Taxonomic and nomenclature notes on Balkan columbines (Aquilegia L., Ranunculaceae)

Abstract

The endemic species Aquilegia grata Maly ex Zimmeter was originally described from Mt Orjen in south-western Montenegro, in the nineteenth century. At that time, a specimen collected by J. Pancic from western Serbia was erroneously designated as a paratype. This claim was later accepted and the majority of the authors and collectors mentioned this plant from the canyons of western Serbia, eastern Bosnia and northern Montenegro. Other authors thought that the species A. amaliae Heldr. ex Boiss. grew in this area, which was also incorrect. On the basis of the original herbarium material and the recently collected material from Mt Orjen, it became clear that the populations of the mentioned area (outside this mountain) actually belong to a new, still undescribed species. The name of the subspecies previously described from this area, A. grata subsp. nikolicii Niketic, was taken for the basionym. After the validation of the name, the taxon was raised to a specific rank as A. nikolicii (Niketic) Niketic & Cikovac. Two varieties are recognised within the species. Two new chorological records from western Serbia are also reported.