Vascular flora of the Rujište plateau and its surrounding area (Prenj mountain, southern Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract

Based on research carried out from 2003 to 2023 and a review of data contained in literature, this study presents for the first time a comprehensive floristic list of the area of Rujište. A total of 797 taxa of vascular plants were found. The taxa belonged to 390 genera and 80 families. Out of these, 436 taxa are listed for the area for the first time. The following families are distinguished by the greatest number of taxa: Compositae (114 / 14.30%), Poaceae (66 / 8.28%), Lamiaceae (55 / 6.90%), Apiaceae (49 / 6.15%), Fabaceae (48 / 6.02%), Brassicaceae (42 / 5.27%), and Rosaceae (40 / 5.02%). In terms of the life form spectrum, hemicryptophytes were dominant (454 / 56.97%). Phytogeographical analysis showed that most plants belong to the Eurasian floristic element (178 / 22.33%), followed by the South European floristic element (167 / 20.95%). The total number of identified taxa included 99 endangered and 84 endemic taxa.