A new distribution record of Lemna turionifera (Araceae, Lemnoideae) in Korea

Abstract

Here we confirm the first accurate distributional record of Lemna turionifera Landolt (Lemnoideae, Araceae) in Korea. The nomenclator, Elias Landolt (1926–2013), had collected the species in Korea, but to date, there have been no other identifiers of this species. A Lemna species collected from Andong showed the key characters of L. turionifera: pigmented fronds, consistently-sized papillae along the middle vein, purple-colored root base, and turion forming. The cpDNA sequence of the atpF-atpH intergenic spacer of our Lemna sample was identical or quite similar (99.6%–100%) to those found in Landolt's collection. Although we could not find flowers, fruits, or seeds during a field survey, after 15 days of indoor incubation, we were able to observe the flowering of L. turionifera. The flower was protogynous, and the spathe was reddish.