• Title/Summary/Keyword: oak forest soil

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Growth and Ectomycorrhizal Development of Container-Grown Quercus acutissima Seedling Inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt균(菌)의 인공접종(人工接種)에 의(依)한 상수리나무 분묘(盆苗)의 생장(生長)과 외생균근발달(外生菌根發達))

  • Oh, Kwang In
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.67 no.1
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    • pp.10-16
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    • 1984
  • Containerized Quercus acutissima seedlings were inoculated with vegetative mycelial inoculum of Pisolithus tinctorius and were grown in a green-house. The ectomycorrhizal fungus, P. tinctorius (Pt) increased growth of the container-grown oak seedlings. Of three treatments, Pt inoculation stimulated remarkably primary lateral roots, shoot growth, and root collar diameter and leaf area development, compared with either non-inoculated or natural soil treatment. In addition, Pt-inoculated seedlings produced ectomycorrhizae, by 71.1 percent. However, noninoculated and naturally grown seedlings were free of natural ectomycorrhizal. Ectomycorthizal roots developed more abundantly in the middle portion of the container than in the top or bottom portions.

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Ecophysiological Studies on the Water Relations of Economic Tree Species - Temporal Changes of Stomatal Responses to Soil Moisture Regimes and Exogenous Abscisic Acid in Oaks and Ash - (주요 경제 수종의 수분 특성에 관한 생리생태학적 연구 - 토양수분 조건 및 ABA 처리에 따른 참나무류와 물푸레나무 기공의 시계열적인 변화 반응 -)

  • Kwon, Ki Won;Lee, Jeoung Ho
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.83 no.3
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    • pp.410-423
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    • 1994
  • Seasonal and diurnal changes of stomatal diffusive resistance(S.D.R.) and transpiration rate(T.R.) were investigated for determining the ecophysiological water relations of economic tree species subjected to chronic water stress or exogenous abscisic acid treatment. Four species of oaks including Quercus serrata, Q. mongolica. Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis were used as the experimental materials and also Fraxinus rhynchophylla was studied together with oaks. Stomatal diffusive resistances were repeatedly measured on the containerized 1-0 year seedlings subjected to two kinds of soil moisture regime (wet and dry) in June, August, and September by LI-1600 Steady State Porometer of LI-Cor, Inc.. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) solutions of 0.5 mM and 0.05 mM in July and August, respectively, were absorbed into shoots cut from the containerized seedlings for determining their effects on stomatal behavior and transpiration. Most of measurements in stomatal diffusive resistance maintained about 5 s/cm in the morning after sunrise despite of different treatments. But the values fluctuated frequently to high level above 20 s/cm through the afternoon until sunset in the seedlings subjected to dry soil moisture regime. Despite of various treatments and environmental conditions, stomatal diffusive resistances of Q. variabilis were more stable than those of Q. serrata or Q. acutissima. Their values of F. rhynchophylla changed more irregularly in comparison with those of oak species. Exogenous abscisic acid absorbed into shoots cut from seedlings increased stomatal diffusive resistance obviously in most of the species studied. The stomatal responses to abscisic acid treatment were more sensitive in July especially in Q. serrata than in Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima. But the effects of ABA treatment were presented more remarkably in Q. acutissima in August. The responses to abscisic acid were not certain in F. rhynchophylla because of their various fluctuation patterns.

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Vegetation of Moojechi Moor in Ulsan: Syntaxonomy and Syndynamics (울산 무제치늪의 식생: 군락분류와 군락동태)

  • 김종원;김중훈
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.26 no.5
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    • pp.281-287
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    • 2003
  • We present the first analysis of moor vegetation on the Moojechi of Ulsan including syntaxonomy and syndynamics. We classified plant communities according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. In order to better understand ecological alteration processes and changing species compositions along successional gradients we also examined synecological differences using Principal Coordinate Analysis(PCoA) in terms of moisture gradient, species richness, and community structure. Classification resulted in one association and five plant communities occupying distinct moor habitats: Hypericum laxum-Eleocharis acicularis for. longiseta community, Drosera rotundifolia-Eleocharis congesta community, Platanthero-Molinietum japonicae ass. nova hoc loco, Molinia japonica-Alnus japonica community, Miscanthus sinensis-Pinus densiflora community, and Convallaria keiskei-Quercus serrata community. Due to synecological correspondences and floristic similarities in supraregional perspective, Platanthero-Molinietum can be assigned to existing higher syntaxonomic units of Molinion and Molinietalia in Braun-Blanquet system, established in Japan. We propose to extend their range and designate the new class Molinietea japonicae representative to the intermediate moor (Zwischenmoor) vegetation in Northeast Asia. PCoA resulted in four types showing a sequencess of succession: Needle spike-rush type, moor-grass type (incl. alder forest type), eulalia type, and oak forest type. A combination of edaphic conditions (soil eutrphication and soil moisture) and hydrologic patterns of moor ecosystem related to topography, occurring as result of external geophysical forces, controls inter alia spatial patterns and floristic compositions of moor plant communities.

