An unrecorded species in Korea: Monochasma sheareri (S. Moore) Maxim. ex Franch. et Sav. (Scrophulariaceae)

Abstract

Plants of a genus and species previously unrecorded in Korea were collected from the hillside along a forest road at the Gwaneum peak in the Byeonsanbando National Park, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, together with plants belonging to Gramineae and Cyperaceae. Monochasma sheareri (S. Moore) Maxim. ex Franch. et Sav. (Scrophulariaceae) is most similar to M. savatieri Franch. ex Maxim., but differs distinctively in several morphological characters. Whereas M. sheareri exhibits a slender stem, and a calyx that is longer than the corolla, plants of M. savatieri, which is distributed in Japan and China, have stout stems with glandular pilose trichomes, along with calyxes that are shorter than their corollas. In addition, seeds of M. sheareri are elliptical, with falcate trichomes on their surfaces. This new plant has been given a Korean name, "Byeon-san-but-sal-i-pul", based on its parasitic habit and features of its natural habitat. Here, we describe its morphological characters and provide a taxonomic key and illustrations, plus photographs of the flower, fruit, and roots.