Contributions to the flora of the Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

SUMMARY:

In this paper are presented the results of the author's studies on the flora of the Republic of Macedonia which include following mountains: Suva Gora, Šar Planina, Žeden, serpentine area northwest of Skopje, Osoj, Jakupica, Kitka, mountain near Kičevo, Nidze, Galičica, Koţuf, Plačkovica, and also some settlements with theirs surroundings. These results are presented by two chapters:
1. New, rare and insufficiently known plants in the flora of Republic of Macedonia (p. 8 - 35)
2. Flora of the Suva Gora Mountain (p. 36 - 104)

1. New, rare and insufficiently known plants in the flora of Republic of Macedonia
In this chapter are presented data about 1 new species in the flora of the Balkan Peninsula, 14 new and 104 rare or insufficient known taxa in the flora of the Republic of Macedonia. Distribution of these taxa in Macedonia, based on our field research and literature data, is presented.
For 117 taxa is also provided a distribution map, with basic squares 10 x 10 km (p. 113- 120: fig. 2-118).
For some taxa are presented original photographs of whole plant or details, taken on fresh or dried plants (p. 121-139: fig. 119-185).
A new species in the flora of the Balkan Peninsula is Rubus wahlbergii.
These 7 species are new in the flora of the Republic of Macedonia: Anchusa thessala, Rhinanthus mediterraneus, Campanula oreadum, Jacobaea othonnae, Lactuca intricata, Hieracium jurassicum and Elymus panormitanus. These 4 subspecies are new in the flora of the Republic of Macedonia: Rapistrum rugosum ssp. linnaeana, ? Sorbus umbellata ssp. banatica, Epilobium roseum ssp. roseum and Solanum nigrum ssp. schultesii.
These 2 varieties are new in the flora of the Republic of Macedonia: Trifolium arvense var. strictius and Crepis paludosa var. glabra.
A new form in the flora of the Republic of Macedonia is Scabiosa ochroleuca f. scopolii.
These 23 taxa were previously known only from 1 finding site on the territory of Republic of Macedonia: Gymnocarpium robertianum, Rumex obtusifolius ssp. transiens, Minuartia mediterranea, Silene fabarioides, Viola dacica, Rosa heckeliana, Sempervivum thompsonianum, Genista januensis var. macedonica, Medicago carstiensis, Vicia pisiformis, Linum elegans, Cyanus pindicola, Centaurea scabiosa ssp. spinulosa, Scorzoneroides montana ssp. breviscapa, Lactuca aurea, Crepis nicaeensis, Hieracium umbrosum, H. tommasinianum, H. macrodontoides, Crocus vernus, C. x hybridus, Bromopsis inermis, and Carex lepidocarpa.
These 16 taxa were previously known from 2 finding sites on the territory of Republic of Macedonia: Ranunculus fontanus, Amaranthus blitoides, Chenopodium hybridum, Minuartia doerfleri, Ptilotrichum cyclocarpum ssp. cyclocarpum, Genista tinctoria var. pubescens, G. januensis ssp. januensis, Astragalus depressus var. hirsutus, Polygala alpestris ssp. croatica, Plantago media ssp. pindica, Galinsoga quadriradiata, Juncus tenuis, Vulpia unilateralis, Carex phyllostachys, C. paniculata, C. melanostachya, and Epipactis microphylla.
These 20 taxa were previously known from 3 finding sites on the territory of Republic of Macedonia: Asplenium cuneifolium, Ranunculus flammula, Polygonum rurivagum, Rumex nebroides, R. nepalensis, Viola gostivarensis, Euphorbia barrelieri ssp. hercegovina, Astragalus lacteus, Epilobium tetragonum ssp. lamyi, Solanum luteum ssp. alatum, Rhinanthus wagneri, R. melampyroides, Campanula macrostachya, Centaurea affinis, Cyanus triumfetti ssp. axillaris, Stipa tirsa, Danthonia alpina, Carex depauperata, and Orchis provincialis.
Other 45 taxa were previously known from 4 or more finding sites on the territory of Republic of Macedonia: Phyllitis scolopendrium, Paeonia mascula, Sempervivum zeleborii, Veronica spicata, Melampyrum cristatum, Erythronium dens - canis, Allium bornmulleri, Crocus pallidus, Festuca arundinacea ssp. orientalis, Sesleria tenerrima, Orchis ustulata, etc.
The range boundary of some species are pushed eastward (Saxifraga grisebachii), southward (Rubus wahlbergii, Pilosella echioides ssp. proceriformis), and northward (Sempervivum thompsonianum, Genista januensis var. macedonica, Campanula oreadum, Lactuca intricata).

2. Flora of the Suva Gora Mountain
The Suva Gora Mountain (1857 m), which is located in the northwestern part of Republic of Macedonia (p. 37: fig. 1), floristically and phytogeographycally is not known enough. In this chapter are presented floristic and phytogeographycal characteristics of this predominantly calcareous mountain.
According to data in the literature and the results of our investigations Suva Gora Mountain flora is represented by 1359 taxa, of which 1179 species, 16 subspecies, 56 varieties and 14 forms. All species are included in 1307 species, 486 genuses and 95 families.
In the literature there are data for 227 taxa of which we have confirmed the presence of 243 taxa, while the presence of 4 taxa we have not confirmed (Lathyrus vernus, Cachrys alpina, Meum athamanticum, and Bromus erectus).
The most polymorphic families are Asteraceae - 163 taxa (11,99 % ), Fabaceae - 121 taxa (8,90 % ), Poaceae - 100 taxa (7,36 %), Lamiaceae - 79 taxa (5,81 %), Caryophyllaceae - 78 taxa (5,74 %), Rosaceae - 67 taxa (5,93 %), Scrophulariaceae - 61 taxa (4,49 %), and Brassicaceae - 61 taxa (4,49 % ).
The most polymorphic genera are Trifolium - 24 taxa, Silene - 23 taxa, Carex - 19 taxa, Veronica - 18 taxa, Vicia - 18 taxa, Campanula - 16 taxa, Euphorbia - 15 taxa, Geranium - 15 taxa, and Hieracium - 15 taxa.
According to the biological spectrum, the most represented groups are hemicryptophytes - 45,77 % (indicate the dominant character of continental climate) and therophytes - 26,05 % (indicate the influence of sub Mediterranean climate). Geophytes are represented by the 11,77%, phanerophytes by the 10,12 %, chamaephytes by the 6,26 %.
Most represented chorotypes are Eurasian groups (including orophylos-European) - 598 taxa (43,00 %), a group of Mediterranean chorotypes - 333 taxa (24,50 %), and a group of Balkan chorotypes - 234 taxa (17,22 %).