A Study on Forestation for Landscaping around the Lakes in the Upper Watersheds of North Han River (북한강상류수계(北漢江上流水系)의 호수단지주변삼림(湖水団地周辺森林)의 풍경적시업(風景的施業)에 관(関)한 연구(硏究))

  • Ho, Ul Yeong
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.54 no.1
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    • pp.1-24
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    • 1981
  • Kangweon-Do is rich in sightseeing resources. There are three sightseeing areas;first, mountain area including Seolak and Ohdae National Parks, and chiak Provincial Park; second eastern coastal area; third lake area including the watersheds of North Han River. In this paper, several methods of forestation were studied for landscaping the North Han River watersheds centering around Chounchon. In Chunchon lake complex, there are four lakes; Uiam, Chunchon, Soyang and Paro from down to upper stream. The total surface area of the above four lakes is $14.4km^2$ the total pondage of them 4,155 million $m^3$, the total generation of electric power of them 410 thousand Kw, and the total forest area bordering on them $1,208km^2$. The bordering forest consists of planned management forest ($745km^2$) and non-planned management forest ($463km^2$). The latter is divided into green belt zone, natural conservation area, and protection forest. The forest in green belt amounts to $177km^2$ and centers around the 10km radios from Chunchon. The forest in natural conservation area amounts to $165km^2$, which is established within 2km sight range from the Soyang-lake sides. Protection forest surrounding the lakes is $121km^2$ There are many scenic places, recreation gardens, cultural goods and ruins in this lake complex, which are the same good tourist resources as lakes and forest. The forest encirelng the lakes has the poor average growing stock of $15m^3/ha$, because 70% of the forest consists of the young plantation of 1 to 2 age class. The ration of the needle-leaved forest, the broad-leaved forest and the mixed forest in 35:37:28. From the standpoint of ownership, the forest consists of national forest (36%), provincial forest (14%), Gun forest (5%) and private forest(45%). The greater part of the forest soil, originated from granite and gneiss, is much liable to weathering. Because the surface soil is mostly sterile, the fertilization for improving the soil quality is strongly urged. Considering the above-mentioned, the forestation methods for improving landscape of the North Han River Watersheds are suggested as follows: 1) The mature-stage forest should be induced by means of fertilizing and tendering, as the forest in this area is the young plantation with poor soil. 2) The bare land should be afforested by planting the rapid growing species, such as rigida pine, alder, and etc. 3) The bare land in the canyon with moderate moist and comparatively rich soil should be planted with Korean-pine, larch, ro fir. 4) Japaness-pine stand should be changed into Korean-pine, fir, spruce or hemlock stand from ravine to top gradually, because the Japanese-pine has poor capacity of water conservation and great liability to pine gall midge. 5) Present hard-wood forest, consisting of miscellaneous trees comparatively less valuable from the point of wood quality and scenerity, should be change into oak, maple, fraxinus-rhynchophylla, birch or juglan stand which is comparatively more valuable. 6) In the mountain foot within the sight-range, stands should be established with such species as cherry, weeping willow, white poplar, machilus, maiden-hair tree, juniper, chestnut or apricot. 7) The regeneration of some broad-leaved forests should be induced to the middle forest type, leading to the harmonious arrangement of the two storied forest and the coppice. 8) For the preservation of scenery, the reproduction of the soft-wood forest should be done under the selection method or the shelter-wood system. 9) Mixed forest should be regenerated under the middle forest system with upper needle-leaved forest and lower broad-leaved forest. In brief, the nature's mysteriousness should be conserved by combining the womanly elegance of the lakes and the manly grandeur of the forest.

