[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] The largest domestic colony of the endangered species Brasenia schreberi has been discovered in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk.
Environmental organizations, including the Daegu Environmental Movement Federation, announced on the 9th that “the largest domestic colony of Brasenia schreberi was found at ‘Gaecheonji,’ a reservoir in Bongnyang-ri, Angye-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk.”
Lee Seok-woo (64), a local farmer who discovered the Brasenia schreberi, said, “I went to watch the red lotus bloom and accidentally found the Brasenia schreberi. I was very surprised by the large size of the colony.”
Environmental groups estimate that the Brasenia schreberi colony at Gaecheonji in Uiseong exceeds the size of two to three soccer fields, making it the largest in the country.
Brasenia schreberi originally had large colonies in places like Upo Wetland and Junam Reservoir, but recently, due to ecological changes such as the spread of lotus colonies and herbicide operations, the Brasenia schreberi colonies have been gradually disappearing.
The Daegu Environmental Movement Federation urged, “The Ministry of Environment should immediately conduct a survey on the Brasenia schreberi colony at Gaecheonji in Uiseong and establish protection measures.”
Brasenia schreberi is an annual aquatic plant belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae, mainly growing in ponds or reservoirs. It blooms around July to August, opening its flowers during the day and closing them at night. It grows in the central and southern regions south of Gyeonggi Province and is also distributed in China, Japan, Taiwan, and India.
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