Taxonomy of Genus Equisetum L. (Equisetaceae) in Korea

Abstract

To confirm the taxonomic identities of Genus Equisetum L. in Korea, the diagnostic characters including the shape of sheath, the habit of reproductive, vegetative stem, and the shape of the sporangiophore, were investigated using the specimens collected from several localities, such as Ullung Island, Mt. Seolak, Mt. Jumbong, etc., and deposed at SNU, SKK, JNU, KUS, MAK, and TI. The major diagnostic characters of genus Equisetum in Korea were the primary sheath shape, presence/absence of seconary branch, pubescence of stem and shape and position of strobilus. Until now, 14 taxa were known to be distributed in Korea by various authors, however, 7 species such as E. arvense L., E. sylvaticum L., E. pratense Ehrh., E. palustre L., E. fluviatile L., E. hyemale L., and E. ramosissimun Desf. were confirmed to be distributed in Korea. The plants of E. sylvaticm, E. pratense, E. palustre and E. fluviatile were growing only in northern peninsula of Korea. Therefore, the remaining three species, E. arvense , E. ramosissimum, E. hyemale, were only collected in South Korea.