Refinding of the critically endangered species Eranthis hyemalis (L.) Salisb. in Western and Eastern Serbia

Abstract

Eranthis hyemalis is a critically endangered species in Serbia, where it is protected by national law. The only confirmed finding place of the species in Serbia was the Bagremara forest near Bačka Palanka. It was assumed that the species disappeared from other recorded localities, or else the data were not confirmed. During a field study in 2016, we registered this species in Valjevo, a town in Western Serbia. A previous record of the species at this locality dates from 1992, but the precise location was not known. We also registered a small population in Eastern Serbia (on the hill Vrška Čuka). Both localities were georeferenced with GPS devices. Small groups of individuals are present at these locations, and they are endangered by multiple factors. All chorological data for Serbia are presented on a UTM grid map with squares of 10 km × 10 km. Protection measures are urgently required.

Keywords

• Eranthis hyemalis
• critically endangered
• distribution
• Serbia