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Limonium ksamilum, a new species is described and illustrated from southern Albania, where it grows along the calcareous rocky coast near Ksamil. It shows close taxonomical relationships with L. dictyophorum, as well as with L. himariense and L. arcuatum, with which it shares similar ecological requirements. Remarks on its morphological features, distribution, ecology, conservation status and an analytical key for the species of Limonium occurring in Albania are provided.

The flora of the Brijuni National Park has not been systematically researched for years, and Makowsky conducted the last such research in 1908. Recently, the flora of Mali Brijun was investigated by Bogdanović and Ljubičić in 2018, while the flora of Veli Brijun and 12 neighbouring islands and islets remained completely unexplored. Field research was conducted during 2020-2022 in order to floristically investigate and to map the vascular flora of the entire Brijuni NP. A total of 759 taxa were identified, of them 202 for the first time by this research. There are total of 102 families, of which the most represented are grasses (Poaceae) with 86 taxa and legumes (Fabaceae) with 85 taxa. Out of the total number, 30 species are identified as endangered. Only one endemic species (Limonium cancellatum) was recorded in the flora. Regarding the life forms in the flora of Brijuni NP, the most numerous are therophytes with 307 taxa, hemicryptophytes with 233 taxa, phanerophytes with 78 taxa, geophytes with 71 taxa, hamephytes with 58 taxa and hydrophytes with 11 taxa. Cultivated plants are represented with 74 species. There are 14 invasive species and one new potentially invasive species (Nassella neesiana) for the Croatian flora.

