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Plant diversity of protected landscape Gornji Kamenjak, Istria (Croatia)

The vascular flora on the protected landscape - Gornji Kamenjak in southern Istria, was mapped within eight MTB 1/64 fields in different vegetational periods of 2012 and 2013. A total number of 486 plant taxa within 53 investigated locations were recorded. The most dominant families in the flora of Gornji Kamenjak are grasses (Poaceae), legumes (Fabaceae) and composite (Asteraceae). The dominant life forms represented with more than 30% of the entire flora are therophyta and hemicryptophyta than follows geophyta with 10%. A very rare and critically endangered species of ferns, Ophioglossum lusitanicum L. was confirmed in this study. The species Catapodium pauciflorum (Merino) Brullo, Giusso del Galdo, Minissale et Spampinato that grows within the halophylous vegetation along the coast was found for the first time in the Croatian flora. Besides, there were 13 endemic, 15 threatened, nine invasive taxa and several rare species of the Croatian flora such as Koeleria australis A. Kern., Ranunculus paludosus Poiret., Serapias x todari Tineo and Allium chamaemoly L. Given the large proportion of dry rocky grasslands on the area of Gornji Kamenjak 15 orchid taxa were recorded, and three of them are endemic (Ophrys incantata Devillers et Devillers-Tersch, O. untchjii (M.Schulze) P.Delforge and O. medea Devillers et Devillers-Tersch.). High number of plant taxa in this relatively small area, that together with the species recorded in the area of Donji Kamenjak exceed over 500. This important area should be better protected and preserved for future action plans of the Public Institution "Kamenjak" because of good preservation and high level of plant diversity.

flora; the Istrian peninsula; mapping; Mediterranean; protected area

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