Nam Sook Lee

Wild food plants in South Korea; market presence, new crops, and exports to the United States

South Korean food markets were examined for the presence of wildgathered food plants between 1989 and 1995. One hundred twelve species belonging to 83 genera and 40 families were found. Plants used as leafy vegetables were the most common (73.2%), followed by fruits (22.3%), root vegetables (6.2%) and flower foods (4.4%). Nearly half of these plant species belonged to three families: Asteraceae (29) Liliaceae (10) and Apiaceae (7). As of 1992, 19 of these wild foods were also being grown as new crops, a development that involved more than 25000 farm households. At least eleven of these wild food plants were exported to the United States in 1994, where they are sold by Korean food markets.

Major Lineages of the Genus Lilium (Liliaceae) Based on nrDNA ITS Sequences, with Special Emphasis on the Korean Species

We present most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of 196 accessions of Lilium representing 83 species and 14 varieties of Lilium and three outgroup genera (Cardiocrinum, Notholirion, and Fritillaria) to investigate infrageneric relationships within Lilium as well as to determine the origin and evolution of Korean species of Lilium. We used the internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA and phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference identified several major lineages within Lilium. Only one section, Martagon, turned out to be monophyletic in the study. Three sections, Archelirion, Liriotypus, and Pseudolirium, are not monophyletic because two, one, and two species in each section were placed in other lineage, respectively. Two major lineages of section Leucolirion were confirmed in this study, and as several previous studies suggested, section Sinomartagon is highly polyphyletic. The origin of Lilium hansonii, a Korean endemic to Ullung Island, is perplexing given the fact that it has ribotype of Martagon, while its cpDNA haplotype is similar to Sinomartagon. The origin of another endemic, Lilium amabile, is equally elusive and additional phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies will shed light on their evolutions in Korea. We determined that Lilium callosum var. flavum originated from L. callosum in Southern Korea.

Phylogeny and comparative seed morphology of epiphytic and terrestrial species of Liparis (Orchidaceae) in Japan

To elucidate the evolution of epiphytes in Liparis section Liparis, we examined the phylogenetic relationships of 16 species by using internal transcribed spacer regions of 18S–26S nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and three chloroplast DNA regions (trnS-trnG spacer, trnL with trnL-trnF spacer, and partial matK). Results showed that the epiphytic L. fujisanensis is sister to the terrestrial L. koreana and L. kumokiri, while another epiphyte, L. truncata, is sister to the terrestrial L. krameri. Therefore, the two epiphytic species evolved from terrestrial species independently in section Liparis. Comparative seed morphology revealed that the epiphytes have larger embryos than their closely related terrestrial counterparts. A similar trend toward the increase of embryo size in the two epiphytic species belonging to closely related, but distinct clades suggests that the large embryo may have an advantage in the epiphytic lifestyle. The two epiphytic species share another character state, smaller air spaces in the seed than that of closely related terrestrial species, suggesting possible low dispersibility of the epiphytes.

Molecular evidence for the taxonomic identity of Korean Adonis (Ranunculaceae)

Abstract Although Korean Adonis has been traditionally recognized as Adonis amurensis Regel and Radde with various infraspecific taxa described, its taxonomic identity is still in dispute. We investigated the genetic variation in 60 individuals from 12 populations in Korea to elucidate the taxonomic identity of the Korean Adonis complex. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis revealed that Korean Adonis comprises three species: A. amurensis, A. pseudoamurensis, and A. multiflora. Adonis amurensis is distributed in northern central inland regions of Korea and A. pseudoamurensis is found in southern parts of the Korean peninsula. Adonis multiflora grows only on Cheju Island, which is the southernmost part of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences partially supported the presence of three Adonis taxa in Korea as detected by RAPD analysis. The Adonis population on Jangbong Island located in the West Sea, which was referred to as A. pseudoamurensis on the basis of morphological examination, was separated from the other populations of A. pseudoamurensis. Otherwise, the molecular evidence is well congruent with the recent morphological study that proposes that Korean Adonis consists of these three species.