Limonium ksamilum Bogdanović, Shuka, Giusso & Brullo, sp. nov. (Fig. 1) A Limonio dictyophoro internodis saepe longioribus, inflorescentia rigida, leviter contract, spicis brevioribus, spiculis 1–3 floris, ad 4–5 in 1 cm dispositis, bractea inferiore latiore, bractea superiore latiore, acumine breviore, costis calycis pilosis, lobis ovatotriangularis, acutis, longioribus differt. Type:— ALBANIA. Ksamil, SW promontory, on calcareous rocky coast, 39°46’10.80”N, 19°59’8.90”E, 3 August 2021, S. Bogdanović s.n. (holotype ZAGR-73805!, isotypes CAT!, TIR!, ZA!, ZAGR-73806!). Plant perennial, 15–40 cm tall, glabrous, with robust tap-root. Caudices branched, 1–4 cm long, and covered by leaves in the upper part. Leaves rigid, rugose, glabrous, green, 1–5 cm long, 2–10 mm wide, spathulate to linear-spathulate, revolute at the margin, 1-nerved, tapering into a long petiole, retuse at the apex. Stems numerous, erect, rigid, robust, striate, glabrous, with numerous sterile branches, branched, fragile at nodes, slightly curved, diverging at the angle of 10–25°, internodes 1–5 cm long. Inflorescence erect, slightly contract, rigid, branched; spikes 1–5 cm long, straight to curved. Spikelets 6–6.5 mm long, 1–3-flowered, 4–5 per cm; outer bract 1.2–1.7 mm long, 1.5–1.7 mm wide, ovate, acute, narrowly membranous, glabrous, with central part fleshy, acuminate, with acumen not reaching the apex; middle bract 2–2.2 mm long, 1.6–1.8 mm wide, hemielliptical, rounded at the apex, membranous, glabrous; inner bract 3.6– 4.5 mm long, 2.5–3.2 mm wide, ovate-oblong, obtuse to subrounded, with margin membranous, glabrous, 0.3–0.6 mm wide, with central part fleshy, glabrous, 1.7–2 mm wide, long apiculate, forming a triangular tip, 0.6–0.8 mm long, no reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5–5.2 mm long, exserted 2.2–2.7 mm from the inner bract, tube and ribs hairy, ribs reaching the middle part of the lobes; calyx lobes, ovate-triangular, 1–1.3 × 0.8–1 mm, acute. Corolla lilac. Habitat and Distribution:— Limonium ksamilum is localized on rocky stands near the sea, markedly affected by the marine aerosol (Fig. 2). It exclusively grows on the crevices of calcareous outcrops featured by a very feeble accumulation of salty soil. The vegetation colonizing this peculiar habitat shows very poor cover values and is dominated by L. ksamilum growing together with few other halophytes, such as Crithmum maritimum Linnaeus (1753: 246), Lotus cytisoides Linnaeus (1753: 776), Silene sedoides Poiret (1789: 164), Reichardia picroides (Linnaeus 1753: 792) Roth (1787: 35), Elymus acutus (Candolle de 1813: 153) M.-A. Thiébaud (1987: 340), etc. Basing on personal field observations, this species is localized on a narrow coastal area represented by the promontory at southwest of the Ksamil village (southern Albania), as well as on the small islets facing the village (Fig. 3). Etymology:— The epithet refers to Ksamil, village in southern Albania where the plant was collected. Phenology:— Flowering from June to September. Conservation status:— Limonium ksamilum is currently known from a single population occurring in the neighbouring of Ksamil village (South Albania) represented by about 1,000 mature individuals scattered over an area of ca. 2 km 2. The habitat of this species, exclusively growing along a narrow coastal belt (wide 8–20 m), is continuously threatened by tourist activities that have already damaged part of it. Therefore, according to the IUCN Red list category (IUCN 2022), this species for its restricted distribution, low number of mature individuals and severe human pressure should be considered as Vulnerable—VU D1+2. Taxonomic remarks:— Limonium ksamilum shows close morphological relationships (Table 1) with some species localized in the calcareous rocky coast of southern Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Kerkyra island in Greece. Among the allied species can be mentioned L. dictyophorum (Tausch) Degen, L. himariense F.K.Meyer and L. arcuatum Artelari (1984: 20) which are all characterized by a very similar habit, with leaves spathulate, revolute at margin, emarginate at the apex, stems glabrous, erect, fragile at the nodes, with sterile branches in lower part, inflorescence lax, diffuse, spikes with remotely arranged spikelets, calyces long exerted from bracts (Meyer 2011, Bogdanović & Brullo 2015, Brullo & Erben 2016). In particular, L. ksamilum differs from L. dictyophorum in having inflorescence more rigid and contract (vs. flexuous and lax), spikelets 4–5 per cm, with 1–3 flowers (vs. 2–4 per cm, with 3–7 flowers), inner bract obtusesubrounded, wider up to 3.2 mm broad (vs. subacute and max. 2.7 mm broad), calyx hairy also in the ribs (vs. ribs glabrous above), calyx lobes acute, ovate-triangular, 1–1.3 mm long (vs. rounded, hemielliptical, 0.6–0.7 mm long) (see Bogdanović & Brullo 2015, Figs. 7, 36). Besides, L. ksamilum shows some relationships with L. arcuatum, but significant features allow to distinguish very well the two species. Actually, according to Brullo & Erben (2016, Fig. 32), L. ksamilum differs from the latter for the internodes slightly curved up to 5 cm long (vs. very curved max. 3 cm long), inflorescence slightly contracted, with 4–5 spikelets per cm (vs. lax, with 2–4 spikelets per cm), middle bract 2– 2.2 × 1.6–1.8 mm (vs. 1.3–1.8 × 1–1.2 mm), inner bract ovate-oblong (vs. elliptical), calyx exserted 2.2–2.7 mm from the inner bract, densely hairy in the tube and ribs hairy (vs. exerted 1.5–2 mm from the inner bract, sparsely hairy in the tube and ribs glabrous), calyx lobes acute 1–1.3 mm long (vs. rounded, 0.8 mm long). Finally, L. ksamilum shows a strong affinity with L. himariense, which also grows in Albania but in northern coastal stands. In order to emphasize the morphological features of L. himariense a detailed illustration is provided (Fig. 4). The more relevant diagnostic features that allow to differentiate L. ksamilum from L. himariense are the inflorescence slightly contracted (vs. lax), spikelets 6–6.5 mm long, 4–5 per cm (vs. 4.5–5.2 mm long, 3 per cm), outer bract 1.5–1.7 mm long, acute (vs. 1–1.2 mm long, obtuse), inner bract 3.6–4.5 × 2.5–3.2 mm, ovate-oblong (vs. 3–3.4 × 2.5–2.6 mm, ovate-subrounded), calyx 5–5.2 mm long, exerted 2.2–2.7 mm from the inner bract (vs. 3.8–4 mm long, exerted 1.2–1.8 mm from the inner bract), calyx tube densely hairy and ribs hairy (vs. sparsely hairy and ribs glabrous), calyx lobes acute, 1–1.3 mm long (vs. obtuse, 0.5 mm long). Basing on literature (Demiri 1983, Meyer 2011, Vangjeli 2015, Pils 2016, Barina 2017), the following analytical key of the Limonium species occurring in Albania is provided: 1. Leaves sinuate, stem winged, calyx lobes blue................................................................................................................. L. sinuatum - Leaves entire, stem not winged, calyx lobes white............................................................................................................................2 2. Stems without sterile branches, leaves very large, with pinnately nerves..................................................................... L. narbonense - Stems with sterile branches, leaves linear-spathulate, 1-nerved........................................................................................................3 3. Leaf margin flat, stem rigid not fragile at the nodes, inner bract markedly curved.......................................................... L. virgatum - Leaf margin revolute, stem curved, fragile at the nodes, inner bract straight....................................................................................4 4. Spikelets 4.5–5.2 mm long, outer bract obtuse 1–1.2 mm long, inner bract 3–3.4 mm long, calyx 3.8–4 mm long, with lobes obtuse 0.5 mm long.................................................................................................................................................................... L. himariense - Spikelets 6–6.5 mm long, outer bract acute 1.2–1.7 mm long, inner bract 3.6–4.5 mm long, calyx 5–5.2 mm long, with lobes acute 1–1.3 mm long.................................................................................................................................................................. L. ksamilum Other specimen examined of Limonium ksamilum (paratype) :— ALBANIA. Ishujt e Ksamilit, in front of Ksamil village, on calcareous rocky coast, 39°46’31.49”N, 19°59’26.63”E, 3 August 2021, S. Bogdanović s.n. (CAT!, ZAGR!). Specimens examined of Limonium himariense :— ALBANIA. Himara, Dhermi, Strand, an Felsen im flachen Meer, 7 September 1961, F. K. Meyer 5964 (holotype: JE00016701!, isotype: JE00016702!); Porto Palermo, calcareous rocky coast, 1 August 2021, S. Bogdanović s.n. (CAT!, ZAGR!); Himare, Spile bay, southern rocky coast, 25 June 2019, S. Bogdanović s.n (ZAGR!); Palermo, calcareous rocky coast, 1 August 2021, S. Bogdanović s.n. (CAT!, ZAGR!); Himare, Spile, calcareous rocky coast, 6 October 2017, S. Bogdanović s.n. (ZAGR!); Qeparo, Grava bay, S. Bogdanović s.n. (ZAGR!); Porto Palermo, na stijenama uz obalu mora, 8 July 2010, C. Gangale & D. Uzunov s.n. (ZAGR!); Himara, costa rocciosa, 16 June 2018, S. Cambria s.n. (CAT!); Vlorë, Dhërmi, 2 m, 21 November 1984, V. Tartari & A. Mullaj s.n. (TIR!); Dhërmi, 3-4 m, 26 August 1957, A. Duka s.n. (TIR!), sub. Statice oleifolia; Ranishtet e Himarës, 3 August 1960, V. Tartari s.n. (TIR!), sub Statice cosyrense; Ranishtet e Himarës, 3 August 1960, s.l., (TIR!), sub. Statice oleifolia; Himara, 13 May 2018, S. Cambria s.n. (TIR!); Dhërmi, on the coastal rocky cervices, 2–15 m, 3 July 2018, L. Shuka s.n. (private herbarium Shuka!); Himara, on the coastal rocks, 5–10 m, 8 August 2019, D. Shuka s.n. (private herbarium Shuka!). Specimens examined of Limonium arcuatum :— GREECE. Corfù a Paleokastritsa, rupi calcaree sul mare, 19 August 1999, Bartolo, Brullo, Guarino & Signorello s.n. (CAT!); Isole ioniche, Corfù a Ermones, rupi calcaree sul mare, 19 August 1999, Bartolo, Brullo, Guarino & Signorello s.n. (CAT!); Corfù a Glifada, rupi calcarenitiche sul mare, 19 August 1999, Bartolo, Brullo, Guarino & Signorello s.n. (CAT!); Ins. Kerkyra: ad loco Agios Gordios, in rupestribus maritimis, 13 August 1978, R. Artelari 223 (M!). Specimens examined of Limonium dictyophorum :— CROATIA. Dubrovnik, Dalmazia meridionale, sotto albergo Neptun, litorale roccioso, 6 November 2006, Brullo, Bogdanović & Giusso s.n. (CAT!, ZAGR!); Trsteno, sotto l’arboreto, Dalmazia meridionale, litorale roccioso, 6 November 2006, Brullo, Bogdanović & Giusso s.n. (CAT!, ZAGR!); Prevlaka, Dalmazia meridionale, litorale roccioso, 6 November 2006, Brullo, Bogdanović & Giusso s.n. (CAT!, ZAGR!); Isola di Sv. Andrija vicino a Lopud, Sud Dalmazia, 16 June 2005, Kovačić s.n. (CAT!, ZAGR!), Vitaljina (selo kod Igala), obalni grebeni uz more, 12 October 1981, Hećimović s.n. (ZA!); Duboka (uvala i selo kod Kleka), obalni grebeni uz more, 10 November 1981, Hećimović s.n. (ZA!); Mrkan, otočić kod Cavtata, pukotine stijena uz more, 20 June 1979, Hećimović s.n. (ZA!); Lokrum kod Dubrovnika, 26 September 1930, Lochingg s.n. (ZA!); Otok Šipan: Kaludrica, uz more, u as. Limonietum anfracti, 25 August 1979, Hećimović s.n. (ZA!); Bobara, otočić kod Cavtata, pukotine stijena uz more, 8 August 1979, Hećimović s.n. (ZA!); In maritimis Gravosae, 1808, Vodipić s.n. (ZA!). MONTENEGRO. Budva, Felsküste, 14 July 1973, Heinrich s.n. (M!); An der Bucht südlich Rodovići, 1 September 1977, Krach s.n. (M!); In rupestribus maritimis ad Pristan-Bar, July 1890, Baldacci s.n. (K!)., Published as part of Bogdanović, Sandro, Shuka, Lulëzim, Galdo, Gianpietro Giusso Del & Brullo, Salvatore, 2022, Limonium ksamilum (Plumbaginaceae), a new species from Albania, pp. 85-92 in Phytotaxa 554 (1) on pages 86-90, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.554.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/6809835, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 1200 pp.","Poiret, J-L. M. (1789) Voyage en Barbarie, 2. J. B. F. Nee de la Rochelle, Paris, 315 pp.","Roth, A. W. (1787) Botanische Abhandlungen und Beobachtungen. Iohann Iacob Winterschmidt, Nu ¨ rnberg, 68 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 129883","Thiebaud, M. A. (1987) Contribution a l'etude des especes littorales du genre Elymus L. Candollea 42: 399 - 410.","IUCN (2022) Standards and Petitions Committee. Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 15. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: https: // www. iucnredlist. org / documents / RedListGuidelines. pdf. (accessed 24 February 2022)","Artelari, R. (1984) The genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) in the Ionian area, Greece. Botanika Chronika 4: 17 - 39.","Meyer, F. K. (2011) Beitra ¨ ge zur Flora von Albanien. Haussknechtia Beiheft 15: 1 - 220.","Bogdanovic, S. & Brullo, S. (2015) Taxonomic revision of Limonium cancellatum group (Plumbaginaceae) in Croatia. Phytotaxa 215 (1): 1 - 87. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 215.1.1","Brullo, S. & Erben, M. (2016) The genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) in Greece. Phytotaxa 240 (1): 1 - 212. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 240.1.1","Demiri, M. (1983) Flora Ekskursioniste e Shqiperise. Shtepia Botuese e Librit Shkollor, Tirane, 986 pp.","Vangjeli, J. (2015) Excursion flora of Albania. Koeltz Scientific Books, Konigstein, 661 pp.","Pils, G. (2016) Illustrated Flora of Albania. Christian Theiss GmbH, St. Stefan Austria, 576 pp.","Barina, Z. (2017) Distribution Atlas of Vascular Plants in Albania. Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, 492 pp."]}

