engleski

Distribution and occurrence of Arbutus L. taxa (Ericaceae) in Croatia

The genus Arbutus L. includes circa 20 taxa that are distributed in the Mediterranean area, North and Central America. In wider Mediterranean region the genus is represented with four evergreen woody species: A. unedo L., A. andrachne L., A. canariensis Duhamel, A. pavarii Pump. and two natural hybrids (A. x andrachnoides Link and A. x androsterilis Salas, Acebes & del Arco). In Croatian flora according to Flora Croatica Database only three taxa occur along the coast and islands: A. unedo, A. andrachne and their hybrid A. x andrachnoieds. All three taxa are typically Mediterranean element that have important role in formation of different types of macchias. The aim of this survey was to re-evaluate the occurrence and distribution of Arbutus taxa in Croatia based on literature data, field observations and herbarium specimens. Herbarium revision was performed and based on leaf, stem and fruit morphology on specimens deposited in CNHM, ZA, ZAGR and ZAHO. Results of this survey showed that A. unedo is very frequent, while A. andrachne and A. x andrachoides are very rare with very restricted distribution and sporadical occurrence on few Adriatic islands. The widespread species is A. unedo which is distributed form Istrian peninsula on north to Prevlaka on south, and it can be seen that A. unedo is connected to very narrow area of the Croatian littoral with a very frequent occurrence on the islands. According to literature data, A. andrachne occurs on the islet of Badija, islands of Korčula, Kornati, Šolta, Mljet, and in the botanical garden of Lokrum. The occurrence of A. andrachne was not confirmed for the islet of Badija, neither for the islands of Korčula and Mljet, but we have confirmed the occurrence of hybrid taxon A. x andrachnoides with low number of individuals in population. It is questionable if A. andrache still really grows on those islands. The occurrence of A. x andrachnoides is confirmed for the islands of Korčula, Mljet, Šolta and Lokrum, but not on the island of Vis. On the islands of Mljet and Korčula, where A. unedo and A. x andrachnoides grow together, individuals of probably introgressive origin were also found.

Adriatic ; Arbutus ; flora ; herbarium ; hybrids ; morphology ; systematics

nije evidentirano