• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.277-293
• /
• 2009

Disagreement among the various publications providing lists of Korean endemic plants makes confusion inevitable. We summarized the six previous reports providing comprehensive lists of endemic plants in Korea: 407 taxa in Lee (1982), 570 taxa in Paik (1994), 759 taxa in Kim (2004), 328 taxa in Korea National Arboretum (2005), 515 taxa in the Ministry of Environment (2005) and 289 taxa in Flora of Korea Editorial Committee (2007). The total number of endemic plants described in the previous reports was 970 taxa, including 89 families, 302 genera, 496 species, 3 subspecies, 218 varieties, and 253 formae. Endemic plants listed four times or more were collected to compare the data in terms of scientific names and synonyms (339 taxa in 59 families and 155 genera). If the varieties and formae were excluded, the resulting number of endemic plants was 252 taxa for the 339 purported taxa analyzed. Seven of the 155 genera analyzed were Korean endemic genera. Among the 339 taxa, the same scientific names were used in the original publications for 256 taxa (76%), while different scientific names were used for 83 taxa (24%). The four largest families were Compositae (42 taxa, 12.4%), Ranunculaceae (19 taxa, 5.6%), Rosaceae (19 taxa, 5.6%), and Scrophulariaceae (19 taxa, 5.6%). Saussurea (Compositae) had the highest number of taxa within one genus (17 taxa; 5% of total endemic taxa).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.146-156
• /
• 2023

Background: Endemic species are important components in the flora of most world regions. Most of these species have become threatened and exposed to extinction within the last few years. The present study aims to evaluate the ecosystem services offered by the endemic plant taxa in Egypt and the threats that affect them. Twenty-five field visits were conducted during summer 2018 to spring 2022 to several locations all over Egypt. In each location, the main habitats, national distribution, abundance, goods and threats were recorded. Results: Egypt has 41 endemic taxa belonging to 36 genera and 20 families inhabiting 10 main habitats. Rocky surfaces and sandy formations have the highest number of endemic species. The relation between the number of endemic taxa and the abundance categories indicated that 2 taxa are rare (4.9% of the total taxa), while the remaining were very rare (95%). The most represented offered good was the medicinal uses (32 taxa = 78%), while fuel plants were only represented by 2 taxa (2 taxa = 4.9%). Besides, 14 taxa (34.1% of the total studied taxa) have at least 1 environmental service. Soil fertility (7 taxa = 50%) was the most represented, followed by sand accumulations (6 taxa out of 14 taxa = 43%), while shading plant was the least (1 taxon = 7.1%) (Rosa arabica). The most represented threat is over-cutting and over-collecting (38 taxa = 92.7%), while mining and quarrying is the least represented (4 taxa = 9.8%). Conclusions: The potential and actual goods, services and threats of the endemic taxa were assessed as follows; field observation, information collected from local inhabitants and herbalists, and a literature review. The present study recommended planning a strategy about the importance, threats and conservation of endemic taxa in Egypt that would help in the protection and rescue of these plants and increase awareness about the importance of these plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.79-101
• /
• 2023

Following recent taxonomic, distributional, and nomenclatural revisions, an updated checklist of endemic plants on the Korean Peninsula is needed. This study provides an updated checklist of vascular plants endemic to the Korean Peninsula and describes their distribution within administrative provinces. The revised checklist includes 373 endemic taxa (304 species, six subspecies, 49 varieties, and 14 nothospecies) from 179 genera and 64 families, representing 9.5% of the total native flora of the Korean Peninsula. Asteraceae (41 taxa), Ranunculaceae (29 taxa), Liliaceae s.l. (24 taxa), and Rosaceae (22 taxa) were the most widely represented families. Compared with the most recent checklist published in 2017, 39 taxa were excluded from the checklist; one taxon was excluded because it did not have a valid published name, seven taxa were excluded because their natural habitats extended to neighboring countries, four taxa were excluded because they were treated as a rank form, and 27 taxa were excluded because they had been identified as heterotypic synonyms of taxa distributed outside of the Korean Peninsula. Fifty-two new taxa were included based on the literature. This checklist will help to focus conservation efforts and provide a framework for research, protection, and policy implementation related to these endemic taxa.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.264-288
• /
• 2017

