Galanthus elwesii Hook.f. (Amaryllidaceae), a naturalized species in Serbia (chorology, ecology, and taxonomy)
Keywords:
Balkan flora, distribution, habitat, morphology, non-native species, snowdropsAbstract
The distribution and ecology of Galanthus elwesii Hook.f., as a naturalized species in Serbia, is presented for the first time, along with notes on the species’ morphology and taxonomy, comparing it to the native and morphologically similar G. graecus Orph. ex Boiss. To date, G. elwesii has been recorded at 16 localities distributed across eight floristic regions in the country, as herein mapped and listed with chorological and ecological data. It occurs in a variety of habitats, such as mixed deciduous forests (e.g., Fagus sylvatica L., Acer campestre L., Quercus spp.), scrub, forest clearings and meadows, on various substrates (limestone, loess, sand, etc.), at altitudes from ca. 80 m to 850 m. Further research is required to assess the ecological impacts of this non-native species and its potential interactions with native flora in Serbia.
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