Agrimonia L. (1753) comprises about 20 species occurring mainly in temperate zones throughout North America, Central America, the West Indies, southern South America, Europe, Asia, and the southern parts of Africa (Hutchinson, 1964; Robertson, 1974; Kalkman, 2004; Chung, 2008; Kline and Sorensen, 2008). The genus is a perennial herb with rhizomes and yellow flowers on raceme inflorescences, characterized by interrupted pinnately compound leaves and hooked bristly epicalyx segments, and has the type species of A. eupatoria L. (Wallroth, 1842; Skalický, 1973; Kalkman, 2004; Chung, 2008) (Fig. 1). The basic chromosome number is x = 7, and a range of ploidy levels has been reported (4x, 6x, and 8x) (Hara and Kurosawa, 1968; Iwatsubo et al., 1993; Kwon et al., 2005). Infrageneric classifications have been proposed based on epicalyx and leaf characteristics (Wallroth, 1842; Skalický, 1973), and some species such as A. pilosa Ledeb. and A. eupatoria have been used for medicinal and horticultural purposes (Dulger and Gonuz, 2004; Park et al., 2012). Recent molecular phylogenetic investigations consider the genus in subtribe Agrimoniinae, tribe Sanguisorbeae, supertribe Rosodae, subfamily Rosoideae (Eriksson et al., 2003; Potter et al., 2007).
In Korea, three Agrimonia taxa have been recognized: A. coreana Nakai, A. nippopnica Koidz., and A. pilosa Ledeb., (Chung and Kim, 2000; Choi, 2007). Previously, Park (1974) verified five taxa (A. pilosa, A. pilosa var. nepalensis (D. Don) Nakai, A. pilosa var. nipponica (Koidz.) Ohwi, A. pilosa var. coreana (Nakai) Liou & Y. L. Chang, and A. pilosa f. davurica Nakai) in Korea, but most Korean botanists recognized two taxa (A. pilosa and A. coreana) (Lee, 1980; Lee, 1996; Lee, 2003; Lee, 2006). Flower and fruit sizes, stamen numbers, and leaf and stipule shapes provide diagnostic characteristics for each taxon (Chung and Kim, 2000; Choi, 2007). Agrimonia pilosa occurs throughout Eurasia, whereas A. coreana and A. nipponica occur in East Asia (Chung, 2008). In addition, A. pilosa is octoploidy, and A. coreana and A. nipponica are tetraploidy (Chung, 2008; Kwon et al., 2005). A. coreana grows only in mountain areas and flowers approximately one month earlier than the other two species in South Korea (Chung and Kim, 2000).
Agrimonia gorovoii Rumjantsev (1987) was first described from Primorsky Krai, Russia. He distinguished the species by deeply serrated leaflet margins, long horizontal pilose stems, and short-node rhizomes occurring in small populations in humid or swampy grasslands in Khasan (Rumjantsev, 1987) (Fig. 2). Herbarium specimens of A. gorovoii were collected in South Korea (Chung, 1999). The specimens resemble A. pilosa overall but have deeply serrated leaflets and long hairs on stems (Chung, 1999). However, Chung (1999) failed to identify the specimens and find natural populations of the specimens. To verify the distribution of the species in Korea, the original description, a type specimen, and herbarium collections from Korea were investigated. In addition, field surveys were conducted at the type locality in Russia and herbarium specimen collection sites in South Korea. The species is distinctive with deeply serrated leaflet margins and horizontal long hairs (Fig. 2). Recently, natural populations and additional herbarium specimens of the species have been found in Korea.
Taxonomic Treatment
Agrimonia gorovoii Rumjantsev, Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 72: 1258, 1987.―TYPE: Russia. Primorsky, Chassan (Khasan), 20 Aug 1986, P. G. Gorovoii & S. Rumjantsev s.n. (holotype, MHA; isotypes, A![barcodeA00026008], B, L, LPLE, MO, MW, US, VLA).
Korean name: Gorovoi-jip-sin-na-mul (고로보이짚신나물).