The occurrence of Helianthemum jonium Lacaita & Grosser ex Bég. in Fiori & Bég. (Cistacaeae) is reported and documented here for the first time in Croatia and Montenegro, and it is confirmed in the Albanian flora after 80 years. The species grows on sandy soils within maquis and garrigue communities in four Adriatic islands: Vis, Biševo, Hvar and Lopud, and within psammophilous vegetation near Ulcinj in Montenegro and in Hamallaj, north of Durrës in Albania. The morphological relationship with the allied H. leptophyllum Dunal and H. apenninum (L.) Mill. is here briefly discussed. Remarks about its taxonomy, lectotypification, habitat and ecology in the Adriatic region are also provided. The species H. jonium was previously known only from the Apennine Peninsula; hence these new eastern Adriatic records extend its distribution area to the east, and it can therefore be considered an amphi-Adriatic endemic element., Prisutnost vrste Helianthemum jonium Lacaita & Grosser ex Bég. in Fiori & Bég. (Cistacaeae) je ovdje po prvi puta zabilježena i dokumentirana u flori Hrvatske i Crne Gore te potvrđena u flori Albanije nakon 80 godina. Vrsta raste na pješčanim tlima unutar vegetacije makije i gariga na četiri jadranska otoka: Vis, Biševo, Hvar i Lopud te unutar psamofilne vegetacije kod Ulcinja u Crnoj Gori i Hamallaju, sjeverno od Drača u Albaniji. Morfološka sličnost sa srodnim vrstama, H. leptophyllum Dunal i H. apenninum (L.) Mill. je ovdje ukratko diskutirana. Također se daju napomene o njezinoj morfologiji, lektotipifikaciji, staništu i ekologiji u Jadranskom području. Vrsta H. jonium prethodno je bila poznata jedino s Apeninskog poluotoka, a nova nalazišta u istočnom Jadranu pridonose istočnom proširenju granice areala vrste te se ista mora smatrati amfi-jadranskim endemičnim elementom.

