Flora of the city of Podgorica, Montenegro: Chorologic structure and comparison with the floras of Rome, Patras, and Salonika

Research on the geographical structure of the flora of Podgorica revealed that 85.9% of the species are native, while 14.1% are non-native. This ratio is typical of Mediterranean settlements, where even the most urbanized region reflects the overall character of the surrounding flora. In terms of chorologic groups, the three largest are: eury-Mediterranean (18.2%), cosmopolitan (12.6%), and steno-Mediterranean (8.3%). The percentage of endemic and subendemic plants is also significant (6.8%). Within the group of aliens, species of Asian origin prevail. Comparative analysis of the chorologic spectra of Podgorica, Rome, Patras, and Salonika revealed some similarities

Flora of the city of Podgorica, Montenegro: Taxonomic analysis

In this paper we present the taxonomic segment of a floristic study undertaken in the city of Podgorica in the period of 2002-2007. The check-list of spontaneously growing vascular plants includes 1227 species and subspecies belonging to 545 genera and 118 families. The dominant families are Poaceae (11.7%), asteraceae (11.2%) and Fabaceae (9.2%). The most abundant genera are Trifolium (2.1%), Euphorbia (1.5%), Carex (1.5%), Bromus (1.3%) and Vicia (1.2%). Analysis of the flora of Podgorica in comparison with some other european cities showed that the flora of Podgorica is most similar to that of Rome (Q/S= 0,7)

Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendtn., a new moss species in the bryophyte flora of Montenegro

In a vegetation survey conducted in the northeast part of Montenegro, Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendtn. was collected. This is a new moss species for the bryophyte flora of Montenegro. The species has a wide temperate-tropical distribution, but its populations are rather scattered. In most European countries, the species is included on the relevant national Red Lists and most recently, it was added to the European Red List of Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts. In order to expand our knowledge of its distribution in Montenegro, and to assess its IUCN threat status, further investigations are needed

New records of Salicornia s.l. in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Floristic investigations on the eastern part of Adriatic coast in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina led to the discovery of three glasswort taxa new for the area: Arthrocaulon macrostachyum (Moric.) Piirainen et G. Kadereit and Salicornia procumbens Sm. subsp. procumbens and S. perennis Mill. All three taxa were recorded in the abandoned basins of Tivat Saline in Montenegro, while S. perennis was also found in the Klek Peninsula in Bosnia and Hercegovina. According to the IUCN criteria, the status of the newly reported taxa was classified as “critically endangered” (CR) in both countries

Aristida oligantha – a new alien species on the eastern Adriatic coast

An alien and potentially invasive species of North American origin Aristida oligantha Michx. was found in the hinterland of Velika plaža, a sandy beach in the town of Ulcinj (Montenegro), the second known record of this plant in Europe. Here we describe the Aristida oligantha community. Further monitoring is suggested in order to evaluate its invasiveness and to plan appropriate eradication measures

Pollen morphology and the flower visitors of Chaerophyllum coloratum L. (Apiaceae)

The pollen features of Chaerophyllum coloratum L., endemic to the Dinaric Alps, have been examined by both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in order to contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomic status of the species. Flower visitors have also been observed and analyzed with the aim of clarifying certain pollination aspects of the species including flower attractiveness especially to honeybees, and also in order to ascertain its contribution to the bee pasture. The pollen grains of C. coloratum are isopolar, radially symmetrical and medium sized. Polar axis (P) is 26.83±1.77 μm length, and equatorial diameter (E) is 9.17±0.57 μm length. P/E ratio amounts 2.90±0.10 indicating a perprolate shape. In an equatorial view, the grains are constricted in the equatorial region (bone-shaped), with obtuse polar caps. In polar view, they are triangular with obtuse angles and furrows in the sides of the triangle (interangular). The grains are tricolporate with three straight ectocolpi arranged regularly meridionally, of mean length 14.43±2.17 μm, each of which has one endopore. The characteristic internal thickenings around the protruding, clearly visible endopores (costae) in the constricted equatorial region are obvious in light microscopy. The ornamentation is psilate, irregularly rugulate (“cerebroid”), the exine surface is rather undulating. With regard to the observed fl ower visitors, the following pollination types occurred: melittophily, myophily, sapromyophily, cantharophily, and phalaenophily, and the most frequent pollinator was the honeybee

Coastal sand dune vegetation of Velika plaža (Montenegro)

