There have been many debates about this species' delimitation. The main difficulties lie in the considerable phenotypic plasticity which is very common in this taxonomic group. Whilst some botanists have accepted Koyamacalia pseudotaimingasa as a good species, other authorities have considered that these plants are merely extreme forms of Parasenecio firmus (Kom.) Y.L.Chen[]

Common Name:

General Information

Koyamacalia pseudotaimingasa is a herbaceous, perennial plant with a stout stem up to 2 metres tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. The leaves are large and attractive and so the plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].
Koyamacalia pseudotaimingasa is endemic to South Korea, with a restricted distribution on mountain areas in the Jeolanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do provinces. The main threat to this species is the loss of mature individuals by illegal collection for food and ornamental uses. Most of them are found along mountain trails, so its habitats are vulnerable to habitat degradation by hikers. It is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern Korea.

Habitat

Mountain woods[]. The understorey of mixed forests, growing on rich, well-drained soils, often becoming abundant where it occurs, growing in dense patches and able to colonize disturbed sites; at elevations from 300 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally prefer a moist peaty or leafy lime-free soil in shade or semi-shade[].
Plants tend to be somewhat invasive, they are best suited to naturalizing in the wild or woodland garden[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a cold frame. Surface sow or only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade until they are large enough to plant out.
Division in spring.