Morphometric and Isozyme Analysis of the Genus Hosta (Liliaceae) in Korea

Abstract The hostas native to Korea have never been carefully reviewed taxonomically and their patterns of variability are not well understood. For morphological and electrophoretic studies, samples of rootstocks were taken from 45 Korean Hosta populations and from two populations of H. tsushimensis N. Fujita on Tsushima Island, Japan. For morphometric analysis, ten plants from each of twenty populations were grown and observed under greenhouse conditions. Fifty-one floral and vegetative characters were examined on each plant and the data were analyzed using principal components and cluster analysis. Six Korean species can be recognized: H. yingeri S. B. Jones (Taehuksan, Sohuksan, and Hong islands); H. capitata (Koidz.) Nakai (southern Korea); H. clausa Nakai (central and northern Korea); H. minor (Baker) Nakai (southeastern Korea including Wan and Kojae islands); H. venusta F. Maekawa (Cheju Island); and H. jonesii M. Chung (southern islands). Morphological features contributing to recognition of the natural groups were: ridges on the scape; the width of inner and outer floral lobes; bracts pappillous at apex; length and color of the bracts; length of inflorescences; the withering condition of the bracts; scabrous nerves on the lower leaf surface; and size of the leaves. Isozyme analyses indicate a recent origin of H. venusta from H. minor. Although hostas are easily hybridized, natural hybridization seems to be rare in Korea. The morphological and isozyme studies identified no hybrids and the species are well characterized by their distribution patterns, phenology, and habitats.