Balkan Peninsula is one of the diversity centres for the morphologically highly variable and taxonomically inconsistently treated Dianthus sylvestris Wulfen. The current taxonomic concept provided in the Flora Europaea is based on names published by Hayek in 1924. One of the overall aims of our comprehensive study combining phylogeographic methods (RADseq), morphometry, environmental niche analyses and genome size estimates, is to explore the intraspecific relationships within the Balkan populations of D. sylvestris, and to provide the revised taxonomy. Our results suggest two morphological entities, the north-western and the south-eastern group of populations, distinct by the epicalyx scales shape, calyx length and petal denticulation. These entities correspond to the two identified genetic clusters, with the split occurring around the Neretva River valley. The genetic structure does not support current taxonomy, except for D. sylvestris subsp. tergestinus (Rchb.) Hayek. Given that the type specimen of D. sylvestris subsp. nodosus (Tausch) Hayek is not known, and its diagnostic character, puberulent lower part of the stem, turned out to be variable within the population level, we suggest leaving this form of variability within D. sylvestris s.l. without taxonomic designation. The holotypes of two south Balkan subspecies, D. sylvestris subsp. alboroseus F.K. Mey. and D. sylvestris subsp. kozjakensis Micevski, are highly similar and based on our results they belong in the same morphometric and genetic clusters. Several populations from the south eastern group show morphologically intermediate forms between D. sylvestris subsp. alboroseus and D. sylvestris subsp. bertisceus Rech. f. and cannot be clearly assigned to subspecies. Finally, D. sylvestris subsp. bertisceus showed the greatest genetic admixture, as well as problematic morphological distinction, especially when populations from the Alps are considered.