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Comparison of Mass and Nutrient Dynamics of Coarse Woody Debris between Quercus serrata and Q. variabilis Stands in Yangpyeong

  • Kim, RaeHyun;Son, Yowhan;Hwang, Jaehong
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.115-120
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    • 2004
  • Coarse woody debris (CWD, $\ge$ 5 cm in maximum diameter) is an important functional component, especially to nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. To compare mass and nutrient dynamics of CWD in natural oak forests, a two-year study was conducted at Quercus serrata and Q. variabilis stands in Yangpyeong, Kyonggi Province. Total CWD (snag, stump, log and large branch) and annual decomposition mass (Mg/ha) were 1.9 and 0.4 for the Q. serrata stand and 7.5 and 0.5 for the Q. variabilis stand, respectively. Snags covered 72% of total CWD mass for the Q. variabilis stand and 42% for the Q. serrata stand. Most of CWD was classified into decay class 1 for both stands. CWD N and P concentrations for the Q. variabilis stand significantly increased along decay class and sampling time, except for P concentration in 2002. There were no differences in CWD N concentration for the Q. serrata stand along decay class and sampling time. However, CWD P concentration decreased along sampling time. CWD N and P contents (kg/ha) ranged from 3.5∼4.7 and 0.8∼1.3 for the Q. serrata stand to 22.8∼23.6 and 3.7∼4.7 for the Q. variabilis stand. Nitrogen and P inputs (kg/ha/yr) into mineral soil through the CWD decomposition were 0.7 and 0.3 for the Q. serrata stand and 1.6 and 0.3 for the Q. variabilis stand, respectively. The number of CWD and decay rate were main factors influencing the difference in CWD mass and nutrient dynamics between both stands.

Alteration of Physical and chemical Characteristics of Waterlogged Archaeological Woods After Cleaning (세척 후 수침고목재의 물리.화학적 특성 변화)

  • Cha, Mi-Young;Lee, Kwang-Ho;Kim, Yoon-Soo
    • Journal of Conservation Science
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    • v.19
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    • pp.19-30
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    • 2006
  • Alteration of physical and chemical characteristics and the effect of removal of mineral substances in waterlogged archaeological woods by different cleaning processes were examined using oak wood(Quercus spp.) that was excavated from wetland near Gwangju, Korea. Cleaning methods employed in the present work were (1) tools, (2) deaeration, (3) EDTA and (4) ultrasonic cleaning, which are being currently applied in the field of preservation treatment. Cleaning process were performed independently or continuously. Composition of mineral substances in the waterlogged archaeological wood was almost same as the that of soil in which waterlogged archaeological woods were buried. In case of independent cleaning, tools cleaning efficiently removed the mineral substances on surface. Surface color become brighter after cleaning with EDTA. In contrast, deaeration and ultrasonic cleaning did not show any significant removal of mineral substances. In continuous cleaning process, tool cleaning as the first step treatment showed the same effect as shown in independent cleaning. Although deaeration as the second step cleaning did not remove the mineral substances, it could be assumed to contribute the infiltration of dimensional agents by homogenization of wood. EDTA treatment (the third step cleaning) removed the iron(Fe) and increased the whiteness of wood color. The ultrasonic treatment (the fourth step cleaning) removed the sodium(Na) remained after EDTA treatment and the fine mineral substances.

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Vegetation Types and Their Structures of the Piagol, Mt. Chiri (지리산 피아골의 식생형과 그 구조)

  • 장윤석;임양재
    • Journal of Plant Biology
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.165-175
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    • 1985
  • The natural forest vegetation of the Piagol, Mt. Chiri, was classified into five major communities, i.e. Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora, C. tschonoskii, Q. serrata and Fraxinus mandshurica community. C. tschonoskii, C. laxiflora and Q. mongolica characteristically were dominated in the range of 500∼700 m, 700∼900 m and 900∼1,400 m in altitude, respectively. Abies nephrolepis and Rhododendron schlippenbachii in the ridge of Nogodan-Nalnaribong, and F. mandshurica and Q. serrata in the Yongsuam ravine were found as the dominant species. The transition between C. tschonoskii and C. laxiflora communities was relatively wide. The boundary between F. mandshurica, in the conglomerated zone, and the other communities surrounding its community was fairly abrupt. In Q. mongolica community, the canopy was relatively opened and the oak young tree of undergrowth was fairly dense. In the community of C. laxiflora and C. tschonoskii, the species composed of their understory was rich while their coverage was lower than that of Q. mongolica community. Shannon's diversity index was decreased in order of C. tschonoskii, C. laxiflora and Q. mongolica community, while their Simpson's dominance index increased conversely. Judging by the DBH-class distribution showing the negative exponential curve, these communities were considered as the climax forest. In Polar Ordination used samples (quadrats), the vegetation of the Piagol was divided into five groups, which was coincided with five communities classified by Braun-Blanquet system. In the ordination, the first axis and the second axis may be considered soil conditions and thermal conditions, respectively. It seems that two different methods, phytosociological method in macro level and ordination techniques in micro level, are useful for the vegetation classification.

