A taxonomic revision of Ligustrum (Oleaceae) in Korea

Ju Eun Jang, Seung Hwan Oh, Mi Jung Choi, Jung Hyun Lee, Gyu Young Chung, Hyeok Jae Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

A taxonomic revision of Korean Ligustrum species is presented based on critical observations of wild populations and herbarium specimens. Species delimitations were re-evaluated on the basis of morphological characters, such as plant height, texture and shape of leaf, shape of inflorescence, shape of drupe and seed, and texture of endocarp. From the results, L. leucanthum (= L. acutissimum), being recorded in Korea, is excluded from the Korean flora because it comes from misidentifications of the herbarium specimen, whose identity is L. obtusifolium. We also treated L.obtusifolium subsp. suave and L. obtusifolium subsp. microphyllum as synonyms of L.obtusifolium. Ligustrum quihoui var. latifolium is placed into synonym of L. quihoui. In addition, the record of L. ovalifolium from Korea has proved to be a misidentification of herbarium specimens, the correct identity of which is L. salicinum. Consequently, we recognized the following six Ligustrum species in Korea: L. japonicum, L. lucidum, L. quihoui, L. salicinum, L. foliosum, and L. obtusifolium. Photographs and a key to six species of Ligustrum were provided in addition to complete descriptions including information on nomenclatural types, synonyms, and taxonomic notes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)406-429
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2020

Keywords

  • Korea
  • Ligustrum
  • Morphological character
  • Oleaceae
  • Taxonomic revision

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A taxonomic revision of Ligustrum (Oleaceae) in Korea'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this