Skip to main content

Jangjeon balsam (Impatiens jangjeonense Balsaminaceae), a new species from mountains of South Korea

Jangjeon balsam (Impatiens jangjeonense Balsaminaceae), a new species from mountains of South Korea

NEWS - Researchers from Chungbuk National University in Cheongju and the National Institute of Biological Resources in Incheon report Impatiens jangjeonense (Balsaminaceae) as a new species from the mountainous region of Gangwon-do Province in South Korea.

The new species inhabits mountainous habitats at elevations of 400–1200 meters and is often found in shaded valleys near streams. I. jangjeonense coexists with I. hambaeksanensis on Mount Hambaeksan, Gangwon-do. However, populations of both species are completely isolated from each other, making gene flow between the two species unlikely.

The genus Impatiens exhibits great variation in morphology. Flower color and morphology vary greatly, along with diverse capsule and seed shapes. In particular, a variety of organ colors, shapes, and sizes are observed within the same species or the same population. Partly because of this variability, the taxonomy of Impatiens has proven challenging.

I. jangjeonense is morphologically similar to I. hambaeksanensis with overlapping organ sizes and colors. However, the researchers were able to conclude that some morphological features of the new species are clearly distinguishable. Among the Korean Impatiens species, the spur tips are clearly bifurcated in I. jangjeonense and I. furcillata, while I. hambaeksanensis has slightly bifurcated spur tips.

The topography of the Korean Peninsula is characterized by high eastern mountains and lowland areas in the west. I. hambaeksanensis and I. jangjeonense are distributed in Baekdudaegan, but I. hambaeksanensis is limited to a smaller area with an elevation of 900-1200 meters, indicating that this endemic species is a relict.

The researchers hypothesize that this species originated a long time ago and lost many populations over time. The remaining populations may have successfully adapted to the temperature, rainfall and ecology of the high mountains. I. jangjeonense is distributed in a wider area with an elevation of 400-1200 meters.

Original research

Ami Oh, Byoung-Un Oh, Hyun Kyung Oh (2024). Impatiens jangjeonense (Balsaminaceae), a new species from South Korea. Phytotaxa 663 (5): 283-293 https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.663.5.3, DOI:10.11646/phytotaxa.663.5.3

Dlium theDlium

Popular Posts

Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Broad-leaved dock ( Rumex obtusifolius ) is a species of plant in the Polygonaceae, herbaceous perennial, growing broadly, up to 150 cm tall, large, oval-shaped leaves with a heart-shaped base and rounded tip, large taproot with many branches extending to a depth of 150 cm. R. obtusifolius has leaves up to 30 cm long, 15 cm wide and green. Stems are long, hard, alternate, green or reddish in color and unbranched until just below the inflorescence. A main vein in the middle and green or reddish in color. Flat or wavy surface. The inflorescences consist of large clusters of racemes that contain small, greenish flowers that turn red as they mature. Seeds are reddish brown and dry. Broad-leaved dock grows in fertile soils, grasslands, waste lands, roadsides, ditches, coastlines and riverbanks, forest margins, forest clearing and agricultural land. The leaves are used as a salad to make vegetable broth or cooked like spinach. Dried seeds are used as a spice. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tr...

Khorat butterfly lizard (Leiolepis glaurung) adapts to rocky habitats for the first time in the genus

NEWS - A new species of rock-dwelling butterfly lizard (Leiolepis Cuvier, 1829) has been described from the Khorat Plateau in northeastern Thailand. This new report of Leiolepis glaurung brings the number of Leiolepis species in Thailand to six and worldwide to 11, and is the first case of an ecological adaptation to survive in a rocky habitat. L. glaurung can be distinguished from all other sexual species of Leiolepis by its combination of a black gular region with a broad yellow medial stripe, a yellow ventrum with black spots, bright red to orange subcaudal coloration, sides that can expand and retract to none, and only a single black transverse stripe on its sides. The researchers hypothesize that this morphology is an adaptation to reduce the diameter of its body to better fit into smaller rocky burrows, unlike the larger and deeper burrows built in looser soil by other species. The new specimen lives on the Khorat Plateau and is phylogenetically, ecologically, and morphologic...

Twoleaf nightshade (Solanum diphyllum)

Twoleaf nightshade ( Solanum diphyllum ) is a species of plants in Solanaceae, upright shrubs grow in shade, 1-2 m tall, rounded stems, dense, green-purple brown, short hairy, stopping cells, cornered young twigs and widely cultivated as plants decorate with bright yellow ripe fruit. S. diphyllum has leaves that are alternating, solitary or paired in twigs with generative organs. Some are stemmed for 1-1.5 cm. The leaves are oval to oblique round eggs, dynamic base, flat or wavy edges, tapered or rounded edges, 1-14.5 cm long, 0.5-4 cm wide and have short hair. Flowers facing leaves 5-25 mm long. Has a 2 mm handle, brownish purple, straight and unbranched. Hook 5-10 mm, greenish to brown and curved. The petals have five ears, resembling kupula, pale green, 1-5 mm long and short haired. Flowers have five crowns, coincide, star-shaped, yellowish white, 2-5 mm long. Has five stamens, free and facing the crown. Short and yellowish green pistil. The stigma is yellow, attached to the...