Eun Su Kang1P, Jaewon Seol2, Hyeon Rae Jo3, Kyeonghee Kim4, Heewon Ji5,

Kang-Hyup Lee1, Jun-Ho Song5, Dong Chan Son1

1Division of Forest Biodiversity, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Korea

2Division of Forest Biodiversity Conservation, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Korea

3Woori Botanical Institute, Haman, Korea

4Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Naju, Korea

5Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea

Angelica pubescens Maxim. (Apiaceae), a plant native to Japan and Taiwan, was found in Gyeongsangnam-do (Goseong, Jinju, Haman, and Hapcheon), Korea. Although it resembles the native A. dahurica, it is distinguished by longer lower cauline leaf blades; finer leaflet-margin serration; bracts absent and bracteoles absent or rarely one; simple hairs on the mericarp surface; and vittae 3 per vallecula and 6–8 on the commissure. The species appears to be naturalized in Korea and is currently restricted to Gyeongsangnam-do; however, habitat suitability modeling under current and future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5) predicts a northward expansion of climatically suitable areas with warming. Meanwhile, the young shoots of A. pubescens are often confused with those of Aralia cordata var. continentalis (Araliaceae). In The Japanese Standards for Non-Pharmacopoeial Crude Drugs, A. pubescens is rcorded under the medicinal name “Dokhwal (独活),” which is the same name used for Ar. cordata var. continentalis in The Korea Pharmacopoeia. In addition, given that A. pubescens is most commonly distributed around villages in Hapcheon, where medicinal cultivation trials are frequently conducted, it is possible that this species was intentionally introduced for use as “Dokhwal (独活)”; however, further investigation is needed to clarify the introduction pathway. These findings suggest that introductions driven by confusion in plant names, together with insufficient post-introduction management, can lead to establishment and spread in natural ecosystems, highlighting the need for systematic monitoring and management of introduced plants.