The morphology of Thalictrum L. in Korea

Abstract

This study were examined for their external morphological characters such as root, leaf, inflorescenses, flower, stamen, pistil, and fruit as to Korean Thalictrum L. and discussed taxanomic value of characters, and made out a new key. This study confirmed that specialized stems and roots type were divided into fibrous type, fibrous having a tuber type, long fusiform tuberous type, tuberoid type, rhizome type and stolon type. The stem were divided into two types based on existence and nonexistence of striate or pubescent. Leaves were usually 2-3-ternately and was divided into three types based on leaf apex, leaf base and number of lobe. Inflorescenses were divided into two type; corymb, panicle. Flower is bisexual, and don't have petal. It was divided from existence and nonexistence of calyx when it flowering. Especially, the stamens were divided from anther shape and apex shape, degree of dilation of filament, epidermic shape of filament etc., and the pistils were divided from glandular on ovary, length of carpel stipe etc.. The fruit is a achene and it was divided from achene shape, achene rib or wings, achene stipe length. This study suggest that useful characters for identifying section are degree of dilation of filament, anther shape, achene rib and wings, degree of dilation of achene. Also, roots, leaf shape, stamen and pistil shape, achene beak and achene length, achene and leaf hair appear to be useful characters for identifying species.