The Liverwort and Hornwort Flora of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea: A Volcanic Island with a Unique Mixture of Subtropical, Temperate, Boreal, and Arctomontane Taxa

Abstract

Jeju Island, due to its position at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula in Northeast Asia, is a on the unique enclave of the many southern elements in the area and features a mixture of subtropical, temperate, boreal, and arctomontane taxa. Among the arctomontane species recorded in this study was Anthelia juratzkana; among the temperate species was Dactyloradula brunnea, and subtropical species were Cavicularia densa, Pallavicinia subciliata, Wiesnerella denudata, and Megaceros flagellaris. A valuable species as first recorded for the Jeju Island is Cryptocoleopsis imbricata. The distribution patterns of these species suggest that the flora of Jeju Island is a meeting place between boreal and subtropical floras. We recorded 222 taxa belonging to 45 families, 80 genera, 209 species, 9 subspecies, and 4 varieties. Among these, 86 species are reported as new to the flora of Jeju Island. A checklist based on a study of 1697 specimens is also provided.

Keywords

• liverworts
• Jeju Island
• distribution pattern
• subtropical
• temperate
• nonvascular plants