Rare Wando Sulkkotnamu in Full Bloom

First Discovery on Uninhabited Island in Wando
Active Research Underway for Mass Production

Wando Sulkkotnamu. Provided by Jeonnam Province

The 'Wandosulgonnamu (Stachyurus praecox)' has come into full bloom, heralding the arrival of spring.

Wandosulgonnamu is a newly named tree that was officially introduced in a domestic academic journal (The Korean Society of Plant Taxonomists) after the Jeonnam Forest Research Institute discovered an unrecorded species of Tongjohwa on an uninhabited island in Wando in 2018.

The name was proposed by adding 'sul', which refers to decorative strands used for ornamental purposes, to the place of its first discovery, Wando, reflecting the appearance of its flower clusters.

Unlike the previously known Tongjohwa (1-4m), Wandosulgonnamu is a deciduous broadleaf tree that can grow up to 8m. In March, when flowers are scarce, it produces long, pale yellow flower spikes from the leaf axils before the leaves emerge, creating a beautiful display.

The Wandosulgonnamu currently growing in the flower bed in front of the Wando Arboretum greenhouse was propagated from seeds collected at the time of its first discovery in 2018, and its yellow flowers can be seen in full bloom in mid-March.

The Jeonnam Forest Research Institute is actively conducting research on mass production to utilize Wandosulgonnamu, a native warm-temperate forest resource, in potted plants and industrial applications.

Oh Deuksil, Director of the Jeollanam-do Forest Research Institute, said, "Wandosulgonnamu is especially meaningful as it was discovered for the first time in Korea through forest resource exploration and announced to the academic community," and added, "We will strive to ensure that Wandosulgonnamu, a native warm-temperate forest resource, can be utilized in various fields."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.