In order to organize a new checklist for endemic vascular plants of the Korean Peninsula, 358 taxa of the Korea Forest Service and 375 taxa of the National Institute of Biological Resources were reviewed. In addition, the names of previously published endemic plants above the rank of variety were checked up to 2016. From the two lists, a total of 444 taxa were identified. Among them, 289 taxa were common on the two lists, but 69 and 86 taxa were listed only by the Korea Forest Service and by the National Institute of Biological Resources, respectively. Taxonomic documents including journal papers and dissertations were examined with regard to the 444 taxa. In some cases, opinions of Korean experts in this field were also reflected. From the results, 312 taxa in total were recognized as plants endemic to the Korean Peninsula, while 132 taxa could not be included on the endemic list. On the other hand, 48 taxa, none of which existed on the two lists, were newly listed. In conclusion, the new checklist of vascular plants endemic to Korea was confirmed, with a total of 360 taxa consisting of 64 families, 172 genera, 297 species, 4 subspecies, 51 varieties and 8 hybrids. The new common name Halla-seol-aeng-cho is given to Primula farinosa L. subsp. modesta (Bisset & S. Moore) Pax var. hannasanensis (T. Yamaz.) T. Yamaz. Sillaphyton Pimenov (Deok-u-gi-reum-na-mul-sok) is newly identified as a genus endemic to Korea. However, Pentactina Nakai could not be included on the list of Korean vascular endemic genera.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.253-261
• /
• 2020

Carex splendentissima U. Kang & J. M. Chung, endemic to the Korean peninsula, is characterized by staminate terminal spikes and glabrous elliptic perigynia. Based on its broad leaves, androgynous spikes, and tri-stigmatic features, the species has been placed in Carex sect. Siderostictae Franch. ex Ohwi, an East Asian section and a basal group in the genus. To clarify the monophyly and phylogenetic position of the species, a molecular study using the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast DNA (trnL-F) data was conducted. The DNA sequence data of ten taxa in sect. Siderostictae and closely related taxa (two taxa in sect. Surculosae) with outgroups were analyzed based on maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood (ML) criteria. In the analyses, C. splendentissima was monophyletic and placed within the Siderostictae clade (sect. Siderostictae + two species of sect. Surculosae), forming a clade with C. ciliatomarginata and C. pachygyna (endemic to Japan). The clade (C. splendentissima + C. ciliatomarginata + C. pachygyna) shows evidence of diploidy. Furthermore, C. splendentissima is a sister to C. ciliatomarginata in the ML tree, and the two taxa have staminate terminal spikes. This study also updates the distribution of C. splendentissima and provides keys to the four Korean taxa in sect. Siderostictae. To conserve the endemic species C. splendentissima, further research on its genetic and ecological features should be conducted at the population level.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.633-660
• /
• 2021

This study was carried out to elucidate the distribution of vascular plants and their usefulness of Mt. Munsusan (1,205 m) in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The vascular plants that were investigated in 2 years (2019 ~ 2020) with 15 times consisted a total of 571 taxa; 94 families, 310 genera, 496 species, 4 subspecies, 63 varieties and 8 formas. For the Korean endemic plants, 17 taxa were recorded and 3 taxa of Vulnerable Species (VU) and 9 taxa of Least Concerned species (LC) categorized by the Korean Forest Service as rare plants were investigated in this region. Furthermore, IV, III degrees of floristic regional indicator plants designated by the Korean Ministry of Environment included 8 taxa and 27 taxa, respectively. Among them, edible, medicinal, ornamental, feed/composting, industrial plants were 391 taxa, 359 taxa, 301 taxa, 241 taxa, 217 taxa, respectively. In addition, 25 taxa of naturalized plants were observed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.119-133
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information for rational management plans for sustainable conservation and utilization by comprehensive analyzing the flora distributed in Yongchu valley, Changwon-si. The flora of Yongchu valley were summarized as 319 taxa including 93 families, 212 genera, 285 species, 3 subspecies, 6 forms and 25 varieties. The endemic plants were 5 taxa such as Chrysosplenium pilosum var. fulvum, Impatiens koreana, Lespedeza maritima, Thalictrum acteifolium and Weigela subsessilis. The rare plants were 11 taxa including I. koreana, Prunus yedoensis and Magnolia kobus. The specific plants by floristic region were 38 taxa including I. koreana, Jeffersonia dubia., M. kobus and P. yedoensis which are class V. The naturalized plants were 11 taxa including Solanum americanum, Aster pilosus, Crassocephalum crepidioides and Cerastium glomeratum and so forth and invasive alien plants among these plants was 1 taxa of A. pilosus. The target plants adaptable to climate change were 8 taxa including Corydalis turtschaninovii of northern plant, I. koreana of endemic plant, and Meliosma myriantha of southern plant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.59-81
• /
• 2011

