News published: 20 April 2023

The Korea National Arboretum (KNA) and the National University of Mongolia (NUM) have collaborated on research under the East Asia Biodiversity Conservation Network (EABCN) to publish the “Illustrated Flora of Mongolia.” This book showcases wild species photos of 1,159 species, representing 38% of Mongolia’s vascular flora, belonging to 455 genera and 100 families.

Mongolia is renowned for its unique natural ecosystems, including the southern edge of the Siberian Taiga meeting with the northern fringe of the Central Asian steppe and desert. Despite its ecological significance, the flora of Mongolia has remained somewhat mysterious.

In a collaborative effort ranging from 2016 to 2021, the research team from KNA, NUM, as well as taxonomists from Japan, Russia, and China, surveyed the flora of Mongolia. They compiled a checklist of 3,041 species and identified 25 new distribution plants in Mongolia. The resulting book includes approximately 10,000 photos and detailed descriptions, distribution information, and habitat characteristics for each species.

The “Illustrated Flora of Mongolia” can be accessed on the websites of the Korea National Arboretum and EABCN.