A new naturalized plant in Korea: Carex molestiformis Reznicek and Rothrock (Cyperaceae)

Abstract

We found an unrecorded species, Carex molestiformis Reznicek & Rothrock, in Byeokparyeong, Daehwa-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun,Gangwon-do, South Korea. This species is native to southern parts of the United States (ca. 11 states, including Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma). These plants are usually distributed densely in stream flood plains, bottomlands, stream banks, and along roadsides. Belonging to section Ovales Kunth, perennial herbs with gynecandrous spikes, C. molestiformis is closely related to C. maackii Maxim. and C. scoparia Willd. and is distinguished from them by the number (2–4) of spikes in each inflorescence and the width (2.6–3.4 mm) and number (6–9) of veins of perigynia. A new Korean name of C. molestiformis ‘Ga-Neun-Ta-Rae-Sa-Cho’ was given, as it has slender overall appearance compared with C. maackii (Ta-Rae-Sa-Cho). We also provide a description, illustrations, photographs and a key of relatedt axa in Korea. We compared three DNA barcode region (chloroplast DNA matK, ndhF and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer) sequences from C. molestiformis with those of C. maackii and C. scoparia, determining eight species-specific single nucleotide polymorphism sites for C. molestiformis.