Jenn-Che Wang

• National Taiwan Normal University

Aspidistra Ker Gawl. is one of the the most diverse and fastest-growing genera of angiosperm. Most Aspidistra species have been discovered in a limited area or a single site through morphological comparison. Because of the lack of population studies, morphological variation within species and the boundaries of some species remain unclear. In recent...

Invasive plants had raised lots of concern about the environment and biodiversity. Many members of Asteraceae are notorious invasive alien species across the world. In Taiwan, Emilia (Asteraceae) contains one native and two naturalized species. Recently, we found some morphologically intermediate individuals between the native E. sonchifolia var. j...

We developed a seedling index (SI), which measures the number of seedlings in proportion to total regeneration individuals (seedlings and sprouts), to test whether the regeneration patterns of woody plants in evergreen broadleaved forests varied across topographic gradient. Our hypothesis was that sprouting in woody plants would be higher in highly...

Background: Leaf epicuticular wax is an important functional trait for physiological regulation and pathogen defense. This study tests how selective pressure may have forced the trait of leaf abaxial epicuticular wax crystals (LAEWC) and whether the presence/absence of LAEWC is associated with other ecophysiological traits. Scanning Electron Micro...

After examining the specimens of genus Microlepia in some major herbaria for the purpose of monographic study, two new species, namely Microlepia kerrii, and M. thailandensis, are recognized and described with photographs of type specimens herein.

Aim We investigated the historical biogeography and diversification of Gentiana L. (Gentianaceae). Our study depicts the origin and dispersal routes of this alpine genus, and the role of the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau ( QTP ) and past climate changes as triggers for its diversification. Location Tibeto‐Himalayan region and world‐wide moun...

Ecological speciation has long been noted 26 as a central topic in the field of evolutionary biology, and investigation into the relative importance of ecological and geographical factors is becoming increasingly emphasized. We surveyed genetic variation of 277 samples from 25 populations of nine Rhododendron species within Tsutsusi subgenus in Tai...

A new name, Lepidagathis boholensis nom. nov., is proposed to replace the later homonym L. stenophylla Merr. Furthermore, a lectotype is also designated for the name Lepidagathis boholensis Y.S.Liang, S.T.Geng, L.T.Evangelista & J.C.Wang.

In this study, Craterostigma sessiliflora (Benth.) Y.S.Liang & J.C.Wang comb. nov. is reconfirmed and separated from C. nummulariifolium based on an examination of type specimens and morphological evidence. Craterostigma sessiliflora (Benth.) Y.S.Liang & J.C.Wang comb. nov., Torenia kinmenensis (Y.S.Liang, C.H.Chen & J.L.Tsai) Y.S.Liang & J.C.Wang...

Montane cloud forest is one of the most endangered ecosystems. However, there are few comprehensive studies on the distribution of subtropical montane cloud forest (SMCF). Chamaecyparis forest is one type of SMCF in Taiwan, distributed across the whole island. This study describes eleven types of this forest in Taiwan based on the Braun-Blanquet ap...

Bonnaya Link & Otto section Bonnaya (Linderniaceae) is revised on the basis of morphological evidence. Eleven species, including the new species B. sanpabloensis, are recognised. Several names are reduced to synonymy or excluded from the genus Bonnaya, and a lectotype is designated for Bonnaya cyanea. A key to the genus is also provided.

Asarum ampulliflorum Lu & Wang, sp. nov. (Aristolochiaceae), collected from Taiwan, is described and illustrated here. Asarum ampulliflorum is similar to A. asaroides (Morr. & Decne.) F. Maekawa in appearance but can be differentiated from the latter by leaf length equal to width (vs. length longer or shorter than width), perianth tube smaller (8.7...

The purpose of this study was to investigate how forests on subtropical mountains, which resembled tropical and temperate forests, were assembled, and to examine the compression and overlap of vegetations. We established 344 sample plots (400 m2) located at different altitudinal gradients ranging from 16 to 3,500 m above sea level (ASL) in Hsueshan...

Cymbidium macrorhizon Lindl., a mycoheterotrophic orchid, was recently found in southeastern Taiwan. It can be easily distinguished from other congeners by its lack of green leaves and pseudobulbs, but with large rhizomes. A description, illustration, and color photos of the plant are provided in this paper.