Velika plaža (Ulcinj, Montenegro) is the largest sandy beach along the coast of the eastern Adriatic that still has well-developed sand-dune vegetation. Although the characterization of the flora and vegetation of Velika plaža has been addressed by many authors, knowledge on its vegetation remained poor. We made a phytosociological study of sand beach vegetation comprising both dunal and wetland areas to provide a comprehensive survey of sand dune vegetation and habitat typology of Velika plaža. Based on 149 relevés (both from literature and recent field work), and with numerical classification (Flexible beta) and ordination (Non-metric multidimensional scaling) our results show that the vegetation of Velika plaža is much more diverse than previously known. Altogether, 19 plant communities from 6 vegetation classes were identified. Among them we described two new associations: Cuscuto cesatianae-Phyletum nodiflorae and Onobrychido caput-galli-Vulpietum fasciculatae

Synecology of Cutandia maritma (L.) Barbey, a rare psammophytc species along the Montenegrin Coast (East Adriatc Coast)

Cutandia maritima is a circum-Mediterranean species that inhabits sandy dunesalong the coast line. It is fairly frequent on the western Adriatic coast but fairlyrare and possibly even non-native in the east. In Croatia, it was discovered in1990 in Crnika Bay on the island of Rab, which was considered until 2005 to bethe only site on the eastern Adriatic coast from the Gulf of Trieste in the northto Corfu in the south. In 2009, the species was briefly reported for Velika plaža(Long Beach) in Ulcinj (Montenegro) but without details about the habitattype and synecology. Te aim of this paper is thus to provide a deeper insightinto the ecology and synecology of C. maritima in the eastern Adriatic part ofthe distribution area. On Velika plaža in Ulcinj, the species was found along thewhole sea-inland gradient of sand dunes, in various types of vegetation: [1210]– annual vegetation of drift lines, [2110] – embryonic shifting dunes, [2120]– shifting dunes with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes), [2220] – dunes withEuphorbia terracina, [2130*] – fxed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation(grey dunes), and also [2190] – humid dune slacks

Distribution of alien species along sand dune plant communities zonation

Background and purpose: For a fairly long period, Velika plaža in Ulcinj, Montenegro has been considered to be one of the best-preserved sites with psammophilous vegetation along the Adriatic coast. In recent years, however, this area has been significantly transformed as a result of various human disturbances (e.g., a non-sustainable approach to touristic development, illegal dumping, sand exploitation etc.), and has become prone to alien plant invasions. We made a transect survey to assess the presence of alien species in the psammophilous communities.Materials and methods: In order to make a survey of the present state of plant life on Velika plaža, its floristic composition and zonation of plant communities, 20 transects were set perpendicular to the coast, regularly every 500 m. Quadrats (2 x 2 m) were laid contiguously in the form of a belt transect starting from the area with the first colonizing plants towards the end of the sand dune system with forest vegetation. This resulted in a matrix of 1124 plots and 196 species (15 alien and 181 native), on which multivariate analysis was performed.Results: Nine plant communities were detected, arranged in zonation from sea to inland. All of them were characterised by the presence of alien species. The least affected was the plant community dominated by Cladium mariscus, while the most affected ones were dominated by Scirpoides holoschoenus and Tripidium ravennae. Psammophilous vegetation is less affected by alien species than wetland communities. Foredunes are dominated by Xanthium orientale ssp. italicum, while Oenothera species are predominant on stable dunes.Conclusions: Sand dunes are a highly invaded ecosystem, with changed plant communities, so conservation measures should be considered.</p

Morphological Analysis of Short-Tooth Sage (Salvia brachyodon Vandas) Populations

Short-tooth sage (Salvia brachyodon Vandas) is an endemic and one of the rarest plant species of the Dinaric karst. Although older literature indicates its presence in more localities; only two have been confirmed at the present time; Mt. Orjen (border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) and Pelješac peninsula (Croatia). Due to its very narrow distribution and economically very interesting essential oil composition short-tooth sage might become more endangered in the future. The aim of this research was to determine and compare inter-and intra- population morphological diversity of the only two noted natural populations of short-tooth sage by analyzing 16 quantitative morphological traits. Pelješac population of short-tooth sage showed considerably higher values for traits related to habitus and plant height; while the Mt. Orjen population showed higher values for traits related to the calyx and higher occurrence of sessile glandular hairs on the flower pedicels. When interpreting the obtained results; we should consider the fact that the habitats on Pelješac peninsula and Mt. Orjen greatly differ. In order to get better insight into the diversity and differentiation of short-tooth sage populations and to define efficient protection measures an additional analysis of populations using molecular markers are recommended