This paper reports
The flora of the Republic of Kosovo is among the richest floras not only in the Balkan Peninsula, but also in the context of the whole European continent. In spite of the relatively small area of Kosovo (10.908 km2), the floristic diversity of the country represents about 25% of the total species richness on the Balkans. About 2000 vascular plant species have been registered, including relict and endemic species. This floristic richness and diversity can be explained by the geographical position and extraordinary geomorphological, pedological and climatological diversity. Although there have been studies on vascular flora by many authors, a complete inventory has not yet been developed; and from time to time new species are found that have not been previously recorded in the country (
The species has not been recorded earlier in Kosovo, probably due to the very short flowering period and the difficult terrain where this species is mainly encountered. Its autumnal flowering is dependent on late summer rainfall, which is usually sporadic (
In this paper, we present the first record of
The study was based on fieldwork by direct observation carried out annually between 2015 and 2019, taking place during the flowering period from September to November of each year.
Specimens were collected on 20th September 2015, in the Canyon of the White Drin River next to Fshajt Bridge, in the village of Fshajë, Rahovec Municipality. This site has been visited between September and November each year from 2015 to 2019, in order to confirm the presence of this species.
Geo-coordinates were recorded by Garmin eTrex 30 GPS device in the World Geodetic System 84 format.
Plants were herbarized according to the procedures and deposited in the National Herbarium of Albania, Flora and Fauna Research Center, Faculty of Science, Tirana University, (TIR) with inventory number: 01359.
The nomenclature of taxa follows Euro+Med (2006).
In 2015, during our research into the vascular flora of the Canyon of the White Drin, we found for the first time
Geographical position of the locality with
The occurrence of this species is restricted to an area of only 10 × 10 m2. During our field survey in the area it was recorded that the population of this species consists of fewer than 30 adult individuals. The bulbs were deeply embedded in 20 to 30 cm of soil. The flowering period of this species has been shifted by approximately 2-4 days each year from 2015 to 2019 and the number of individuals remains almost the same. The phenological diagramis in accordance with
The species was found on rocky limestone substrate (red soil type in limestone) within the vegetation of rocky grasslands (
Habitat of Sternbergia colchiciflora on the left bank of the White Drin River, SW Kosovo (photo: Xh. Mala).
In Kosovo, the place is characterized by a moderate continental climate with elements of the modified Mediterranean climate that penetrates through the Canyon of the White Drin River. The average annual temperature is 11.85 °C and the average annual precipitation is 871.9 mm, measured between 2008 and 2018 (B. Kastrati, unpubl. data).
Using IUCN criteria 3.1. (IUCN, 2012)
Based on these facts, we recommend the species
According to the literature and the current floristic database of Kosovo,
The authors are grateful to Professor Alfred Mullaj and Ervis Loce for their help on herbarizing the botanical material within the National Herbarium of Albania, Flora and Fauna Research Center, Faculty of Science, Tirana University. We would like to thank also Bashkim Kastrati for sharing with as his unpublished data for the climatic conditions of the study area.