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Vegetation of Mujechi Moor in Ulsan: Actual Vegetation Map and Alnus japonica Population (울산 무제치 습원의 식생: 현존식생도와 오리나무 개체군)

  • Kim, Jong-Won;Kim, Joong-Hoon;JeGal, Jae-Chul;Lee, Youl-Kyong;Choi, Kee-Ryong;Ahn, Kyung-Hwan;Han, Seung-Uk
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.99-103
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    • 2005
  • Actual vegetation map drown with the scale 1 to 100 and Alnus japonica population in Ja-neup and Woong-neup of the Mujechi moor were described in order to monitor long-termly and preserve permanently, where is a very rare Molinietea moor and a legally protected area. A total of 3036 plots of 5m $\times$ 5m were surveyed during summer 1996. Thiessen polygons of 1491 alder trees were derived from the plot data. Actual vegetation map was illustrated by 6 cover types such as needle spike-rush type, moor-grass type, alder-moor type, eulalia type, oak forest type, and exposed site. Molinia grasses native to the moor and Miscanthus grasses alien to the moor are reciprocally dominant. The area of Molinia grasslands was rapidly in decline and alder population size was dramatically in increase in the moor, particularly in Woong-neup. In Molinietea moor preservation more attention should be focused on the regulation of a nutrient rich soil from forest road and fire.

Ecological Changes of Insect-damaged Pinus densiflora Stands in the Southern Temperate Forest Zone of Korea (I) (솔잎혹파리 피해적송림(被害赤松林)의 생태학적(生態学的) 연구(研究) (I))

