arisaemas in Korea

[Tony Avent]

AEG'ers:

Now that I'm mostly recovered from jet lag, I thought I'd share a
few phalloid dreams from my recent month long trek to Korea...south of
course...to track down arisaema.  I was on a trip with Dan Hinkley of
Heronswood Nursery, Darrell Probst (plant breeder from Mass.), and Bleddyn
and Sue Wynn-Jones (Crug Farm in Wales).

Our trek began in Seoul, then down to the west coast 5 hours away,
then across to the east coast.  From there we traveled south, then took the
ferry out to Ullung Island, some 216km east of the mainland.  Upon returning
to the mainland, we traveled to the southwest corner, then took another
ferry 5 hrs south to Cheju Island.  Returning to the mainland, we treked
around the southwest corner, then returned home.

Arisaemas are widespread in most of Korea...some more so than
others.  The most prevalent by far was A. peninsulae (aka A. angustata v.
peninsulae).  We found this pretty much throughout our trek, but it wasn't
until we hit Ullung Island, that we found good seed set.  Ullung Island is a
volcanic island covered with a fascinating flora including the giant
hepatica. H. maxima has human hand size leaves on a 18" wide clump.

Probably half of the arisaema peninsulae on this island have silver
patterened leaves...I'm told it's the only place this varient is found.
After making one of the most most strenuous treks in my life up one side of
the mountain and down the other, we returned with an abundant quantity of
seed of the silver leaf form...never as many as we would like, but a few to
share.  We also assume that the green leaf forms growing nearby will also
yield a percentage of silver center plants.

The plants were absolutely stunning, reaching heights of 3-4'.  If
you have never been in a forest of silver center arisaema, one cannot
properly convey the incredible feeling.  The silver center A. peninsulae was
found as low as 1000' in moist ditches, and then covering the steep dry
hillsides at 3000' equally as prolifically.

The other island that we visited Cheju, was also arisaema heaven,
although the only A. peninsulae form there was green.  The variation in the
wonderful mottled trunks was incredible, from a light green to vivid dark
purple. The seed that I have sent from this island was a collection from the
very best forms.  Since it was mid October, some of the foliage was still
intact, while others had already dried for the winter.  Arisaema seed heads
were literally laying on the ground so numerous that we finally quit
collecting.
If the seed didn't have to be cleaned before returning to the US, this
probably wouldn't have been the case.

My most exciting moment on this island was the location of 1
specimen with silver speckled leaves.  This is entirely different from the
silver centered leaved specimens found on Ullung Island.  I hope this
genetic, and not some funky virus...but then again with a virus, I might be
able to make all my plants look this way.

Also on this island were loads of Arisaema ringens.  Some of the
most spectacular clumps that I had ever seed inhabited this island, where
single divisions grew to 3' across.  Despite the enormous size of the
plants, the bulbs on these monsters were suprisingly small.  The main
variation on A. ringens was the color of the stems which ranged from pure
green to dark purple, with a few plants boasting purple pigment extending
into the leaf veins.  We found this plant in areas from zone 6 - 8.  As we
know from those growing it in the US, it is hardy even in zone 5.

Seed on the A. ringens were not as plentiful as on A. peninsulae,
but we finally found adequate amounts.  A. ringens is a very late ripening
species, and despite a few of the plants having already lost their leaves,
all of the fruit was completely green and immature.  I will probably include
these on a later seed distribution.

Returning to the mainland, we found a few seed heads of A. robustum
in the more northerly parts of our journey, but unfortunately inadequate
amounts of which to share.

At each point in our trip, I tried to collect at least 1 seed head,
so that seedlings can be compared with those from other sites.

We were not able to locate many of the rarer species such as A.
negishii,and A. heterophyllum which are restricted to some of the more
remote islands...perhaps someone else will pick up the collecting torch in
Korea.

Also of interest may be our finds of a symplocarpus...probably S.
nipponicus.  Hopefully these will flower this spring and we can identify
them for sure.

My entire expedition log will be completed by the end of the year,
so look for info on how to order one in our spring 1998 catalog.

Craig tells me that the seed will be coming shortly, so enjoy.
Collection data for the seed that I have sent are:

A1K-149 Arisaema peninsulae Silver Center  10/5/97
2500' N 37 31 13.1  E 130 52.15 in dry steep slopes, and moist ditched
Ullung Island

A1K-150  Arisaema peninsulae Green Leaf  same as 149

A1K-183 Arisaema peninsulae Green Leaf  10/10/97
2250' road between Sogwipo and Cheju
rocky dry shade below road

I don't know how the distribution will work, but the large number of
folks on the seed list, it is possible that everyone will not recieve
everything.  We are growing all of these for our catalog, although the
earliest listing will be 2 years away.   Good luck.
Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC  27603
USA
ph 919 772-4794
fx 919 662-0370
email  tony at plantdel.com
USDA zone 7, 0F-100F
"I Consider Every Plant Hardy Until I Have Killed It Myself...Three Times" -
Avent