An unknown Sedum was found from the limestone region in Taiwan. After a detailed comparison with other congeners in Taiwan and neighboring countries, we identified this plant as a new species. This new taxon resembles S. nokoense Yamamoto, S. alfredii Hance, and S. uniflorum Hook. & Arn. subsp. oryzifolium (Makino) H. Ohba, but differs in leaf shap...

Recently, we discovered an unknown Asarum from Taiwan which is closely related to A. crassisepalum S.F. Huang, T.H. Hsieh and T.C. Huang and A. taipingshanianum S.F. Huang, T.H. Hsieh and T.C. Huang by sharing a thick leaf blade, spreading perianth-lobes and a conical to cylindrical perianth-tube. We compared it with other related species and ident...

We identify the main forest vegetation types in Taiwan, provide their formal definitions and describe their species composition, habitat affinities and distribution. Taiwan. A data set of 9822 vegetation plots with environmental characteristics recorded in the field or derived from digital maps in GIS was compiled from historical literature and an...

There were 8 species of the genus Asarum previously recorded in Vietnam, this paper reported Asarum yunnanense T. Sugaw., Ogisu & C.Y. Cheng as a species newly recorded for the flora of Vietnam. This species was collected from Na Hang Nature reserve, Tuyen Quang province. Asarum yunnanense is characterized by the following features: herbs, rhizomes...

Silene gallica L., an annual weed originally native to southern Europe to western Asia, was recently found to have been naturalized in the lowlands of northern Taiwan. It is easily distinguished from other Taiwanese congeners by having viscid-glandular pubescence and petals shallowly dentate or entire at the apex. A morphological description, line...

Vegetation of boreal coniferous forests has been extensively studied in many areas of northern Eurasia and North America, but similar forests in the high mountains of subtropical and tropical eastern Asia have been poorly documented so far. This paper, focusing on such forests, is the first phytosociological study at a national scale in Taiwan. The...

The genus Asarum L. comprised about 90 species, mainly distributed in East Asia (Chinna, Japan and Vietnam), North America and European. There were 7 species of Asarum recorded in Vietnam. This paper reported the species Asarum cordifolium C. E. C. Fischer newly recorded for the flora of Vietnam. Asarum cordifolium C. E. C. Fischer: Herbs, rhizomes...

Camellia brevistyla and C. tenuiflora, two ecologically and economically important species of Taiwan, have long been confused due to their morphological similarities. This paper aims to clarify their taxonomic relationship based on phenetic analyses of morphological data. We characterized the patterns of morphological variations of C. brevistyla an...

The genus Lindernia (Scrophulariaceae) in Taiwan was taxonomically revised based on morphological and ecological studies. Thirteen species and two varieties of this genus, including a newly recorded species, L. nummularifolia (D. Don) Wettst. and a newly naturalized species, L. rotundifolia (L.) Alston are treated. Three species: L. hyssopioides (L...

Microlepia ravenii S.-J. Moore (Dennstaedtiaceae, Pteridophyta), a new species from northern Vietnam, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to M. marginata and M. hookeriana but differs in having cuneate and not auriculate bases of lower pinnae, cartilaginous and alternatively crenate and denticulate margins of pinnae, and a g...

Stemodia verticillata (Mill.) Hassl. (Scrophulariaceae) was found in the lowlands of northern Taiwan. This represents a new naturalization not only for this species but also for the genus on this island. A taxonomic account of S. verticillata is treated in this study. A line-drawing, distribution map and photographs of this species are also provide...

Demographic history and dispersal ability are significant factors in determining the genetic composition of a population. In this study, we examined the phylogeographic patterns of Ceriops tagal from the Hainan Island and the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea, where there are abundant mangrove species. Nucleotide variations in two chloroplast...

The present paper reports a newly recorded Asarum, A. satsumense F. Maekawa, collected from Taiwan. This species was for merely recorded as an endemic species in Kagoshima, southern Kyushu, Japan. However, recently it was found in northwestern Taiwan, Miaoli and Taichung Counties. Asarum satsumense resembles A. macranthum Hook. f. of Taiwan, but ca...

Background/Question/Methods The most powerful explanation for hump-shaped species richness distribution on the gradient was mid-domain effect (Colwell and Hurtt 1994). This pattern occurs in different regions and different taxa. During the past decade, ecologists tried to challenge this view of point, either demonstrating the hump-shaped pattern...