The flora of the Sinpyeong and Churyeong stream were listed 324 taxa; 87 families, 227 genera, 289 species, 1 subspecies, 31 varieties and 3 forms. The Sinpyeong stream were 249 taxa and Churyeong stream were 221 taxa. Based on the rare plants (IUCN) by the Korea Forest Service and Korea National Arboretum were recorded; Penthorum chinense (Crassulaceae), etc. and endemic plants, 6 taxa; Weigela subsessilis (Caprifoliaceae), Lycoris flavescens (Amarylidaceae), etc. Based on the specific plants by floral region were total 12 taxa (3.7% of all 324 taxa of flora); Monochoria korsakowi (Pontederiaceae), etc. in class III. 10 taxa (Salix glandulosa (Salicaceae), Ulmus parvifolia (Ulmaceae), Impatiens noli-tangere (Balsaminaceae), Grewia biloba var. parviflora (Tiliaceae), Nymphoides peltata (Gentianaceae), Actinostemma lobatum (Cucurbitaceae), Cirsium pendulum (Compositae), Microstegium japonicum (Gramineae), etc.) in class I. Based on the naturalized plants, 51 taxa and ecosystem disturbing wild plants, 6 taxa (Rumex acetosella, Sicyos angulatus, Aster pilosus, Ambrosia artemisiaefolia, Hypochaeris radicata, Paspalum distichum var. distichum) and naturalization rate was 15.7% of all 324 taxa of flora, urbanization index was 18.8% of all 271 taxa of naturalized plants. Based on the hydrophytes, 23 taxa and emergent hydrophytes were 17 taxa, floating-leaved hydrophytes were 3 taxa, submergent hydrophytes were 2 taxa, free-floating hydrophytes was Spirodela polyrhiza.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.489-505
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of Mt. Suan (Gyeonggi-do). The vascular plant were collected 13 times (from March to October 2011), and 402 taxa in total were identified, including 102 families, 274 genera, 354 species, 6 subspecies, 40 varieties and 2 forms. Among them, 8 taxa of Korean endemic plants and the Korea Forest Service-designated rare plants were identified as 5 taxa. Based on the list of plants which have been approved for overseas delivery, 10 taxa were recorded in the investigated area. The Ministry of Environment-designated specially plants were identified as 17 taxa. The naturalized plants were identified as 41 taxa and the percent of naturalized index (NI) was 10.2% of total 402 taxa vascular plants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.41-61
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was carried out to present the basic data for constructing a ecological stream, Shindangcheon stream located in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. From August 2017 to June 2019, a total of 7 surveys were conducted. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 388 taxa including 75 families, 246 genera, 360 species, 4 subspecies, 19 varieties, 2 forms and 3 hybrids. The most families of taxa were Poaceae (59 taxa), Asteraceae (47 taxa), Fabaceae (27 taxa), Rosaceae and Cyperaceae (20 taxa, respectively), and Polygonaceae and Brassicaceae (15 taxa, respectively). The rare plant was Aristolochia contorta Bunge, and the Korean endemic plants were 4 taxa, such as Populus × tomentiglandulosa T.B.Lee, Salix koriyanagi Kimura ex Goerz, Lespedeza maritima Nakai, and Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L.H.Bailey. The specific plants by floristic region found in this site were 13 taxa comprising 8 taxa of grade I, 4 taxa of grade III, and 1 taxon of grade IV. The naturalized plants were 73 taxa, such as Fallopia dumetorum (L.) Holub, Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach., Potentilla supina L. var. ternata Pterm., and so forth. The invasive alien plants were 6 taxa, such as Rumex acetosella L., Sicyos angulatus L., Solanum carolinense L., Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Lactuca serriola L., and Symphyotrichum pilosum (Willd.) G.L.Nesom..