• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.226-233
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• 2010

An intensive study of the embryology of Gymnospermium microrrhynchum was conducted to provide information regarding a discussion of the phylogenetic relationships of the genus, which is yet unstudied. Our results indicated that Gymnospermium is similar to other genera of Berberidaceae in terms of its embryological features. Nevertheless, newly reported and unique features are the well-developed endothelium and the undifferentiated seed coat type. Until the study of Gymnospermium, it may have been considered to be closer to Caulophyllum and Leontice in the tribe Leonticeae. These three genera share many morphological features as well as molecular similarities, by which they are kept in the same tribe, Leonticeae. However, very little detailed embryological data regarding these genera have been published thus far. Gymnospermium was characterized according to the basic type of anther wall formation as well as its glandular tapetum, successive cytokinesis in the microspore mother cell, two-celled mature pollen grains, anatropous and crassinucellate ovules with a nucellar cap, well-developed endothelium, its Polygonum type of embryo sac formation, its nuclear type of endosperm formation, and its undifferentiated seed coat type. In comparison with Nandina, there are many differences, such as the dehiscence of the anther, the cytokinesis in the microspore mother cells, the shape of the megaspore dyad, and the seed characteristics. Although we had no available detailed embryological information regarding Caulophyllum and Leontice, which are genera that are more closely related to Gymnospermium, we could deduce from the phylogenetic relationship that Gymnospermium, Caulophyllum, and Leontice are more closely related to each other than other genera of Berberidaceae on the basis of the seed characteristics.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 1983

Taxonomic distribution of ecto- and endomycorrhizae among woody species growing in Korea was studied and their distribution was compared with foreign literature, Most of root samples were collected from Central Branch Station of forest Research Institute in Gwangneung, Gyonggido. A total of 32 families, 63 genera, 102 species were examined. Ectomycorrhizae were observed in the following 13 general of Pinaceae (Pinus Larix, Picea, Abies), Salicaceae (Populus, salix), Betulace (Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corpylus), Fagaceae(Quercus, Casianea), and Tiliaceae (Tilia), Endomycorrhizae (vesicular-arbuscular) were observed in Populus and the rest of the 49 genera. Rhus was the only genus which did not have either ecto- or endomycorrhizae, while foreign literature listed following genera having both mycorrhizal types: Juniperus, Cupressus, Populus, Salix, Juglans, Alnus, Ulmus, Malus, Pyrus, and Tilia. Juniperus, Ulmus, Pyrus, and Acer which were reported to have facultative ectomycorrhizae were free of ectomycorrhizae, Some morphological characteristics of endomycorrhizae are shown in photogrphs and discussed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.477-502
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• 2008

Morphological characters of inflorescence, spikelet, rachilla, glume, lemma and palea about 17 taxa of Korean Poa L. were investigated to evaluate their taxonomic significances. The bulbil present or not, inflorescence shape, callus shape of lemma and surface shape of palea were thought to be the subgenus characters. The keels shapes of palea, the number of lower glume, lateral nerve shape of lemma were thought to be the section characters. The number of floret, rachilla present or not, the number of lower glume, nerve shape of glume, surface shape of lemma were thought to be the species characters. Consequently, 17 taxa of the Korean Poa L. is classified into 3 subgenus (Ochlopoa, Stenopoa, Stenopoa), 7 section(Arenariae, Ochlopoa, Homalopoa, Poa, Pandemos, Tichopoa, Stenopoa). 6 taxa, P. ullungdoensis, P. takeshimana and P. matsumurae, P. nipponica, P. radula, P. viridula, not included in the existing classification system, were suggested to their taxonomic category in infragenic rank, and P. nemoralis, had been included in section Stenopoa of subgenus Stenopoa, was proposed to move to section Poa of subgenus Poa. P. ullungdoensis, reported as new species in 1955, was grasped its taxonomic identity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.371-388
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• 2008

Phylogenetic studies were conducted for 35 populations of the subfamily Coryloideae (Betulaceae) based on waxy gene of nuclear DNA and atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer region of chloroplast DNA. Waxy data analysis suggest that Coryloideae is monophyletic; Corylus is monophyletic and basally branching within the subfamily Coryloideae; Ostryopsis is sister to the Carpinus and Ostrya clade, and the Ostrya is monophyletic (BS=86, PP=99). AtpB-rbcL intergenic spacer region analysis shows that Ostryopsis appeared as the most basal clade within the Coryloideae; Corylus is monophyletic(BS=98, PP=100) and placed between Carpinus-Ostrya and Ostryopsis clade; Carpinus and Ostrya formed a clade with a high support value(BS=100, PP=100). Carpinus sect. Carpinus is monophyletic, whereas sect. Distegocarpus is paraphyletic in the waxy tree. Corylus formed two subclades, but discordance at the infrageneric classification based on morphological characters. In the atpB-rbcL tree, Carpinus and Corylus taxa form a polytomy within the each clade. Results from the two data sets differ mainly in the relative position of Ostryopsis, the monophyly of Ostrya, and the relationships within the Carpinus-Ostrya clade. Further studies are needed for clarify the taxonomic position and the generic limitation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.389-403
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• 2008

