Rocky vegetation in South Korea and their relation to the whole Korean Peninsula

Abstract

In 2006 and 2007, the mountain rock vegetation of the central and southern part of the Korean Peninsula (Republic of Korea) was studied using the traditional Zurich-Montpellier school approach. Based on the classification of 223 phytocoenological releves, twelve associations and three communities were identified in the study area. Within the Selaginello tamariscini-Potentilletea dickinsii class, the Selaginello stauntonianae-Buxetalia koreanae order, with an alliance of the same name was newly described for limestone rock plant communities. Five new associations have recently been described for the whole Korean Peninsula and simultaneously for the territory of South Korea: Pyrrosietum linearifolio-petiolosae, Astilbo chinensis-Chrysosplenietum flagelliferi, Meehanio urticifoliae-Selaginelletum stauntonianae, Junipero rigidae-Buxetum koreanae, and Patrinio rupestris-Mukdenietum rossii. A total of seventeen associations, nine subassociations and six communities included in four alliances and three orders were recently found on the territory of the Korean Peninsula. All units were documented by phytocoenological tables, descriptions of the floristic composition and structure, their habitat, the synecological characteristics and the yet known distribution.