Aurinia is an exclusively diploid genus comprising of seven species with the centre of origin and diversity in south-eastern Europe. Aurinia saxatilis is the most widely distributed species ranging from the central, eastern and southern Balkan Peninsula and adjacent shores of the western Asia Minor and the southern Apennine Peninsula, over the Carpathians to central Europe and growing on rocky grounds and dry soils. Due to its morphological variability it has been divided into three subspecies: typical A. saxatilis subsp. saxatilis is widespread in central and south- eastern Europe, subsp. orientalis is distributed in the Balkan Peninsula, the southern Carpathians and the western Anatolia, whereas subsp. megalocarpa is limited to the southern Apennine Peninsula and the Aegean region. The aim of this study was to provide insights into spatiotemporal diversification of the species by exploring its evolutionary dynamics and phylogeographic patterns using a combination of phylogenomic (RADseq), and phylogenetic (plastid ndhF) data as well as species distribution models. The inferred phylogenies retrieved three main geographically distinct lineages. The southern lineage is distributed throughout the Aegean area, southern Balkan Peninsula and southern Apennine Peninsula, and corresponds to the species main distribution area during the LGM. The eastern lineage extends from the eastern Balkan Peninsula over the Carpathians towards central Europe, while the central lineage occupies the central Balkan Peninsula. Molecular dating places diversification of all three lineages into the early to middle Pleistocene, indicating their long term independent evolutionary trajectories. Moreover, our data suggest an early divergence and stable in situ persistence of the southernmost populations, whereas the central Balkan and Carpathian populations experienced more complex range dynamics triggered by Pleistocene climatic oscillations. Finally, the extant genetic variation is congruent with the taxonomic separation of subsp. saxatilis and subsp. orientalis, whereas the taxonomic value of subsp. megalocarpa remains doubtful.

Budući da je flora Promine i prominskog kraja slabo poznata, 2020. godine započeli smo s preliminarnim terenskim istraživanjima proljetne flore Promine od sela Lišnjaka prema vrhu te područja naselja (Oklaj, Razvođe, Lukar, Suknovci i dr.) unutar općine Promina od obronaka planine Promine prema središnjem dijelu rijeke Krke. Općina Promina nalazi se dobrim dijelom unutar Nacionalnog parka "Krka". Od ukupnog broja inventarizirane flore, posebno treba izdvojiti 27 ugroženih te 16 endemičnih biljnih svojti, od kojih su sedam vrsta ujedno ugrožene i endemične. Najviše je zabilježeno gotovo ugroženih (NT) i to njih 10 svojti, zatim po pet svojti iz svake od skupina: osjetljivih (VU), nedovoljno poznatih (DD) i najmanje zabrinjavajućih (LC). Ustanovljeno je također da najviše biljnih svojti iz ovih kategorija pripada porodici orhideja (Orchidaceae). Tako je ukupno ustanovljeno 16 svojti iz porodice orhideja od čega su 10 ugroženih (npr. Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich., Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann, Ophrys apifera Huds., Ophrys fuciflora (F. W. Schmidt) Moench i dr.), a jedna je endemična (Ophrys dinarica Kranjčev et P. Delforge). Smatramo da će ovo preliminarno istraživanje dati uvid u brojnost i raznolikost proljetne flore na području Promine, a time doprinijeti i boljem poznavanju biljne raznolikosti kao iznimno značajnih staništa za prirodnu i kulturnu baštinu Hrvatske.

