Distribution of halophytes in coastal salt marsh and on sand dunes in Korea

Abstract

To elucidate the distribution of halophytes in Korea, we surveyed 95 coastal salt marsh and sand dune areas. As a result, 62 halophytes of 57 species, 4 varieties and 1 form belonging to 44 genera and 21 families were recorded from coastal regions and islands of South Korea. Of these, 33 taxa were plants growing on sand dunes and the other 29 in salt marsh. Fifty eight taxa were found on the west coast, which was surveyed at 61 areas. The most common species among them were Suaeda glauca (Bunge) Bunge, Suaeda japonica Makino, Phragmites communis Trin., Zoysia sinica Hance, Carex scabrifolia Steud. in salt marsh, and Salsola komarrovii Iljin, Lathyrus japonicus Willd., Limonium tetragonum (Thunb.) A.A. Bulloc, Calystegia soldanella Roem. & Schult. on sand dunes. On the other hand, only 45 taxa were found on the southern coast, surveyed at 15 areas. On the east coast, surveyed at 13 areas, 44 taxa were found. The most common species were Salsola komarrovii Iljin, Lathyrus japonicus Willd., Calystegia soldanella Roem. & Schult., on sand dunes and Linaria japonica Miq., which on the Korean peninsula is found only on the east coast. On Jeju Island, surveyed at 6 areas, 30 taxa of halophytes were found. Canavalia lineata (Thunb.) DC. is found in Korea only on Jeju Island. About half of the Korean halophytes were members of three families (Chenopodiaceae: 12 species, Poaceae: 12 species and Asteraceae: 7 species).