The flora of three islets in the Korčula archipelago (southeastern Adriatic)

Abstract

The flora of three small islets located in the Korčula Archipelago was investigated on several occasions during 2020. In all, 105 plant taxa were recorded, of which 101 are angiosperms, 3 gymnosperms and with 1 fern. The total flora of the islets is distributed in 48 families. The families with the highest number of taxa are Poaceae (12.38%) and Asteraceae (10.48%), followed by Lamiaceae (7.62%) and Fabaceae (5.71%). The most common life forms are therophytes (31.43%), hemicryptophytes (27.62%) and phanerophytes (19.05%). The largest number of plant taxa is accounted for by the Mediterranean floral element (60.95%), followed by the South European (20.00%) In all, three endemic, four endangered and seven strictly protected taxa were recorded. Endemics are Carduus micropterus (Borbás) Teyber ssp. micropterus, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Medik. ssp. adriaticum (Beck) Markgr and Limonium dictyophorum (Tausch) Degen. All recorded endemic taxa belong to the group Illyrian-Adriatic endemic plants. Endangered taxa are Desmazeria marina (L.) Druce, Elymus pycnathus (Godr.) Melderis and Narcissus tazetta L. Strictly protected taxa include Chenopodium murale L. and Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. The invasive species Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist and Euphorbia prostrata Aiton have been recorded in the flora of the islet of Majsan.