  • Yim, Kyong Bin;Lee, Kyong Jae;Kim, Yong Shik
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.52 no.1
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    • pp.58-71
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    • 1981
  • Thecodiplosis japonesis is sweeping the Pinus densiflora forests from south-west to north-east direction, destroying almost all the aged large trees as well as even the young ones. The front line of infestation is moving slowly but ceaselessly norhwards as a long bottle front. Estimation is that more than 40 percent of the area of P. densiflora forest has been damaged already, however some individuals could escapes from the damage and contribute to restore the site to the previous vegetation composition. When the stands were attacked by this insect, the drastic openings of the upper story of tree canopy formed by exclusively P. densiflora are usually resulted and some environmental factors such as light, temperature, litter accumulation, soil moisture and offers were naturally modified. With these changes after insect invasion, as the time passes, phytosociologic changes of the vegetation are gradually proceeding. If we select the forest according to four categories concerning the history of the insect outbreak, namely, non-attacked (healthy forest), recently damaged (the outbreak occured about 1-2 years ago), severely damaged (occured 5-6 years ago), damage prolonged (occured 10 years ago) and restored (occured about 20 years ago), any directional changes of vegetation composition could be traced these in line with four progressive stages. To elucidate these changes, three survey districts; (1) "Gongju" where the damage was severe and it was outbroken in 1977, (2) "Buyeo" where damage prolonged and (3) "Gochang" as restored, were set, (See Tab. 1). All these were located in the south temperate forest zone which was delimited mainly due to the temporature factor and generally accepted without any opposition at present. In view of temperature, the amount and distribution of precipitation and various soil factor, the overall homogeneity of environmental conditions between survey districts might be accepted. However this did not mean that small changes of edaphic and topographic conditions and microclimates can induce any alteration of vegetation patterns. Again four survey plots were set in each district and inter plot distance was 3 to 4 km. And again four subplots were set within a survey plot. The size of a subplot was $10m{\times}10m$ for woody vegetation and $5m{\times}5m$ for ground cover vegetation which was less than 2 m high. The nested quadrat method was adopted. In sampling survey plots, the followings were taken into account: (1) Natural growth having more than 80 percent of crown density of upper canopy and more than 5 hectares of area. (2) Was not affected by both natural and artificial disturbances such as fire and thinning operation for the past three decades. (3) Lower than 500 m of altitude (4) Less than 20 degrees of slope, and (5) Northerly sited aspect. An intensive vegetation survey was undertaken during the summer of 1980. The vegetation was devided into 3 categories for sampling; the upper layer (dominated mainly by the pine trees), the middle layer composed by oak species and other broad-leaved trees as well as the pine, and the ground layer or the lower layer (shrubby form of woody plants). In this study our survey was concentrated on woody species only. For the vegetation analysis, calculated were values of intensity, frequency, covers, relative importance, species diversity, dominance and similarity and dissimilasity index when importance values were calculated, different relative weights as score were arbitrarily given to each layer, i.e., 3 points for the upper layer, 2 for the middle layer and 1 for the ground layer. Then the formula becomes as follows; $$R.I.V.=\frac{3(IV\;upper\;L.)+2(IV.\;middle\;L.)+1(IV.\;ground\;L.)}{6}$$ The values of Similarity Index were calculated on the basis of the Relative Importance Value of trees (sum of relative density, frequency and cover). The formula used is; $$S.I.=\frac{2C}{S_1+S_2}{\times}100=\frac{2C}{100+100}{\times}100=C(%)$$ Where: C = The sum of the lower of the two quantitative values for species shared by the two communities. $S_1$ = The sum of all values for the first community. $S_2$ = The sum of all values for the second community. In Tab. 3, the species composition of each plot by layer and by district is presented. Without exception, the species formed the upper layer of stands was Pinus densiflora. As seen from the table, the relative cover (%), density (number of tree per $500m^2$), the range of height and diameter at brest height and cone bearing tendency were given. For the middle layer, Quercus spp. (Q. aliena, serrata, mongolica, accutissina and variabilis) and Pinus densiflora were dominating ones. Genus Rhodedendron and Lespedeza were abundant in ground vegetation, but some oaks were involved also. (1) Gongju district The total of woody species appeared in this district was 26 and relative importance value of Pinus densiflora for the upper layer was 79.1%, but in the middle layer, the R.I.V. for Quercus acctissima, Pinus densiflora, and Quercus aliena, were 22.8%, 18.7% and 10.0%, respectively, and in ground vegetation Q. mongolica 17.0%, Q. serrata 16.8% Corylus heterophylla 11.8%, and Q. dentata 11.3% in order. (2) Buyeo district. The number of species enumerated in this district was 36 and the R.I.V. of Pinus densiflora for the uppper layer was 100%. In the middle layer, the R.I.V. of Q. variabilis and Q. serrata were 8.6% and 8.5% respectively. In the ground vegetative 24 species were counted which had no more than 5% of R.I.V. The mean R.I.V. of P.densiflora ( totaling three layers ) and averaging four plots was 57.7% in contrast to 46.9% for Gongju district. (3) Gochang-district The total number of woody species was 23 and the mean R.I.V. of Pinus densiflora was 66.0% showing greater value than those for two former districts. The next high value was 6.5% for Q. serrata. As the time passes since insect outbreak, the mean R.I.V. of P. densiflora increased as the following order, 46.9%, 57.7% and 66%. This implies that P. densiflora was getting back to its original dominat state again. The pooled importance of Genus Quercus was decreasing with the increase of that for Pinus densiflora. This trend was contradict to the facts which were surveyed at Kyonggi-do area (the central temperate forest zone) reported previously (Yim et al, 1980). Among Genus Quercus, Quercus acutissina, warm-loving species, was more abundant in the southern temperature zone to which the present research is concerned than the central temperate zone. But vice-versa was true with Q. mongolica, a cold-loving one. The species which are not common between the present survey and the previous report are Corpinus cordata, Beltala davurica, Wisturia floribunda, Weigela subsessilis, Gleditsia japonica var. koraiensis, Acer pseudosieboldianum, Euonymus japonica var. macrophylla, Ribes mandshuricum, Pyrus calleryana var. faruiei, Tilia amurensis and Pyrus pyrifolia. In Figure 4 and Table 5, Maximum species diversity (maximum H'), Species diversity (H') and Eveness (J') were presented. The Similarity indices between districts were shown in Tab. 5. Seeing Fig. 6, showing two-dimensional ordination of polts on the basis of X and Y coordinates, Ai plots aggregate at the left site, Bi plots at lower site, and Ci plots at upper-right site. The increasing and decreasing patterns as to Relative Density and Relative Importance Value by genus or species were given in Fig. 7. Some of the patterns presented here are not consistent with the previously reported ones (Yim, et al, 1980). The present authors would like to attribute this fact that two distinct types of the insect attack, one is the short war type occuring in the south temperate forest zone, which means that insect attack went for a few years only, the other one is a long-drawn was type observed at the temperate forest zone in which the insect damage went on continuously for several years. These different behaviours of infestation might have resulted the different ways of vegetational change. Analysing the similarity indices between districts, the very convincing results come out that the value of dissimilarity index between A and B was 30%, 27% between B and C and 35% between A and C (Table 6). The range of similarity index was obtained from the calculation of every possible combinations of plots between two districts. Longer time isolation between communities has brought the higher value of dissimilarity index. The main components of ground vegetation, 10 to 20 years after insect outbreak, become to be consisted of mainly Genus Lespedeza and Rhododendron. Genus Quercus which relate to the top dorminant state for a while after insect attack was giving its place to Pinus densiflora. It was implied that, provided that the soil fertility, soil moisture and soil depth were good enough, Genus Quercuss had never been so easily taken ever by the resistant speeies like Pinus densiflora which forms the edaphic climax at vast areas of forest land. Usually they refer Quercus to the representative component of the undisturbed natural forest in the central part of this country.