The objectives of this study are to revisit altitudinal distribution patterns for plant species in the main sections (where the ridges are higher than 2,000 m above sea level) of the Central Mountain Range (CMR) in Taiwan and identify the most influential environmental factor resulting in these patterns. Three east-west oriented sampling belts at r...

This article describes the successful implementation and preliminary results of the first national vegetation inventory in Taiwan. This project which aimed to establish national criteria for vegetation classification, map island-wide forest vegetation at a scale of 1: 5000 and establish a vegetation data management system was launched in 2003. More...

】 Asarum yaeyamense Hatusima, a member of the section Heterotropa, was formerly reported as an endemic species distributed on Iriomote Island, southern Ryukyus of Japan. During our bo-tanical surveys, this species was newly found in northern Taiwan, representing a new record to the flora of Taiwan. The species is closely related to A. hypogynum Hay...

The genus Alpinia in Taiwan was very impressed by its frequent hybridization. Four out of 6 indigenous species in Taiwan proper have been reported to be involved in a reticulate hybridization. This paper describes and illustrates a new natural hybrid A. × ilanensis, putatively derived from A. japonica and A. pricei, which is supported by morphologi...

The Malay Peninsula (formerly ancient Sundaland) is regarded as a barrier that isolates organisms of the South China Sea from those of the Bay of Bengal. During the interglacial period, approximately 5 Mya, sea levels rose and organisms migrated across the narrowest part of this peninsula, the Kra Isthmus. In the present study, we examine the chlor...

Reticulate hybridization is a complicated and creative mechanism in plant evolution that can cause interference in phylogenetic studies. Based on observations of intermediate morphology, low pollen fertility, and overlapping distributions of putative parent species, Yang and Wang (Proceedings of the cross-strait symposium on floristic diversity and...

Acrorumohra subreflexipinna, an endemic fern of Taiwan, has been suspected to be a hybrid species. The aims of this study were to detect possible multiple origins of this species, determine the genetic variation in different populations, and clarify their lineages. One nuclear and three organellar DNA fragments were sequenced to determine parentage...

Three new species of Asarum L. sect. Heterotropa: A. chatienshanianum C. T. Lu & J. C. Wang, A. tawushanianum C. T. Lu & J. C. Wang, and A. villisepalum C. T. Lu & J. C. Wang, from Taiwan are described and illustrated. The somatic chromosome number and micromorphology of pollen grains of all of them were also examined. The somatic chromosome number...

Strobilanthes wallichii Nees (Acanthaceae) is reported for the first time in Taiwan. This species can be distinguished from its congener in Taiwan by having attenuate leaf base and deeply 5-divided calyx. Taxonomic description, distribution information, pollen SEM micrographs, and color photographs are provided for this newly recorded species. Key...

This paper reports a new recorded lycophyte, Selaginella lutchuensis Koidz., collected from eastern Taiwan. This species can be distinguished from other congeners by its resupinate strobili, long-tailed apex of ventral (lateral) trophophyll and distinctly white-callous margin of dorsal (median) one. In the present work, taxonomic description, distr...

During our botanical exploration of the mountains of Chihpen, Taitung County in September 2005, we collected an unknown Camellia which was subsequently identified as Camellia kissi Wallich, a species widely distributed from the Himalayas to South China. The newly recorded species is easily distinguished from its congeners in Taiwan by the pyriform...

Bidens pilosa L. is a plant producing barbed fruits which, due to its method of seed dispersal, is commonly found during forensic investigations. In Taiwan there are three varieties of the species, radiata, minor and pilosa. Fragments of these three varieties are difficult to differentiate by traditional morphological characteristics and until now...

Dryopteris championii (Benth.) C. Chr. ex Ching is newly recorded to Taiwan. This species is rare and known only from three locations in Taiwan. Taxonomic description, illustration and distribution information are provided here.

Polyploidization is a significant mode of speciation in plants. Polyploids often occupy habitats different from those of their diploid parents. In Taiwan, two varieties of Pteris fauriei, one diploid and one triploid, have been identified. The number of spores per sporangium and the size of spores are reliable indicators of ploidy. Diploid P. fauri...

Forensic botanical comparison can be hampered by the lack of appropriate DNA databases. While DNA sequence databases for many mitochondrial loci have been established for the identification of animal species, less is known regarding the genomes of plants. We report on the use of the trnL intron and the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer (IGS) in the chlor...

