Ecological role of traditional graveyards in the persistence of Thalictrum petaloideum L. population in Korean limestone area

Abstract

In order to examine the factors that contributed to the persistence of the population, we investigated the distribution of T. petaloideum in Korea. Vegetation environment, habitat type, phenology, self-compatibility and conservation status were evaluated in the limestone area with the most stable distribution of the population. The distribution of T. petaloideum was identified in the vegetation with low crown density, traditional Korean graveyards (TKG) and the edges of TKG. Among each type of the habitat, the population distributed at the edge of the TKG had the highest number of leaves, as well as had more seed per individual. The density of mature individuals was highest in the TKG, followed by the edge and limestone vegetation of the TKG. Therefore, it was evaluated that TKG functionate not only as a major habitat but also a site of seed source. After 40 days of flowering of T. petaloideum, the seeds matured, and the estivation started from the end of July. In the beginning of September, the second emergence of leaves started. The reason for T. petaloideum’s selecting TKG as the main habitat was presumed as a combined effect of annual growth patterns of the plant and Korean custom of managing graveyards.