Flora & Fauna of Korea #31

Korea.net publishes a series of articles, “Nature You Meet in the Mountains,” about the peninsula’s mushrooms, insects, trees and herbs & flowers.


Insects

Name: 말매미, Malmaemi
Scientific name: Cryptotympana dubia (Haupt)
Distribution: Korea, China

This cicada is about 40-48 millimeters in length and has a wingspan of about 60-70 millimeters. It's a relatively large cicada. It's glossy black, and is often covered in golden powder. The orange patterns stand out on both edges of its abdominal segment, on its abdominal shell, midlegs and on the calf knuckles of its hind legs. The fore wings are transparent and its basal part is black while its wing veins are black brown.

Ecology: Adults appear between the end of June and the end of September. It's commonly found in and around farmlands and mountains. The chirping of the adult of this species is extremely loud, and becomes a source of noise pollution in the city. This species has a tendency to gather to make noise collectively, a noise that sounds like a waterfall.





Trees

Name: 밤나무, Bamnamu
Scientific name: Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc.
Type: deciduous broadleaf tree
Blooming season: June
Bearing season: September to October
Distribution: mostly in North Korea

This Chestnut Tree grows to an average height of 15 meters and diameter of one meter. The bark can be cracked lengthwise. The shape of the leaves alternate between oval or ovate, lanceolate and acute, while its edges are repand. The veins are covered in hairs. This monoecious tree gives bloom to male flowers in milk-white. Three catkins are arranged on a shoot for female flowers. The fruits have thorns around its epicarp, the outermost layer of the pericarp. It's difficult to rip off the endodermis, the inner skin, but it can split when ripened.


Mushrooms

Name: 불로초, Bulrocho
Scientific name: Hanoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.
Type: saprophile spore
Print: brown
Medicinal

This mushroom grows from the basal parts and stumps of trees. The cap is about 10-20 centimeters in vertical length and 5-10 centimeters in horizontal length. The surface is dark brown, purplish brown or black brown. Some radially arranged wrinkles are found on the pileus. The whole body is covered in a cuticle. It produces a varnish-like substance by itself, making it glossy. The mushroom consists of two layers: an upper layer of white and bottom layer of yellowish brown. The pore in the underside of the cap is about 1 centimeter in diameter and is yellowish brown. The stipe is 5-15 centimeters tall and 0.5-2 centimeters in diameter. It is black brown, or black, and it can be bent over.





Herbs & Flowers

Name: 미나리아재비, Minariajaebi
Scientific name: Ranunculus japonicus Thunb.
Full bloom: May to June
Distribution: mountains nationwide

This perennial is found on the mountains and fields. It grows to 30-50 centimeters in clusters. The leafstalk is tall, very long and slender. It develops trifoliate leaves, each of which is separated into two to three parts. The leaves are covered in fur with some sawtooth around the edge. It gives bloom to yellow flowers in five sepal cups. It bears fruits of achenes.

*This series of article about Korea’s insects, trees, mushrooms and herbs & flowers has been made possible through the cooperation of the Korea National Arboretum.