Isozyme evidence for the allotriploid origin of Lycoris flavescens (Amaryllidaceae)

Abstract. Variation in isozyme patterns from ten populations of the Korean endemic Lycoris species was used to test the hypothesis that L. flavescens originated from natural hybridization between diploid L. chinensis and L. sanguinea var. koreana. Lycoris sanguinea var. koreana shows fixed heterozygosity at four of nine loci assayed, suggesting that this species is an allotetraploid instead of a diploid. Electrophoretic data suggest that Lycoris flavescens is an allotriploid species derived from the hybridization between diploid L. chinensis and tetraploid L. sanguinea var. koreana. The patterns of allelic distribution in populations of L. flavescens suggest multiple origins of the allotriploid. Within the L. flavescens complex, our isozyme data support the recognition of two taxa, L. flavescens and a recently recognized species, L. uydoensis.

Generic delimitation and biogeography of Maianthemum and Smilacina (Ruscaceae sensu lato): preliminary results based on partial 3′ matK gene and trnK 3′ intron sequences of cpDNA

The controversy over generic delimitation between Maianthemum and Smilacina has been unresolved for almost two centuries. Distributions of the two genera in the Northern Hemisphere also provide an excellent opportunity to further understand the disjunct distribution patterns of the North Temperate Flora. To test the generic delimitation and to investigate biogeographic patterns, we sequenced the partial 3′ matK gene and trnK 3′ intron of chloroplast DNA for 38 accessions, representing three species of Maianthemum, seven species of Smilacina, and four outgroup taxa. Maximum parsimony and neighbor-joining trees showed reciprocal monophyly of the two genera with very weak bootstrap support for each genus. Within each genus, relationships among species were poorly resolved. Despite its low resolution, this study shows that eastern Asian species of Smilacina and Maianthemum are generally more closely related to eastern North American taxa than to western ones. More detailed sampling of Smilacina from different geographic regions, especially from the two centers of diversity (southeastern Asia and Mexico/Central America), and additional sequences from cpDNA, as well as from nuclear DNA, are needed to test the reciprocal monophyly of the two genera and also to understand current distributions of disjunct taxa.

Taxonomic Status and Genetic Variation of Korean Endemic Plants, Eranthis byunsanensis and Eranthis pungdoensis (Ranunculaceae) based on nrDNA ITS and cpDNA Sequences

To reappraise the taxonomic status of two Korean endemic plants, Eranthis byunsanensis and Eranthis pungdoensis, we analyzed five taxa of that genus plus three out-group genera (Cimicifuga, Anemonopsis, and Anemone). In all, 52 representative accessions were examined for nrDNA (ITS) and 43 accessions for cpDNA (trnH–psbA, rps16, trnL, and trnLF). In the ITS region, all of the aligned sequences from E. byunsanensis had the same ribotype as from E. pungdoensis. For the ITS phylogeny, E. pungdoensis could not be distinguished from E. byunsanensis. However, the clade of E. byunsanensis, including E. pungdoensis, was separated from Eranthis pinnatifida of Japan, which has a distinct ribotype and forms a sister group. In our cpDNA analysis, E. byunsanensis showed paraphyly, and the clade of E. pungdoensis was nested within the E. byunsanensis clade. Haplotypes of each population of E. byunsanensis were highly variable, and TCS analysis of that species implied that the Jeju population is ancestral. Moreover, the cp-group of E. pungdoensis was separated from the other cp-groups by five substitutions and five indels. Therefore, based on these DNA data and TCS analysis, we advise that the taxonomic status of E. pungdoensis be treated as E. byunsanensis B. Sun var. pungdoensis (B.U. Oh) S.H. Yeau, C.S. Lee & N.S. Lee, stat. nov.

