A study on distribution of plant communities around chunji in a crater on mt. paektu

백두산 분화구내 천지 주변의 식물 군락 분포에 관한 연구

We investigated major plant communities and seed dispersal patterns in areas a(alt. 2,263 ~2,350m),b(alt. 2,350~2,420m), c(alt. 2,420m) with levels of a crater on mt. paektu. Thirty two species distributed around chunji consisted of 24 perennial herbs, 1 biennial herb and 7 alpine dwarf shurbs. Their fruit types were quite diverse; capsule(11), achene(10), grain(4), legume(2), follicle(2), schizocarp(2) and drupe(1). in area a, adjancent to the chunji(lake) water surface, gramineae sp., cyperaceae sp., chrysanthemum zawadskii and bistorta ochotensis were occured as members of the major plant communities. Species of gramineae and cyperaceae seem to have become dominant because their seeds float well. Astragalus membranaceus is legume and endures the winter cold and summer drought. in area c, alpine dwarf shrubs (e. g.rhododendron redowskianum, rhododendron aureum, empetrum nigrum) were dominant. In area c, compared to a and b, the weather is drier because of strong wind and lower water holding capacity of the soil. Therefore the pattern of plants distributing around chunji is different from that in western slope on mt.paektu. environmental factor such as wind, temperature and water may contribute to the pattern.