Seed morphological studies of 12 species of sect. Zygophyllidium and related Poinsettia using light and scanning electron microscopy were conducted to test the hypotheses of the sectional boundaries and species relationships. Characteristics of seeds, and the keys of identification of 12 species were presented. Seeds of 12 species were divided into 6 types based on the UPGMA tree from numerical analyses using nine seed characters. Type I, including E. uniglandulosa, is characterized by the foveolate seed with granulate testa cells. Type II, including species E. exstipulata, E. lagunensis, E. bilobata, E. hexagonoides and E. chersonesa, was recognized by the presence of inter-cellular granules among testa cells. Type III, including E. cyathophora, has a seed with acute apex, and concentric circles on the surface of testa cells. Type IV, including species of E. dentata and E. pentadactyla, has a seed with caruncle and lacking inter-cellular granules among testa cells. Type V, including E. hexagona, was characterized by the ovate seeds and lacking inter-cellular granules. Type VI, including E. eriantha and E. lacera, was recognized by the seeds with rectangular shape with caruncle. Based on the seed morphology, sect. Zygophyllidium should be defined only species with E. exstipulata, E. lagunensis, E. bilobata, E. hexagonoides and E. chersonesa. E. hexagona, traditionally included in this section, was closely related to E. dentata from Poinsettia.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2010

Recognizing a basal group in a taxon is one of the most important factors involved in understanding the evolutionary history of that group of life. Many botanists have suggested a sister to all other angiosperms to understand the origin and rapid diversification of angiosperms based on morphological and fossil evidence. Recent technical advances in molecular biology and the accumulation of molecular phylogenetic data have provided evidence of the extant basal-most angiosperm which is a sister to all other angiosperms. Although it is still arguable, most plant taxonomists agree that Amborella trichopoda Baill., a species (monotypic genus and monotypic family) distributed in New Caledonia, is a sister to all other extant angiosperms based on evidence from the following molecular approaches: 1) classical phylogenetic analyses based on multiple genes (or DNA regions), 2) analyses of a tree network of duplicated gene families, and 3) gene-structural evidence. As an alternative hypothesis with relatively minor evidence, some researchers have also suggested that Amborella and Nymphaeaceae form a clade that is a sister to all other angiosperms. Debate regarding the basal-most angiosperms is still ongoing and is currently one of the hot issues in plant evolutionary biology. We expect that sequencing of the whole genome of Amborella as an evolutionary model plant and subsequent studies based on this genome sequence will provide information regarding the origin and rapid diversification of angiosperms, which is Darwin's so called abominable mystery.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.137-153
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• 2017

Fruit and seed morphological characteristics were investigated in 36 taxa of 20 genera of Korean Ranunculaceae. As a result, fruits were classified as the achene, berry, or follicle type. In the taxa with achene, the presence of trichomes and stoma on the surface of the fruit and a feature in which the endocarp distinctively develops into a one-layer sclereid were considered as useful characteristics. Moreover, in the taxa with follicles, the composition of the seed coat (bitegmic vs. unitegmic), the cell shape of the seed coat, the presence of trichomes, and the type of seed coat were useful for taxonomic characteristics in Korean Ranunculaceae. Based on the fruit and seed characteristics, Adonis is likely to be classified into Helleboroideae rather than Ranunculoideae, as it has bitegmic ovules. In addition, Enemion is similar to Eranthis in unitegmic ovule and the seed coat structure which has non-sclereid exotesta; therefore, it is reasonable to be placed in Helleboroideae. According to the results of this study, more in-depth research is needed regarding the taxonomic positions of Callianthemum and Actaea, which has the only berry fruit type.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.260-268
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• 2002

Morphological characteristics and growth patterns of 20 Polygonatum collections indigenous to Korea were examined and the collections were classified to obtain the basic data for practical use of Polygonatum genetic resources. Based on the cluster analysisi 20 collections were distinctly classified into seven groups with average distance greater than 0.6 between groups. Group I was p. sibiricum Delar, and group II included p. odoratum var. pluriforum Ohwi, P. odoratum var. pturiforum Ohwi 'Variegata' and P. odoratum var. maximowiczii Koidz.. Group III was P. odoratum var. thunbergii Hara, group IV included P. lasianthum var. coreanum Nakai, and group V was P. involucratum Maxim. and P. desoulavyi Komarov. group Ⅵ was P. inflatum Komarov and group Ⅶ was P. humile Fischer ex. Maxim. Morphologically, group I was larger than the other groups, group II and III were medium, and group IV to Ⅶ were small. In the classification of genus Polyognatum, stem length, stem habit, phyllotaxis, stem angularity, petiole, inflorescence, perianth, bract and rhizome were particularly important characters. Group I to III were thought to be useful as the edible and medicinal resources plants, and group IV to Ⅶ were thought to be useful as ornamental plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.230-247
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• 2018

We conducted principal component analyses using the quantitative characteristics of the genus Sorbaria to investigate and explore morphological variation and diagnostic characteristics. The genus Sorbaria was divided into two groups based on erect or pendulous inflorescence, the existence of hairs on the ovary and follicle surfaces, the number of stamens, and the shape of the sepal. As a result of our investigation and of a morphometric analysis, these two groups could be also classified using quantitative characteristics, in this case the number of leaflets, the size of the leaflets, the width of the inflorescence, the size of the sepal, the petal, and the follicles and seeds. In the Sorbifolia group (S. grandiflora and S. sorbifolia complex), the size of lateral leaflets, number of veins, gland and stellate density on the abaxial surface of leaflets, and the petal and follicle size were found to be useful identification characteristics. The terminal and lateral leaflet size and the gland and stellate density on the abaxial surface of the leaflets were found to be characters of taxonomic value for the Kirilowii group (S. arborea complex, S. kirilowii, and S. tomentosa complex). The results of the numerical analysis conducted here can provide valuable information to those reconsidering and delimiting a taxonomic revision of the genus Sorbaria.