The Control Substances Hazard Prevention Act classifies Cannabis sativa as a controlled substance under schedule II of the Act in Taiwan. The punishment for trafficking may be a sentence of up to life in prison. Huo Ma Jen is usually imported as a Chinese medicinal remedy and also as bird food. Importers of cannabis material make use of loopholes i...

A new species Tripterospermum lilungshanensis C. H. Chen & J. C. Wang from Taiwan is described. Line drawing, color photos, and SEM micrographs of pollen and seed are also provided to aid in the identification. This species was found at the altitude of ca. 600-1,000 m from Mt. Lilungshan in the southern part of the Central Mountain Range. The new s...

There are two varieties of Pteris fauriei Hieron. in Taiwan: P. fauriei var. fauriei and P. fauriei var. minor Hieron. Their mature sporophytes are virtually indistinguishable based on gross morphology. To better understand these two varieties and the differences between them, and to determine whether they are based on different ploidies, we examin...

A newly recorded species, Diplazium crassiusculum Ching, in northern Taiwan is described and illustrated in this paper. It can be distinguished from other congeners by its coriaceous fronds, free terminal pinna, serrate margins, oblong-lanceolate pinnae, and sori solely formed at the acroscopic side of the first veinlet in each venous set. A key is...

Burmannia comprises ca. 63 species and is one of the largest genera of the Burmanniaceae. Three species were recorded in the 2nd edition of Flora of Taiwan. In the course of our botanical inventory, Burmannia cryptopetala Makino was found in the northern and northeastern Taiwan, representing a new record species on this island. Burmannia cryptopeta...

Based on an extensive morphological study of Ranunculus cantoniensis and its allied species in Taiwan four species are recognized: R. cantoniensis DC., R. chinensis Bunge, R. sieboldii Miq., and R. silerifolius Lév. (previously lumped into R. sieboldii Miq.). Ranunculus chinensis Bunge is a new record for the flora of Taiwan. A key to species, taxo...

Aim This paper described current phylogeographical patterns of chloroplastic DNA variation of Trochodendron aralioides, a temperate tree species, and inferred its possible refugium in Taiwan. This information was compared with the known phylogeographical pattern of subtropical tree species. Location A total of 24 populations were sampled including...

In Arisaema thunbergii Blume, two Japanese subspecies, subsp. thunbergii and subsp. urashima (H. Hara) H. Ohashi & J. Murata, and subsp. autumnale J. C. Wang, J. Murata & H. Ohashi, recently described from Taiwan, have been recognized. Morphological variations in A. thunbergii between these subspecies are examined with special reference to sexual d...

This paper reports Dryopteris decipiens (Hook.) Kuntze collected from northern Taiwan. The species can be distinguished from other congeners by its pinnate fronds with pinnatifid apex, costa on abaxial side covered by small saccate scales and usually a single row of sori on each side of costa. A key to the related taxa, taxonomic description, illus...

Microtrichomanes digitatum (Sw.) Copel., a filmy fern species, was discovered in the southern Taiwan during the botanical inventory of past decade. It represents a new record for the fern flora of Taiwan. Microtrichomanes digitatum can be distinguished from its congener, M. nitidulum (v. d. Bosch) Copel., in bearing short, stiff, simple, and dark-b...

Siebold & Zucc., a primitive angiosperm that is insect-pollinated, has wind-dispersed seeds and grows only in eastern Asia. Nineteen populations were analyzed, including 16 from Taiwan, two from the main islands of Japan and one from Iriomote Island in the Ryukyu Islands. Genetic variability (0.133) at the species level was more similar to that of...

Based on intensive morphological study of the genus Gentian from Taiwan, eleven species and two varieties are recognized. All but G. davidii var. formosana T. N. Ho are endemic to Taiwan. Two new species (G. kaohsiungensis C. H. Chen and J. C. Wang and G. tarokoensis C. H. Chen and J. C. Wang) and one new variety (G. flavomaculata var. yuanyanghuen...

The genus Arisaema (Araceae) in Taiwan is revised based on comparative morphological, palynological, and cytotaxonomical studies. Nine species and one variety, including two new taxa (A. ilanense J. C. Wang sp. nov. and A. thunbergii ssp. autumnale J. C. Wang, J. Murata & Ohashi ssp. nov.), are recognized. By the re-collection of fresh materials an...