The Vascular Plant Species in the Korean Demilitarized zone (DMZ)

The vascular plants identified in DMZ areas consist of 2,382 taxa: 159 families, 739 genera, 1,985 species, 11 subspecies, 306 varieties, 77 forma, and 3 hybrids. A total of 251 taxa were found to be rare plants in eastern area (172 taxa), central area (71 taxa), and western area (50 taxa). A total of 177 taxa were observed to be endemic plants in eastern area (109 taxa), central area (65 taxa), and western area (34 taxa). A total of 565 taxa were identified to be the floristic special plants, which were divided into five classes: class I (173 taxa), class II (87 taxa), class III (153 taxa), class IV (121 taxa), and class V (31 taxa). The identified taxa surveyed in eastern, central, and western area were 450, 232, and 159 taxa respectively. A total of 134 naturalized plants were recorded, and the naturalization rate and urbanization rate were identified as 5.6% and 41.7% respectively. 80 taxa were observed in eastern area, of which naturalization rate was 6.8% and urbanization rate was 24.9%. 84 taxa were recorded in central area, of which naturalization rate was 6.8% and urbanization rate was 26.1%. Finally, 54 taxa were observed in western area, of which naturalization rate was 5.1% and urbanization rate was 16.8%.