Festuca L. represents one of the largest known paraphyletic genera systematically anchored in subtribe Loliinae whose distribution has been proven globally. In this study, we focused on F. varia complex within fine-leaved fescues and with emphasis on F. bosniaca populations, in order to provide insights into its diversification according to ploidy level and geographical affiliation. We sampled a total of 612 individuals divided in 169 populations from various locations in north-western and south-eastern Balkan Peninsula, Apennines and the Alps and complemented with samples from 135 herbarium vouchers. Nuclear ITS and two plastid trnT-trnL and trnL-trnF regions were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. The inferred phylogenies support the placement of F. varia complex in basal position within fine-leaved fescues and reveal several supported groups within the complex. Festuca bosniaca populations are divided into five major lineages showing a geographical pattern. Two established lineages largely correspond to the F. bosniaca subsp. bosniaca, and F. bosniaca subsp. pirinensis, while the other three require additional research. The relationships of different taxa in the complex remain, however, uncertain due to incongruences between nuclear and plastid trees. This study contributes to knowledge on F. varia complex and indicates that at this level the traditional morphologically based taxonomy is of limited use for recognizing and defining monophyletic groups.

Željeli smo istražiti u kojoj mjeri današnje stanovništvo poznaje samoniklo jestivo bilje što raste na otoku, kojih se starinskih recepata Zlarinke sjećaju iz prošlih vremena te pripremaju li se još uvijek neka jela od samoniklog bilja. Težište je bilo upravo na mješavini od nekoliko (često i više od desetak) različitih biljaka koje se zajedno beru i pripremaju za hranu, a na Zlarinu su poznate pod nazivom diblje zelje. U razgovorima smo saznali da se za mišancu, ili po zlarinski diblje zelje, prikupljalo više bilja nego što smo mogli i pomisliti. Najzanimljivija su nam, isto tako, bila izgubljena imena bilja. Tko danas zna prepoznati mačja muda i kozju bradu ili tustopizdu i kurcoglava? S nestankom znanja o bilju, nestaje i nazivlje, nestaju riječi. Tustopizda je zlarinski naziv za bijelu babljaču (Urospermum picroides (L.) Scop. ex F.W.Schmidt ; Cichoriaceae), a kurcoglav za zlaticu (Ranunculus ficaria L. ; Ranunculaceae). Naslov knjige ukazuje na činjenicu da je bijelu babljaču na Zlarinu lako naći, dok zlatica nije toliko česta. O toponimijskoj sintagmi Babina Guzica i drugim toponimima motiviranim genitalijama akademik Petar Šimunović je u članku Metaforičnost u toponimiji zadarsko-šibenskih otoka nadahnuto napisao: „Životare oni tako na marginama našeg društvenog poimanja uljudnosti, pokriveni smokvinim listom.

Dianthus sylvestris includes ten subspecies, whose delimitation is challenging and taxonomically inconsistent. Its main diversity centres are the Balkan and the Apennine Peninsulas where the taxa grow in various habitats from the Mediterranean coast to the alpine belt. This study is focused on the Balkan populations where six subspecies occur. In total 162 populations were sampled across the Balkans: 97 were included in detailed morphometric analyses, for 162, including 28 populations from the Alps, relative genome size (RGS) analysed was estimated using flow cytometry, while all Balkan populations were used in the environmental niche analyses. The integrated results of these analyses represent a first step toward the revised taxonomic treatment for D. sylvestris on the Balkan Peninsula. The results reveal that morphological variation gradually changes with environment and geography and does not correspond to described subspecies. The results suggest two morphologically distinct entities, the north-western and the south-eastern groups of populations, distinct by the shape of epicalyx scales, calyx length and petal denticulation. The quantitative assessment of niche overlap, equivalency and similarity of D. sylvestris subspecies indicated, that niche similarity was more common than niche divergence. Longitude was a major geographic predictor associated with morphological variability, where the changes in cauline leaf length and shape of epicalyx scales reflected a gradual transition from the coastal Mediterranean to the alpine environment. RGS analyses revealed that the majority of populations is diploid (2n=2x=30), but also spatially restricted occurrence of tetraploid populations (2n=4x=60) disclosed polyploidization in the NW Balkans. The tetraploid populations are morphologically similar to their diploid counterparts occurring in the same area indicating their autopolyploid origin. The populations at the southern distribution margin in the Balkan Peninsula, as well as those in the central and western parts of the Alps, exhibit higher RGS, likely corresponding to discrete evolutionary lineages.

