A large group of unregistered mini cherry tree species has been found near the local original habitat of the species.

Mini cherry trees fall in the same genus of Jeju's indigenous cherry tree(왕벚꽃) species. It is called “mini” because it only grows up to 50 centimeters in height.

Researchers are now looking into developing breeding techniques to preserve and save these rare species.

Todd Thacker reports.

You know it’s spring when cheery pink cherry blossoms open around the island.

[slug] National Forest Institute discovers large grove of mini cherry trees

Recently, a large grove of very special mini cherry trees was discovered here by the National Institute of Forest Science. This rare variety grows to a height of just 50 centimeters.

[slug] 360 mini cherry trees found along coastal rocks

More than 360 mini cherry trees were found growing on 0.6 hectares of land near the original habitat of the species at an undisclosed location along the coast.

The institute has kept the exact location secret to ensure the trees would remain undisturbed while assessing their remarkable discovery.

This mini variety of cherry tree has yet to be registered in Korea. Compared to the 10 trees found in 2013, the new grove of 360 is noteworthy.

[slug] Flowers bloom before leaf buds, petals are smaller and darker

The tree’s flower buds burst into bold pink blossoms prior to the opening of its leaves.

The size of the flower is half that of the Jeju cherry tree species.

[slug] Small sample of 10 mini cherry trees found in 2013

Ten mini cherry trees were found and recorded in 2013. But the sample size was too small to study the variety in detail.

INTERVIEW
Hyeon Hwa-ja / National Institute of Forest Science
It was difficult for our team to conduct research because we had only 10 trees to work with before. Now we can perform a taxonomic evaluation and develop breeding techniques to preserve this rare local species.
<인터뷰 : 현화자 / 국립산림과학원 난대·아열대산림연구소>
"이 식물은 처음 발견할 당시에는 개체수가 너무 적어서 연구하는데 한계가 있었는데, 이번 대규모 발견을 통해서 향후 분류학적인 검토나 자원화 연구가 활발하게 이뤄질 수 있을 것으로 기대하고 있습니다."

[Reporter] Todd Thacker
[Camera] Kim Yong-min
[CG] Lee Min-gyu

It’s not everyday that a rare species is discovered on a small island such as Jeju. The forest institute says it plans to develop breeding techniques to preserve and protect the island’s mini cherry trees, registering the variety by 2021.

Todd Thacker, KCTV