29 September 2024.
Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, South
Locality: Taean-gun, Sowon-myeon: Sogeun-ri: Site of ancient Sogeunjinseong Fortress ruins [Monument number 93].
Coordinates: 36.8199, 126.1822
(Map it)
Elevation: 10m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Hilltop promontory surrounded by water on two sides; remarkable grove of these trees growing all along the cliff sides, crest, and top. Growing in open to 25 percent shade in sandy rock soil. Slope: 80 degrees. Aspect: South-southwest.
Number of plants sampled: 3
Associated species: Celtis sinensis; Pueraria montana var. lobata; Chionanthus retusus; Quercus mongolica; Elaeagnus umbellata; Morus australis [listed as M. nigra var. indica]; Euonymus fortunei; Parthenocissus tricuspidata.
Comment: Grove of old, multistemmed, rounded trees with tortuous and serpentine branches. Height 9 m; spread 11 m; DBH 45.75 cm (dbh of one stem of a multistemmed tree). Gray, smooth bark on remarkably muscled and grooved trunks. Leaves typical for the species, perhaps on the small size (most 2 by 5 cm). Fruit typical for the species; nutlets surrounded by light green, assymetric bracts. Common species, patchy here; seeds collected from three plants. A Chionanthus retusus that is over 400 years old is also present at this site. This taxon (C. coreana) is limited to coastal areas; it is considered a coastal ecotype of Carpinus turczaninowii by some.