A Natural Hybrid between Pseudostellaria heterophylla and P. palibiniana (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract

During survey of the flora of Mt. Bisulsan at Taegu Province in Korea, we found along with Pseudostellaria heterophylla and P. palibiniana a few individuals which we could not identify. In order to determine their taxonomic position, we examined their external morphology, somatic chromosome number, pollen fertility, and allozyme band patterns, and concluded that they represent a natural hybrid between P. heterophylla and P. palibiniana. It was described as P. heterophylla × P. palibiniana, and this is the first report of the interspecific hybrid in PseudosteUaria.