Notes on rare and newly found Carex taxa (Cyperaceae) in Croatia

Abstract

Although the flora of Croatia is rather well known, several new Carex species and hybrids could be added during a caricological visit to Croatia and after two more years of fieldwork (2023–2024). The total number of Carex species is now 91; besides, there are eleven Carex hybrids known. During our herbarium research and revision in several European herbaria, and recent fieldwork, six new Carex taxa for Croatia were found: C. aterrima subsp. aterrima, C. distachya subsp. phyllostachioidea, C. depressa subsp. transsilvanica, C. nigra subsp. juncea, C. pairae, and C. secalina. Besides, eleven hybrids could be found new for Croatia: C. × alberti, C. × alsatica, C. × auroniensis, C. × leutzii, C. × oberrodensis, C. × oenensis, C. × prolixa, C. × pseudoaxillaris, C. × subviridula, C. × villacensis, and C. × xanthocarpa. Moreover, several rare Carex species could be confirmed, and/or new localities were detected for the following species: C. atrata, C. buekii, C. capillaris, C. cespitosa, C. fritschii, C. illegitima, C. lasiocarpa, C. pulicaris, C. punctata, C. randalpina, C. rupestris, and C. vulpinoidea. Carex limosa has to be considered as extinct from Croatia. Of the following species, C. arenaria, C. diandra, C. frigida, C. melanostachya, C. pauciflora, C. stenophylla, and C. supina, there have been found only very old herbarium specimens, but without any recent confirmation in the field. For C. dioica there was no material available, it could neither be confirmed in the field. Two hybrid names, C. × rossiana and C. × villacensis, are lectotypified here.