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THE ECOLOGY, PHYTOGEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOBOTANY OF GINSENG

  • Hu Shiu Ying
    • Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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    • 1978.09a
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    • pp.149-157
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    • 1978
  • Ginseng is the English common name for the species in the genus Panax. This article gives a broad botanical review including the morphological characteristics, ecological amplitude, and the ethnobotanical aspect of the genus Panax. The species of Panax are adapted for life in rich loose soil of partially shaded forest floor with the deciduous trees such as linden, oak, maple, ash, alder, birch, beech, hickory, etc. forming the canopy. Like their associated trees, all ginsengs are deciduous. They require annual climatic changes, plenty of water in summer, and a period of dormancy in winter. The plant body of ginseng consists of an underground rhizome and an aerial shoot. The rhizome has a terminal bud, prominent leafscars and a fleshy root in some species. It is perennial. The aerial shoot is herbaceous and annual. It consists of a single slender stem with a whorl of digitately compound leaves and a terminal umbel bearing fleshy red fruits after flowering. The yearly cycle of death and renascence of the aerial shoot is a natural phenomenon in ginseng. The species of Panax occur in eastern North America and eastern Asia, including the eastern portion of the Himalayan region. Such a bicentric generic distributional pattern indicates a close floristic relationship of the eastern sides of two great continental masses in the northern hemisphere. It is well documented that genera with this type of disjunct distribution are of great antiquity. Many of them have fossil remains in Tertiary deposits. In this respect, the species of Panax may be regarded as living fossils. The distribution of the species, and the center of morphological diversification are explained with maps and other illustrations. Chemical constituents confirm the conclusion derived from morphological characters that eastern Asia is the center of species concentration of Panax. In eastern North America two species occur between longitude $70^{\circ}-97^{\circ}$ Wand latitude $34^{\circ}-47^{\circ}$ N. In eastern Asia the range of the genus extends from longitude $85^{\circ}$ E in Nepal to $140^{\circ}$ E in Japan, and from latitude $22^{\circ}$ N in the hills of Tonkin of North Vietnam to $48^{\circ}$ N in eastern Siberia. The species in eastern North America all have fleshy roots, and many of the species in eastern Asia have creeping stolons with enlarged nodes or stout horizontal rhizomes as storage organs in place of fleshy roots. People living in close harmony with nature in the homeland of various species of Panax have used the stout rhizomes or the fleshy roots of different wild forms of ginseng for medicine since time immemorial. Those who live in the center morphological diversity are specific both in the application of names for the identification of species in their communication and in the use of different roots as remedies to relieve pain, to cure diseases, or to correct physiological disorders. Now, natural resources of wild plants with medicinal virtue are extremely limited. In order to meet the market demand, three species have been intensively cultivated in limited areas. These species are American ginseng (P. quinquefolius) in northeastern United States, ginseng (P. ginseng) in northeastern Asia, particularly in Korea, and Sanchi (P. wangianus) in southwestern China, especially in Yunnan. At present hybridization and selection for better quality, higher yield, and more effective chemical contents have not received due attention in ginseng culture. Proper steps in this direction should be taken immediately, so that our generation may create a richer legacy to hand down to the future. Meanwhile, all wild plants of all species in all lands should be declared as endangered taxa, and they should be protected from further uprooting so that a. fuller gene pool may be conserved for the. genus Panax.

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