2004 Volume 55 Issue 3 Pages 199-205
Asarum maculatum Nakai, a perennial herb endemic to southern Korea, is unique in its variegated leaves. However, the independence of this species is doubtful because the species co-occurs with A. sieboldii Miq. var. sieboldii in the same geographical area in Korea, and no significant difference is found between the two taxa in external morphology, except for leaf variegation. We examined the genetic differentiation between A. maculatum and A. sieboldii van sieboldii using enzyme electrophoresis. The genetic differentiation between the two taxa in the same locality was not greater than that among the intraspecific populations. Moreover, there is little genetic differentiation between the mixed populations of the two taxa and the populations composed only of A. sieboldii var. sieboldii. Consequently, A. maculatum is not differentiated genetically from A. sieboldii var. sieboldii, and the two taxa should be regarded as the same species. Hence, a new combination, A. sieboldii f. maculatum (Nakai) Yamaji (comb, et stat. nov.), is proposed.
