Article

Additions to the Albanian flora: New taxa from the southeastern region

Authors:
Gjeta E.
,
Damo R.
,
Barina Z.
,
Icka P.
Publication: Flora Mediterranea
Pages: 31-36
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7320/FlMedit36.031
Article history:

  1. Received

  2. (last) revision received

  3. Accepted

  4. Published online

Abstract

This contribution updates the distribution of three vascular plant taxa in various habitats and substrates within the Korça region in Southeastern Albania. Two of these: Trigonella graeca and Aremonia agrimonoides subsp. pouzarii are native to Albania, while Trigonella caerulea is a casual alien species likely introduced as an aromatic plant, many years ago with T. foenum– graecum. Both A. agrimonoides subsp. pouzarii and T. caerulea are reported here as new records for Albania; the former is a Balkan taxon and the latter is a cultigen originating from the Eastern Mediterranean, Mediterranean Europe, and Asia. Furthermore, a new Albanian southeastern locality and three southern unpublished ones are given for T. graeca, representing a significant expansion to the distribution range both within the country and across the Balkan Peninsula.

Paper cover
References

Aliaj, Sh. & Bushati, S. 2019: Look for the roots of the Mirdita ophiolites (Albania). – J. Nat. Tech. Sci. 2: 1-27.   

Aliaj, Sh., Melo, V., Hyseni, A., Skrami, J., Mëhillka, L. & al. 1996: Struktura neotektonike e Shqipërisë dhe evolucioni gjeodinamik i saj (Tekst shpjegues i hartës neotektonike të Shqipërisë në Shkallë 1:200.000). – Tiranë. 

Ayvazyan, A., Stegemann, Th., Pérez, M. G., Pramsohler, M. & Çiçek S. S. 2023: Phytochemical Profile of Trigonella caerulea (Blue Fenugreek) Herb and Quantification of Aroma-Determining Constituents. – Plants 12(5): 1154. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051154

Bani, A., Shallari, S., Gjeta, E., Mullaj A., Naqellari, P. & Meco, M. 2017: Field Trip Guide: Ultramafic Areas of the South-Eastern of Albania. 9th International Conference on Serpentine Ecology. – Tirana.

Barina, Z. & Pifkó, D. 2009: Data on the flora of Albania. – Pp. 578-582 in: Ivanova, D. (ed.), Plant, fungal and habitat diversity investigation and conservation. Proceedings of IV Balkan Botanical Congress, Sofia, 20 – 26 June 2006. – Sofia.

Barina, Z., Mullaj, A., Pifkó, D., Somogyi, G., Meco, M. & Rakaj M. 2017: Distribution atlas of vascular plants in Albania. – Budapest. 

Barina, Z., Somogoy, G., Pifkó, D. & Rakaj, M. 2018: Checklist of vascular plants of Albania. – Phytotaxa 378(1): 1-339. https://doi.org/10.11646/PHYTOTAXA.378.1.1

Damo, R. & Icka, P. 2020: A preliminary evaluation of the endemic and relict flora in Important Plant Area of Drenova-Nikolica, Albania. – Pp. 49-58 in: Çınar, Ö. (ed.), Proceedings of 6th the International Conference on Sustainable Development, November 4-8, 2020, North Macedonia. – Skopje.

Euro+Med PlantBase 2006+ [continuously updated]: Euro+ Med PlantBase – the information resource for Euro – Mediterranean plant diversity. –  http://www.europlusmed.org [accessed 1/7/2025]

Flora Prespae Database 2025: Flora Prespae Database. – https:// www.floraprespaedatabase.gr/en/aremonia-agrimonoides-subsp-pouzarii-p-2149.html [accessed 1/7/2025]

Fouache, E., Desruelles, S., Magny, M., Bordon, A., Oberweiler, C. & al. 2009: Palaeogeographical reconstructions of Lake Maliq (Korca Basin, Albania) between 14,000 BP and 2000 BP. – J. Archaeol. Sci. 37: 525-535. 

Frashëri, A., Nishani, P., Bushati, S. & Hyseni A. 1995: Geophysical study of the Albanides. – Boll. Geofis. Teorica Appl. 37(146): 83-108.

Hoeck, V., Ionescu, C. & Onuzi, K. 2014: The Southern Albanian ophiolites. – Bull. Geol. Sci. 6: 1-48.

IPNI 2025: International Plant Names Index. – https://www.ipni.org/ [accessed 17/6/2025] 

IUCN 2025: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025 – 1 https://www.iucnredlist.org. [accessed 12/7/2025] 

Pils, G. 2016: Illustrated Flora of Albania. – St. Stefan.

Pils, G. 2024: Illustrated Flora of Albania Version 1.01. – https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gerhard-Pils/publication/378128808_ILLUSTRATED_FLORA_of_Albania_Update_101/links/65c8485379007454976fbca2/ILLUSTRATED-FLORA-of-Albania-Update-101.pdf  [accessed 17/6/2026]

POWO 2026: Plants of the World Online. – https://powo.science.kew.org/ [accessed 6/2/2026]

Qosja, Xh., Paparisto, K., Demiri, M., Vangjeli, J. & Balza, E. 1992: Flora e Shqipërisë, 2. – Tiranë.

Shuka, L., Xhulaj, M. & Qirjo, M. 2011: Albania. – Pp. 65-69 in: Radford, E. A., Catullo, G. & Montmollin, B. de. (eds), Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region: priority sites for conservation, 8. – Gland & Malaga.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H. & al. 1968: Flora Europaea, 2. – Cambridge.

Vladimirov, V., Dane, F. & Tan, K. 2011: New floristics records in the Balkans: 17. – Phytol. Balcan. 17(3): 361-384. 

WFO 2025: World Flora online. https://www.worldfloraonline.org/ [accessed 1/7/2025]