A reappraisal of Sambucus pendula Nakai on Ulleung Island and its allies

Abstract

Sambucus pendula Nakai, which is an endemic on Ulleung Island of Korea, is characterized by a large pendulous inflorescence and small fruit. A set of 256 individuals were used to investigate the patterns of intraspecific variation of S. racemosa subsp. kamtchatica, S. racemosa subsp. sieboldiana, and S. williamsii including S. pendula using PCA (principal components analysis). This analysis showed that S. pendula was distinct based on its large inflorescence and long peduncle. Our data showed a morphological distinction between subsp. kamtchatica from northeastern areas and subsp. sieboldiana from Jeju Island, but the two taxa overlap in the southern and eastern parts of Korea in terms of chromosome number, color of style, and allozyme data. Our study agrees that S. pendula on Ulleung Island may be the result of genetic drift that occurred during isolation since the Quarternary period. This has been suggested as a reason for the genetic differences observed between two taxa and would explain the unique variation patterns of S. pendula. However, the morphological differentiation between the S. racemosa complex and S. pendula is not considered sufficient to warrant recognition of specific status. Therefore, we recommend that only one polymorphic species of S. racemosa in Eurasia be recognized and that S. pendula be considered a subspecies of S. racemosa.