Dianthus sylvestris s.l. is a group comprising morphologically highly variable taxa distributed in central Mediterranean, with the highest taxonomic diversity described in Italy. Another diversity centre is the Balkan Peninsula, from where six taxa mostly treated as subspecies of D. sylvestris have been described: subsp. alboroseus, subsp. bertisceus, subsp. kozjakensis, subsp. nodosus, subsp. sylvestris and subsp. tergestinus. Their identification is challenging due to great morphological variability and complex patterns of variation with respect to ecological preferences. In an ongoing study, we are combining an array of methods ranging from nomenclatural revision and morphometrics, over cytological and genome size estimation, to environmental niche analyses and population genetic analyses to disentangle relationships within D. sylvestris s.l. on the Balkan Peninsula. The morphometric analyses revealed a continuous variability of quantitative morphological characters and an absence of clear-cut qualitative morphological differences among the subspecies. In addition, the niche overlap assessment indicated that niche similarity is more common among the six subspecies, than niche divergence. Population genetics analyses suggest that D. sylvestris subsp. tergestinus presents a separate evolutionary lineage, while other populations on the Balkan Peninsula form a cline of genetic differentiation in the SE-NW direction. Finally, the relative genome size estimation using flow cytometry, with confirmatory chromosome counts, revealed polyploidisation in the NW Balkan Peninsula, as the tetraploid populations (2n =4x =60) are restricted to the Istrian Peninsula and Kvarner in Croatia and Italy. All the remaining Balkan populations were diploid (2n =2x =30).

Contemporary patterns of genomic variation in plant species often reflect past demographic processes linked to climate events such as Pleistocene glaciations. Dianthus sylvestris s.l. comprises a number of taxa distributed across southern and south- eastern Europe. We here used RAD-seq SNP data to unravel genomic variation in 165 populations, including all six currently described subspecies occurring in the Balkan Peninsula. Population genetic structure using Bayesian clustering revealed a north- western (NW) and south-eastern (SE) group, while an alternative model-free approach identified five genetic groups. We detected significant isolation by distance (IBD) within our populations, though with a visible discontinuity, and additional genetic connectivity analyses confirmed a sharp break between the two main groups of populations from NW and SE, suggesting that these groups derive from separate evolutionary lineages. Migration analyses revealed highest rates of gene flow between two subgroups of the NW cluster, while lower rates of gene flow were inferred between three subgroups of the SE cluster. The SE group showed higher inbreeding values compared to the NW group. Species distribution modelling (SDM) pointed to suitable habitats during the last glacial maximum (LGM) along the whole eastern Adriatic coast with higher suitability predicted in the south of the Balkans compared to the north. Overall, patterns of genomic variation and SDM suggest that D. sylvestris in the Balkans survived the Pleistocene glaciations in two separate glacial refugia located along the eastern Adriatic coast, with secondary contact of the two lineages in the area of Montenegro where admixed populations occur.

The vascular flora of Dinara and Kamešnica Mts was investigated along three mountain trails during the vegetation seasons from 2019 to 2021. The floras of Dinara and Kamešnica Mts are not very well explored and this is a valuable contribution in which we report here some rare plant taxa in the flora for the first time. These new plant taxa are: Allium fuscum Waldst. et Kit., Astragalus hypoglottis L., Chouardia lakusicii (Šilić) Speta, Dianthus ciliatus Guss. subsp. dalmaticus (Čelak.) Hayek, Erysimum raineri Polatschek, Festuca alpina Suter, Fraxinus excelsior L., Gypsophila fastigiata L., Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann, Hyssopus officinalis L., Iris adriatica Trinajstić ex Mitić, Matthiola fruticulosa (L.) Maire, Minuartia graminifolia (Ard.) Jav. subsp. clandestina (Port.) Mattf., Saponaria bellidifolia Sm., Scabiosa delminiana Abadžić, Scorzonera hispanica L., Scrophularia bosniaca Beck, Silene vallesia L. ssp. graminea (Rchb.) Nyman, Sternbergia colchiciflora Waldst. et Kit., Veronica dalmatica Padilla-García, Rojas-Andrés, López-González et M.M.Mart.Ort. and Viscum album L. ssp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm. We also present general distribution maps for those rare plant taxa of the Croatian flora.

