Article

Greece is one of the world’s richest countries in Medicago taxa, counting 7 perennial and 27 annual species. This high diversity can at least partly be attributed to the geographical position of the country, which enabled its enrichment with different chorological elements. Furthermore, Greece is the outermost phytogeographical boundary of more than one third of the Medicago species present in its territory. The distribution of species varies considerably, from endemic taxa known to exist in only a few localities (M. strasseri) to species having their only European records in Greece (M. heyniana, M. carica) and also widespread species found in several areas of the Mediterranean. Between different regions, islands and islets an uneven distribution of Medicago species is found, attributed to populations’ fluctuation or/and undercollection. Isoflors showed that the higher concentration of species forms a belt defined by Kerkira to east Thraki via Kriti. In the mainland, species concentration is dramatically reduced towards a northwards direction. The Greek Medicago species exhibit a considerable altitude range, from sea level up to ca. 2300 m and appear in various habitats, although they show a particular preference for limestone substrates, sand, sandy loam and loam soil textures. The preferences of certain Medicago species in Greece are restricted to very specific vegetation types, while others are found in a wide range of plant communities. Some annual species are adapted to Mediterranean fire conditions and others have developed a weedy behaviour. Species that are found in very few localities or grow in threatened environments may need protection.