Abstract
In the 1920’s, nine Japanese Double Gardenia, Gardenia jasminoides form. ovalifolia, trees were discovered at Tatsuda-yama in Kumamato Prefecture. In 1929, a section of the species habitat was designated a Japanese Natural Monument, the ‘Natural Habitat of Tatsuda-yama Yae-kuchinashi (Double Gardenia)’. However, after World War II, Double Gardenia was considered to have become extinct due to cutting and illegal collecting. Subsequently, in 1969, one Double Gardenia was found in the Monument area, part of the experimental forest of the Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, but it disappeared within a few years. However, three Double Gardenia clones, “Asai”, “Nishioka”, and “Haishou-in”, derived from the original population were conserved. With the goal being to conserve genetic resources of the Double Gardenia, this report assesses the
current status and distribution of the three clones by field surveys, consultation with experts and the literature, while morphological characteristics of the three Double Gardenia clones are also examined. Several distributions were confirmed with most having likely been planted around Mt. Tatsuda-yama. The “Haishou-in” was found to differ from the other two morphologically similar clones in terms of petal characteristics and flowering period. Further research will use genetic analysis to search for individuals that may be remnants of the original natural population and to clarify the relationships between each clone which will inform their conservation management into the future.
