Re-examination of the vascular plants on Hongdo Island, Korea

Abstract

This study was carried out to survey the flora of Hongdo Island in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Specimens collected from previous Hongdo flora studies were reexamined using a relevant biodiversity database, and field surveys were carried out 22 times from April of 2003 to October of 2020. Based on the specimens collected during both previous studies and this study, the identified vascular plants of Hongdo consisted of 472 taxa comprising 102 families, 296 genera, 425 species, 6 subspecies, and 41 varieties. Among them, 111 taxa are newly recorded in this study, and 6 taxa are described in detail in terms of their morphological characteristics and habitat. Also, 29 taxa were reviewed or re-identified with corresponding taxonomic annotations. In Korea, Hongdo represents the northern distributional limit of the 4 taxa of Goodyera biflora, Damnacanthus major, Calanthe aristulifera, and Hemerocallis hongdoensis. Moreover, Hosta yingeri and Saussurea polylepis are endemic to Hongdo and nearby islands in Korea. Distribution maps of these species were prepared. Protected species designated by the Ministry of Environment were 7 taxa consisting of 2 taxa of level I, specifically Sedirea japonica and Neofinetia falcata, and 5 taxa of level II, which were Cymbidium macrorhizon, Woodwardia japonica, Dendrobium moniliforme, Calanthe aristulifera, and Bulbophyllum inconspicuum. Red list plants as designated by the National Institute of Biological Resources numbered 11 taxa. Naturalized plants numbered 40 taxa.