Diversity of vascular flora of Boka Kotorska Bay

Abstract

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016. Boka Kotorska represents a unique geomorphologic object in the southern part of eastern coastline of Adriatic Sea. Due to the interesting orography of this bay (surrounded by high mountains representing special micro-centers of floristic diversity in this part of Europe), climate characteristics and pedological substrate, etc., the area of Boka Kotorska Bay may be considered one of the floristic hotspots of Balkan Peninsula. In spite of many centuries of anthropogenic impact, diversity of vascular flora was preserved to a significant percentage. The overview of diversity of vascular flora at Boka Kotorska is a compilation of extensive studies presented in more than 200 scientific papers. However, it must be stated that studies of flora were not systematic. Certain parts of Boka Kotorska area are characterized by excellent level of study and knowledge of floristic diversity, while some other parts are completely neglected and forgotten by researchers. Area of Boka Kotorska includes a high number of Locus classicus units. Literature data have shown presence of 49 endemic taxa, mostly from the Mediterranean-Submediterranean range group. The system of national and international conservation recognizes 47 taxa of vascular plants and among them 26 species belong to family Orchidaceae. The traditional landscape improvement and garden design, present for centuries in area of Boka Kotorska, resulted in extraordinary richness in diversity of ligneous flora.