Plant perennial herbs 40–150 cm tall. Roots fibrous on well-developed, short node rhizomes (15–25 mm long). Stems erect, rarely branched above, sparsely long horizontal brownish pilose (ca. 3 mm long). Leaves caulescent, alternate; leaflets (terminal and lateral leaflets) 7–9 in mid-caulis, sessile; terminal leaflets obovate, apex obtuse, base cuneate, margins deeply serrated, 4.3–4.8 × 1.8–2.0 cm, pilose scattered adaxially, pilose and glandular hairs abaxially; lateral leaflets obovate, apex obtuse, base cuneate, margins deeply serrated, largest ones smaller than terminal leaflets by 1 cm long, first interstitial leaflets 3 pairs with 2 different sizes, middle pair ones largest ca. 1 cm long, other interstitial leaflets usually 1 pair. Stipules flabelliform-falcate, horizontally spreading, regularly incised, ca. 2 × 1.5 cm. Inflorescences raceme, mainly terminal, loose (ca. 8 fully bloomed flowers/5 cm long-inflorescence). Flowers ca. 13 mm across; pedicel 2.5–3 mm long; pedicel bracteoles 1, deeply tri-fid, hypanthium bracteoles 2, tri-fid; hypanthia obconical, pubescent and glandular; epicalyx segments numerous, persistent, cylindrical, cured at the tip, ca. 1 mm long; petals 5, golden yellow to yellow, obovate, ca. 5 × 2.4 mm; stamens 10, persistent; filaments light yellow; anthers yellow, capitate, basifixed, dehiscence longitudinal; pistils 2, persistent, simple, free; ovaries pendulous, stylopodial present; locule 1, placentation base; styles 2, pale yellow, filiform, 2–3.5 mm; stigmas reniform, dilated. Achenes 1 or 2 per fruiting hypanthium; fruiting hypanthia semi-obconical or obconical, pilose and glandular, broadly sulcate, many ascending hooked bristly epicalyx segments on upper edges, (4.38–)5.23(−5.67) × (3.12–)3.78(−4.01) mm.
Flowering: Jun. to Sep.
Distribution: Russia (Primorsky Krai), Korea; sunny meadows and mountain trails.
Specimens examined: RUSSIA. Primorsky: Chassan (Khasan), 20 Aug 1986, P. G. Gorovoii & S. D. Rumjantsev s.n. (A), 26 Aug 1986, P. G. Gorovoii & S. D. Rumjantsev s.n. (MO), 17 Aug 2015, K.-S. Chung et al. s.n. (KH).
KOREA. Chungcheongnam-do: Gongju-si, Yogu-eup, Sindal-ri, Mt. Beophwasan, 24 Sep 2015, E.-H. Jung et al. Beophwa150709 (KB); Gangwon-do: Pyeongchang-gun, Daegwallyeong siheomjang, 20 Aug 1969, T.B. Lee s.n. (SNUA); Gyeonggi-do: Ansan-si, Danwon-gu, Seongam-dong, 20 Oct 2012. Lee & Lee s.n. (KB), 23 Sep 2016, K.-S. Chung 4055, 4056 (KH); Incheon: Ganghwa-gun, Yangdo-myeon, Dojang-ri, Mt. Jingangsan, 19 Jul 2014, J.-H. Kim et al. Jingang140478 (KB); Jeollabuk-do: Mt. Deogyusansan, 2 Aug 1959, T. H. Chung 26079 (SKK).
Taxonomic note: This study expands the distribution range of A. gorovoii to Korea, increasing floristic diversity in the Korean Peninsula. The species resembles A. pilosa in leaf shape and fruiting hypanthium size, but is distinguished by deeply serrated leaflet margins and brownish horizontal long pilose stems (Figs. 2, 3). In common, natural populations in Russia and Korea are small and scatter with less than 10 individuals per population. They grow in sunny, open meadows or along mountain trails from 40 to 360 m in elevation. Isotypes of the species isotypes are deposited in a various herbaria, but the collection date of isotypes in MO and B herbaria differs from the holotype collection date of August 20. Verification of the type specimen is needed. Out of 20 species in the genus, four taxa occurs in Korea: A. coreana, A. nipponica, A. pilosa, and A. gorovoii. An Eurasian species, A. pilosa, is an octoploid, whereas Eastern Asian species, A. coreana and A. nipponica, are tetraploids (Chung, 2008). The ploidy level of A. gorovoii is unknown. Its small-sized and numbered populations require genetic investigations to develop proper conservation and management strategies in evolutionary as well as ethnobotanical aspects.
Key to the species of Agrimonia in Korea
1. Lateral leaflets 1–2 pairs in mid-caules, abaxial surface of leaflets densely glandular and tomentose
2. Flowers more than 10 mm in diameter, stamens 14– 18, fruiting hypanthia more than 7 mm long, stipules flabellate ················ A. coreana Nakai (산짚신나물)
2. Flowers less than 10 mm in diameter, stamens 5–10, fruiting hypanthia less than 7 mm long, stipules falcate ···························· A. nipponica Koidz. (좀짚신나물)
1. Lateral leaflets 3–5 pairs in mid-caules, abaxial surface of leaflets scatter glandular or pubescent
3. Leaflet margins dentate or serrate, stipule margins irregularly dentate, serrate, or entire, stem surfaces whitish non-horizontal pilose ···························· ···························· ···························· A. pilosa Ledeb. (짚신나물)
3. Leaflet margins deeply serrate, stipule margins regularly incised, stem surfaces brownish, horizontal pilose ···························· ··············· A. gorovoii Rumjantsev (고로보이짚신나물)
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