systems held by arboretums worldwide are effectively utilized, it is believed that a conservation system for plant diversity in the currently inaccessible North Korean region could be established. This study was conducted to review the scientific names of plants native to North Korea but not to South Korea and to assess the status of genetic resources held in domestic and international arboretums. To compile a list and status of North Korean plant's genetic resources, updated checklists of vascular plants in Korean Peninsula and online plant information databases were consulted to compile synonym, distribution range, and other related information. A total of 486 taxa (449 species, 13 subspecies, 21 varieties, 1 forma and 2 hybrids) from 236 genera and 64 families, representing 12.34% of the total native flora of the Korean Peninsular were presented in the North Korea plant list, and the presence of rare, endemic and northern lineage species was confirmed. It was found that 384 taxa from 190 genera, 53 families of North Korean plants are held as genetic resources in 333 arboretums and plant research institutions across 46 countries and 5 continents worldwide. This study is expected to contribute to the construction and application of a species list for plants native to the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the growth and physiological responses of Iris laevigata Fisch. to shading treatments in order to suggest optimal light conditions for ex-situ conservation of the northern lineage plants. For this purpose, a control plant receiving full sunlight and different shading treatments (50%, 75%, 95%) were installed, and leaf mass per area, chlorophyll content and fluorescence response, and photosynthetic characteristics were investigated. I. laevigata developed leaves with higher photosynthetic efficiency to adapt to lower light intensity as shading levels increased. Chlorophyll content increased with increasing shading levels, and leaf mass per area decreased with increasing leaf area. The chlorophyll fluorescence responses Fv/Fm and NPQ did not change with shading, and the activity of the carbon fixation system did not differ between treatments. I. laevigata exhibited a light-saturation point equivalent to that of sun plants and maintained photosynthetic capacity similar to that of controls up to 75% shading. The apparent quantum yield of I. laevigata decreased significantly at 95% shading, indicating adaptation to lower light conditions. It seems that the photosynthetic capacity of I. laevigata decreases when grown under 95% shading level compared to full sunlight, and it is judged that the longer the light is restricted by continuous shading, the more unfavorable the growth will be.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2009

Astilbe (Saxifragaceae) is a genus well known for its disjunctive distribution in Asia and eastern North America. In this study, we reconstructed a molecular phylogeny of the genus using the sequences of ITS regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. A total of 17 species representing major lineage of Astilbe and closely related taxa were included in the phylogenetic analyses. We obtained a Bayesian phylogenetic tree in which Saxifragopsis was positioned as a sister group to Astilbe. The Japanese endemic species, A.platyphylla was the most basal lineage within the genus. This species is well known for its distinct morphological features such as unisexual flowers, apetaly, and calyx with 7-11 lobes. Two species, A. biternata, a New World representative of the genus, and A. rivularis widely distributed in S. Asia, branched off early in the evolution of Astilbe. The remaining species formed a strongly supported core clade, which diverged into two robust geographical lineages: the first ("Japonica" clade) of species distributed in Japan, Taiwan, and Philippines and the other ("Rubra" clade), of taxa in China and Korea. The ITS phylogeny indicates that the Bering land bridges were the major route for the origin and dispersal of A. biternata. The two Taiwanese taxa and A. philippinensis were found to derive from the Japanese member, as the genus advanced southwards. The ITS phylogeny suggests that apetaly originated independently at least two times within the genus. Our results do not support Engler's classification system of the genus based on the leaf type (simple vs. compound), but reaffirm Hara's taxonomic idea which primarily considered the features of calyx.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.259-272
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• 2022

Background: The Korean Peninsula exhibits a characteristic graded floral distribution, with northern (Manchurian flora) and southern (China-Japan-Korea flora) lineage species coexisting according to climatic and topographical characteristics. However, this distribution has been altered by climate change. To identify ecosystem changes caused by climate change and develop appropriate measures, the current ecological status of the entire Korean Peninsula should first be determined; however, analysis of the current floral distribution in North Korea has been hampered for political reasons. To overcome these limitations, this study constructed a database of floral distributions in both South and North Korea by integrating spatial information from the previously established National Ecological Survey in South Korea and geocoding data from the literature on biological distributions published in North Korea. It was then applied to analyze the current status and distribution characteristics of Manchurian and China-Japan-Korea plant species on the Korean Peninsula. Results: In total, 45,877 cases were included in the Manchurian and China-Japan-Korea floral distribution database. China-Japan-Korea species were densely distributed on Jeju-do and along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The distribution density decreased as the latitude increased, and the distributions reached higher-latitude regions in the coastal areas compared with the inland regions. Manchurian species were distributed throughout North Korea, while they were densely distributed in the refugia formed in the high-elevation mountain regions and the Baekdudaegan in South Korea. In the current distribution of biomes classified according to the Whittaker method, subtropical and endemic species were densely distributed in temperate seasonal forest and woodland/shrubland biomes, whereas boreal species were densely distributed in the boreal forest biome Korean Peninsula, with a characteristic gradation of certain species distributed in the temperate seasonal forest biome. Factor analysis showed that temperature and latitude were the main factors influencing the distribution of flora on the Korean Peninsula. Conclusions: The findings reported herein on the current floral distribution trends across the entire Korean Peninsula will prove valuable got mitigating the ecological disturbances caused by ongoing climate change. Additionally, the gathered flora data will serve as a basis for various follow-up studies on climate change.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.2
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• pp.198-209
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of light intensity, manipulated through different shading levels, on the growth and physiological responses of Thermopsis lupinoides. To assess the effects of shading treatments, we examined leaf mass per area, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence response, and photosynthetic characteristics. T. lupinoidesexhibited adaptive responses under low light conditions (50% shading), showing increased leaf area and decreased leaf mass per area as shading levels increased. These changes indicate morpho-physiological adaptations to reduced light availability. At 50% shading, the physiological and ecological responses were favorable, with optimal photosynthetic functions including chlorophyll content, photosynthesis saturation point, photosynthetic rate, carbon fixation efficiency, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency. However, at 95% shading, the essential light conditions for growth were not met, significantly impairing photosynthetic functions. Consequently, 50% shading was determined to be the most optimal condition for T. lupinoides growth. These findings provide valuable insights for effective ex-situconservation practices and site selection for T. lupinoides, serving as foundational data for habitat restoration efforts.