Kyeonghee Kim1, Seung Mok Ryu1, Inkyu Park2, and Jun-Ho Song3P

1Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine,

Naju, Korea;

2Department of Biology, Changwon National University, Changwon, Korea;

3Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea

Peucedanum L. (Apiaceae) is a taxonomically complex genus characterized by extensive morphological, chemical, and genetic diversity, which has long obscured species boundaries and generic circumscription. In this study, we applied an integrative taxonomic approach combining macromorphology, micromorphology, chemotaxonomy, and plastome phylogenomics to reassess the taxonomy of Korean Peucedanum. P. miroense and P. tongkangense were newly described from Gangwon Province based on diagnostic morphological characters, ecological preferences, and mericarp features. Both species are morphologically similar to the related species with linear ultimate leaf segments but are clearly distinguished by ovary indumentum, anther color, mericarp shape, and the number and arrangement of vittae. Leaf and petal epidermal micromorphologies of 12 Peucedanum from Korea were investigated using light microscopy and large-area, multiscale field-emission scanning electron microscopy combined with a modular automated processing system. We identified consistent micromorphological traits distinguishing the genus Peucedanum from the close genera and fine-scale epidermal characters proved helpful in discriminating each taxa. Chemotaxonomic analyses using UHPLC–Q/TOF-MS of 24 accessions representing eight Korean species revealed three distinct chemical groups, supporting recent taxonomic classifications. P. japonicum exhibited unique pyranocoumarin derivatives and dense epicuticular waxes, supporting its reassignment to Sinopeucedanum, whereas most Korean taxa shared coumarin glucoside profiles consistent with Kitagawia. Phylogenomic analyses based on complete plastome sequences confirmed the polyphyly of Peucedanum sensu lato and resolved three major clades. Ten Korean taxa formed a well-supported monophyletic group corresponding to Kitagawia, while P. japonicum clustered with Sinopeucedanum. Mericarp anatomical characters further corroborated these phylogenetic relationships. Overall, this integrative study provides a comprehensive taxonomic reassessment of Korean Peucedanum, supports the transfer of ten Korean taxa to Kitagawia and the reassignment of P. japonicum to Sinopeucedanum, and highlights the importance of combining morphological, chemical, and genomic data to resolve taxonomic complexity within Apiaceae.

* This research was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (RS-2023-00208589), by the Global Learning & Academic Research Institute for Master’s and PhD students, and Postdocs (LAMP) Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Education (RS-2024-00445180).