Wide-range species often exhibit morphological variability that is mostly shaped by ecological and evolutionary processes, and the resulting diversity is frequently reflected in infraspecific taxonomy. The Dianthus sylvestris complex on the Balkan Peninsula encompasses six subspecies: Dianthus sylvestris subsp. alboroseus, subsp. bertisceus, subsp. kozjakensis, subsp. nodosus, subsp. sylvestris and subsp. tergestinus. Their identification is challenging due to great morphological variability between subspecies and complex patterns of variation with respect to ecological preferences. Here, 97 populations of D. sylvestris were evaluated regarding the variability of 27 morphological characters, and 20 environmental variables were used to identify patterns of morphological variability along environmental gradients. Number and shape of epicalyx scales, calyx length and petal denticulation turned out to capture the greatest extent of morphological variability between populations. Dianthus sylvestris subsp. nodosus, subsp. sylvestris and subsp. tergestinus have similar morphologies and share parts of their geographic distributions and cannot be clearly differentiated using morphological characters. However, a different flowering period differentiates subsp. tergestinus. By quantitatively assessing niche overlap, equivalency and similarity of the subspecies, our results indicate that niche similarity is more common than divergence. Environment, rather than geography, plays a potentially more important role in shaping the morphological variability of this complex.

Park-šuma Soline, smještena je na brdu između Vinkurana i Pješčane uvale. Status zaštite ima od 1996. godine prema Zakonu o zaštiti prirode Republike Hrvatske u kategoriji Park šume zbog svojih krajobraznih vrijednosti. Terenska istraživanja provedena su na području Parka-šume Soline (zapadno od mjesta Vinkurana) u nekoliko navrata u šestomjesečnom razdoblju od 1. travnja do 31. listopada 2022. godine, kako bi se istražio ranoproljetni, ljetni i jesenski aspekt flore. Za potrebe kartiranja vaskularne flore korištena je standardna metodologija prema NIKOLIĆ i sur. (1998) i NIKOLIĆ (2006). Kartiranje flore je provedeno unutar dva MTB 1/64 polja (1149.313 i 1149.314) te su uzimane geografske koordinate pomoću mobilne Maps.me aplikacije te dodatne provjere Garmin eTrex Vista GPS uređajem kako bi se precizno odredio prostorni položaj istraživanih lokaliteta. Nomenklatura porodica, vrsta i podvrsta usklađena je prema NIKOLIĆU (2022) odnosno prema nacionalnoj bazi podataka Flora Croatica Database (http://hirc.botanic.hr/fcd/) uz par iznimaka. Ukupno je u FCD bazu podataka uneseno 290 biljnih svojti unutar tri terenska opažanja (Id. br.: 70020, 70029, 70132) koja se mogu izlistati i pretraživati pod upitom *Soline kod Vinkurana* i dostupna su istraživačima koji imaju password tj. ovlasti u FCD-u, u prvom redu botaničarima, ali također i svima zainteresiranima za istraživanja flore i vegetacije.

The genus Festuca L. (Poaceae) comprises perennial grasses with leaf blades mostly rolled or conduplicate ; inflorescence in form of a panicle composed of two- to several-flowered spikelets ; with specific upper glume, lemma and awn morphology. Festuca bosniaca and its closely related species within F. varia complex occupy large area and diverse habitats in southern Europe, thus exhibiting a variety of morphological characters in leaf and panicle morphology. Total of 112 individuals divided through 34 populations representing seven species (F. adamovicii, F. bosniaca, F. calva, F. cyllenica, F. eskia, F. varia and F. versicolor) were collected over the Balkan and the Apennine Peninsulas and the Alps. Most important diagnostic morphometric characters (anatomical and habitus) considering leaf and panicle segment were measured. Quantitative morphometric characters between closely related species were examined with exploratory data analysis and ANOVA, Tukey post hoc and Kruskal- Wallis were performed in order to obtain significant (p

Stirovaca is located in Croatia, in the south-east part of Velebit National Park ; it consists of dense forest stands and several meadow openings. The flora of the Stirovaca meadows has never before been systematically studied. Here, we report the results of a floristic study of plant diversity of the Stirovaca meadows. It was established that there were 134 species of wild vascular plants (132 species and 2 subspecies), classified into 97 genera and 38 families. The families with the greatest number of species and subspecies were Asteraceae (13.4 %), Poaceae (8.2 %), Lamiaceae (5.9 %) and Rosaceae (5.2 %). In the life-forms spectrum Hemicryptophyta prevailed (66.4 %) which is characteristic of meadowland flora in areas with continental climates. An analysis of the floristic elements showed the greatest presence of Eurasian (35.0 %) and South European floristic elements (23.1 %). Vegetation succession in the last 60 or so years has progressed very considerably, at the expense of meadowland. The results of this research show that the Stirovaca meadows are an essential enrichment of plant and landscape diversity, indicating the need to preserve and protect the area investigated.