Allium alatoscapum, a replacement name for the northeastern Asian taxon previously known as Allium spirale

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Korean J. Pl. Taxon. 2025;55(2):119-122

Publication date (electronic) : 2025 June 30

doi : https://doi.org/10.11110/kjpt.2025.55.2.119

Ju Eun JANG, Shukherdorj BAASANMUNKH¹, Hyeok Jae CHOI^1,, Dong Chan SON

Division of Forest Biodiversity Research, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Korea

¹Department of Biology and Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Korea

Corresponding author: Hyeok Jae CHOI, E-mail: hjchoi1975@changwon.ac.kr. Dong Chan SON, E-mail: sdclym@korea.kr

Received 2025 April 21; Revised 2025 May 28; Accepted 2025 May 30.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The name Allium spirale Willd., described in 1814, has long been applied to a taxon native to northeastern Asia, including Korea, northeastern China, and the Russian Far East (Sinitsyna et al., 2016; Jang et al., 2021; Kim et al., 2025). This species is morphologically characterized by a distinctly flattened and winged scape, straight or curved flat linear leaves, a globose umbel, and campanulate pinkish-violet perianth segments (Choi and Oh, 2011; Jang et al., 2021). Due to the superficial resemblance of its overall habit and leaf morphology to the widespread Eurasian species Allium senescens L., A. spirale was historically considered part of A. senescens sensu lato, and its name was widely applied to various Allium populations found across Korea (Lee, 1996; Choi et al., 2007; Oh, 2007; Choi and Oh, 2010, 2011; Korea National Arboretum, 2020).

However, recent morphological, cytological, and molecular studies have revealed that these Korean populations actually represent several distinct taxa (Jang et al., 2021, 2024; Kim et al., 2021; Kim et al., 2025). For example, the population from Ulleungdo Island was previously misidentified as either A. senescens or A. spirale but was later described as a new species, Allium dumebuchum H. J. Choi, based on integrative taxonomic evidence (Jang et al., 2021). Likewise, a geographically isolated population from Mt. Cheongnyangsan in Gyeongsangbuk-do, also formerly regarded as A. senescens or A. spirale, has been reassigned to A. spurium G. Don, a species widely distributed in northeastern Asia (Kim et al., 2021; Kim et al., 2025). In contrast, only the population occurring along the coastal region of Gangwon-do exhibits the diagnostic morphological features consistent with the protologue of A. spirale Willd. (Jang et al., 2021), and this evidence suggests that A. senescens does not occur naturally on the Korean Peninsula.

During the preparation of a taxonomic revision of the Amaryllidaceae for the Checklist of Vascular Plants in Korea (Korea National Arboretum, 2025), it was discovered that the name A. spirale had already been validly published by A. F. Schweigger in 1812 in Enumeratio Plantarum Horti Botanici Regiomontani (Fig. 1). Subsequently, the name Allium spirale Schweigg. was adopted by Plants of the World Online database (POWO, 2025; https://powo.science.kew.org/) and several other global taxonomic databases to refer to the northeastern Asian taxon.

Fig. 1

Original protologue of Allium spirale Schweigg. (1812).

However, a critical review of Schweigger’s protologue reveals that, although A. spirale Schweigg. and A. spirale Willd. may share superficial features—such as incurved perianth apices, simple stamens, and a hemispherical umbel—these characters are widespread across the genus Allium and lacks sufficient characterization value. Consequently, the taxon described by Schweigger differs markedly from the northeastern Asian taxa, particularly in its terete, solid scape and spirally twisted, planar leaves. These key morphological traits sharply contrast with those of the northeastern Asian Allium, which possesses a distinctly flattened, winged scape, and flat, linear leaves that are either straight or gently curved (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2

Key morphological features of the northeastern Asian taxon previously referred to as Allium spirale Willd. (now A. alatoscapum, nom. nov.). A. Umbel with campanulate, pinkish-violet flowers. B. Cross-section of leaf showing a flattened morphology. C. Cross-section of scape showing a distinctly flattened, winged structure. D. Arrangement of tepals in a single flower. E. Arrangement of stamen and filaments in a single flower.

Such consistent and conspicuous morphological discrepancies strongly suggest that the two names—despite sharing the epithet ‘spirale’—refer to taxonomically distinct taxa. Therefore, we propose the new replacement name A. alatoscapum for the northeastern Asian taxon previously referred to as A. spirale Willd. under Article 53.1 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) (Turland et al., 2018).

TAXONOMIC TREATMENT

Allium alatoscapum J. E. Jang, H. J. Choi & D. C. Son, nom. nov.

Replaced synonym: Allium spirale Willd., Enum. Pl. Suppl. 17, 1814. nom illeg., non A. spirale Schweigg., Enum. Pl. Hort. Regiom. 9, 1812.—TYPE: Russia. s.dat., s.n. (holotype: B, photograph! [B-W 06487-01 0!]; Fig. 3).

Fig. 3

Holotype of Allium spirale Willd. (now A. alatoscapum, nom. nov.), preserved at ZE Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin (B) (accession no. B-W 06487-01 0).

Etymology. The specific epithet alatoscapum, derived from the Latin alatus (winged) and scapus (scape), highlights the most diagnostically distinctive morphological feature of this species.

Korean name. 참두메부추 (Cham-du-me-bu-chu).

Distribution. Northeastern Asia (Korea, northeastern China, and the Far Eastern Russia) (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4

Distribution map of Allium alatoscapum.

Note. In the original protologue of Allium spirale Schweigg., the habitat is ambiguously indicated as “Hab. ?”, and the description was based on a plant cultivated “e horto Dorpatiensi”—that is, from the Dorpat Botanical Garden (currently the Botanical Garden of the University of Tartu, Estonia) (Fig. 1). Although no type specimen or original material of A. spirale Schweigg. has been traced so far, the protologue clearly describes a plant with “scapo tereti, foliis planis spiralibus,” meaning a terete scape and planar, spirally twisted leaves, which are notably distinct from the features of the northeastern Asian A. spirale. Schweigger’s name likely refers to a different Eurasian species or a cultivated form of uncertain origin, but its precise identity remains unclear. Consequently, applying Schweigger’s name to the taxonomic concept established by Willdenow would introduce further nomenclatural and taxonomic ambiguity.

Despite this discrepancy, the name A. spirale Schweigg. has recently been accepted by POWO and several other global taxonomic databases to refer to the northeastern Asian taxon (e.g., World Flora Online, National Center for Biotechnology Information). However, this assignment appears to have been made without critical evaluation of the original material or adequate assessment of morphological congruence with the protologue. The unverified application of this name—lacking type-based confirmation and taxonomic justification—constitutes a nomenclatural error and poses a risk of perpetuating confusion in both floristic documentation and molecular phylogenetic studies.

Although it is nomenclaturally permissible to propose the conservation of A. spirale Willd. over Schweigger’s earlier homonym, such an action would be complicated by issues of priority and by the fact that Schweigger’s name has already been incorporated into international databases. To prevent further instability and ensure nomenclatural clarity, we hereby propose the new replacement name A. alatoscapum.

We emphasize that A. alatoscapum does not represent a newly identified species but rather serves as a nomenclatural replacement for a well-established and widely recognized taxon. All previous references, herbarium records, and molecular data attributed to A. spirale Willd. in the context of Korea and northeastern Asia should now be correctly referred to as A. alatoscapum.

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