Article

Recent field investigations in the F.Y.R. Makedonija have led to the recognition of four Arum taxa within that country: A. alpinum, A. orientale subsp. orientale, A. maculatum, and A. italicum subsp. italicum. They differ principaIly in shape of tuber, shape of spathe and spadix, ratio of peduncle to petiole length, and chromosome number. Arum alpinum is mostly found in the western part of the country, while A. orientale is more frequent in its eastern part where it reaches the western limit of its distribution; Arum maculatum is less widespread in the country than was earlier believed, having usually been cited by confusion with A. alpinum; A. italicum, a Mediterranean species, is confined to the southern part of the country and to the river valleys with a Mediterranean climatic regime.