Two New Species of the Genus Liparis (Orchidaceae) from Korea Based on Morphological and Molecular Data

Two new species of Liparis Rich. (Orchidaceae) from Korea are described: Liparis yongnoana and Liparis pterosepala. Liparis yongnoana is similar to plants called as L. japonica and L. makinoana in having an anther cap with a beaked apex and a weakly reflexed labellum. However, L. yongnoana can be distinguished from them by a presence of a narrowly elliptic line on a labellum, a less emarginated apex of a more reflexed labellum, a short column, and a few flowers. L. pterosepala is similar to Liparis kumokiri, Liparis koreojaponica, and Liparis fujisanensis in having an anther cap with a mucronate apex and an excessively reflexed labellum. But L. pterosepala can be distinguished from the three similar taxa by its wide sepals and its early flowering time. Based on the molecular data using nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cpDNA regions (matK, trnS-trnG, trnL with trnL-trnF), L. yongnoana has five autapomorphic substitutions in ITS region and four substitutions and one deletion in cpDNA. Another new taxon, L. pterosepala, has one autapomorphy in ITS and cpDNA regions, respectively. A molecular phylogeny also indicates that L. yongnoana is close to plants called as L. japonica and L. makinoana, and L. pterosepala is close to L. kumokiri, L. koreojaponica, and L. fujisanensis.

A New Species and Introgression in Eastern Asian Hemlocks (Pinaceae: Tsuga)

Abstract Species delimitation in Pinaceae is often challenged by limited morphological differentiation and introgression. In Tsuga (hemlocks), species delimitation has been most challenging among northeastern Asian taxa, where the species are weakly marked morphologically and range in number from three to five in previous studies. Two low-copy nuclear four-coumarase-ligase (4CL) genes andmorphology strongly support a clade of the Japanese endemic T. diversifolia and T. sieboldii from Japan and Ulleung island (Ulleungdo) in Korea. This clade is here referred to as the oceanic hemlocks. 4CL strongly supports a sister-group relationship of the widespread northeastern Asian T. chinensis and eastern North American T. caroliniana. In contrast, chloroplast genomes, which are markedly reduced in Tsuga and relatives, strongly support Japanese T. sieboldii as sister to T. chinensis and moderately support T. caroliniana as sister to a clade of T. diversifolia and hemlocks fromUlleungdo. These divergent topologies suggest chloroplast capture of T. chinensis by Japanese T. sieboldii. Ulleungdo hemlocks are distinct from other northeastern Asian species in leaf and cone morphology and phenologically in common-garden observations. We therefore describe these hemlocks as a new species, T. ulleungensis.

Taxonomic status and phylogeny of Veratrum section Veratrum (Melanthiaceae) in Korea and Japan based on chloroplast and nuclear sequence data

Veratrum section Veratrum comprises eight species in Korea and Japan: V. alpestre, V. dahuricum, V. dolichopetalum, V. grandiflorum var. maximum, V. oxysepalum,V. patulum, V. stamineum var. micranthum, and V. stamineum var. stamineum. However, species delimitation and taxonomic treatments have long been controversial due to their highly variable vegetative and floral morphology. We conducted maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI) based on a total of 4,856 base pairs of nrDNA ITS and cpDNA coding and noncoding regions (matK, psbA-trnH, rpL16, and trnS-G) to re-examine the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships within Veratrum sect. Veratrum. The MP and BI trees were poorly resolved among species within Veratrum sect. Veratrum in Korea and Japan. Veratrum stamineum, which has outward spreading, exerted stamens beyond the tepals, diverged first within Veratrum and the remaining species, which have straight shorter stamens compared to the tepals, formed a monophyletic group with poor species delimitation and phylogenetic relationships among them. The incongruent phylogenetic position of V. grandiflorum var. maximum between ITS and cpDNA (it shares its most recent common ancestor with poorly resolved sect. Veratrum species in ITS, whereas it is sister to V. stamineum in cpDNA) suggested that it represents possible ancient hybrid origin between V. stamineum and V. oxysepalum. Thus, in this study we elevated the taxonomic status of V. grandiflorum var. maximum to the species rank, V. maximum. V. alpestre, which was described as a new species by Nakai in 1937, has identical ribotype and cpDNA haplotype of V. oxysepalum and its morphological variations are within the range of V. oxysepalum. Therefore, we suggest that V. alpestre should be synomized with V. oxysepalum. A further study using fast evolving nuclear and chloroplast regions is required to resolve the phylogenetic relationships among species within Veratrum sect. Veratrum.