Article

The Greek mountain flora, with speciai reference to the CentraI European element

Authors:
Strid A.
Publication: Bocconea
Pages: 99-112
Article history:
Abstract

Strietly aretie-alpine speeies are rare in Greeee, and generally restrieted to some of the highest mountain tops in the north, e.g. Varnous, Voras, Timfi, Olimbos, Gramos and Smolikas. Several have their southernmost oeeurrenees on non-ealcareous mountains in north centrai Greeee, others in the Rodhopi mountains. Many Centrai European forest speeies extend to the northern Pindhos, N. Centrai and N.E. Greeee, fewer to the high mountains of Sterea Ellas or northern Peloponnisos, and praetically none to Crete. Anatolian eonneetions follow either a northern route (via Thraki) or a southern route (the S. Aegean island are); the former speeies tend to be assoeiated with moist, non-ealcareous habitats, the latter are more often plants of dry ealcareous roeks. The Italian element is most prominently represented in north-western Greeee. Regional and loeal endemism inereases in a southerly direetion, eulminating in the White Mountains of western Crete. Edaphie endemism is eonspieuous in the serpenti ne areas that extend from north-western Greeee to Albania. Loeal and regional endemies tend to be diploid (frequeney ofpolyploidy 10-15 %); widespread Centrai European or boreal speeies have mueh higher rates of polyploidy (42-48 %).