Precious Plants Living in the 4 Most Beautiful Sites in the Border

Along with Trientalis europaea var. arctica (Fisch. Ex Hook.)Ledeb., there is one plant that only blossoms in Yongneup: Gentiana jamesii Hemsl. This highly valuable and rare plant has the characteristic of pursing its petals as if to protect itself when the flower is touched. It would be an interesting characteristic to observe.

Even if you were not familiar with plants when you were young, you may have had the experience of being amazed by the stories of insect-eating plants. Drosera rotundifolia L. is a representative insect-eating plant. Although there are quite a few wetland areas inhabited by D. rotundifolia throughout the country, they are gradually disappearing owing to various external environmental influences. Meanwhile, Yongneup is well-preserved, providing a home for many D. rotundifolia plants.

In Yongneup, there is a plant that resembles an ethereal bride: Heloniopsis tubiflora Fuse, N.S.Lee & M.N.Tamura, a plant endemic to South Korea. The Korean name with the term "skirt" in it comes from the fact that the wide leaves are reminiscent of the skirts of young women. H. tubiflora and H. koreana Fuse, N.S.Lee & M.N.Tamura have almost the same appearance; however, they can be distinguished by the differences in the textures and edges of leaf. Although confusing, it is possible to distinguish them upon close inspection.

Kuhlhasseltia nakaiana (F.Maek.) Ormerod is one of the rare plants found here. Although its native habitat is distributed across several locations, its habitat in the Punchbowl Dulle-gil is known to be the Northern Limit Line of its distribution in Korea. Try looking for K. nakaiana when you visit the Punchbowl Dulle-gil.

In May, in the middle of spring, along the talus slopes or the trails of the Dulle-gil around the Hantan River, Patrinia saniculifolia Hemsl. can be seen sticking its head through the cracks in the rocks. With its neat yellow petals and natural beauty, P. saniculifolia is a plant with excellent ornamental value. Similar to its flower language, which means "infinite love", you cannot help but fall in love once you see this endemic plant. 

If you wander deep into the mountains that rise along the Hantan River, you may find Epimedium koreanum Nakai, although it is very rare. When you encounter E. koreanum, you will not be able to easily turn away from its beauty. As it was widely known as an ingredient of a tonic in the 1990s and was coveted by many people, its abundance has rapidly decreased in its native habitat, and it is now labeled as a vulnerable (VU) species.

If you wander around the wetlands of Dutayeon, you may find the rare Pogonia japonica Rchb.f, an orchid with one light reddish-purple flower blooming at the tip of its main stem. It is characterized by the fact that it primarily grows in acidic soil. P. japonica, which in bloom looks like a goldfinch soaring toward the sky, is a rare plant designated as a VU; thus, we must protect it.

Along the trail to Dutayeon, when the autumn leaves turn red in October, you can see Silene capitata Kom, blooming purple in between the cracks in the sunny rocks. Similar to its flower language, which means "laughter of a child," the flowers of S. capitata—with five petals divided into two branches—are adorable and have high ornamental value; however, you should not pick them carelessly. It is distributed only on the Korean Peninsula and is classified as an endangered species owing to its very narrow distribution.