English - Convention on Biological Diversity

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COUNTRY STUDY FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
species), Bryum (14) and Orthotrichum (11). Two species are Macedonian endemics
(Melichoferia paradoxa and Orthotrichum insidiosum).
• Peat mosses. This group is represented by six species which mainly inhabit moist
areas and bogs in mountain and high mountain areas. They are only rarely found in
lowlands (most often on silicate soils). The species Diphasium alpinum, Huperzia
sellago, Isoetes phrygia and Lycopodium clavatum have very restricted distributions.
• Horsetails. Horsetails are represented by seven species which may be found in very
moist places, from lowlands to high mountain areas (by rivers, mountain streams,
valleys, gorges, marshes and moist meadows). The most frequent species are
Equisetum arvense and E. palustre, with the rarest being the species E. fluviatile and
E. sylvaticum.
• Ferns. In the Republic of Macedonia, 42 species of ferns in 15 families can be
observed. The most polymorphic genera are Asplenium (11 species) and Dryopteris
(6). The following species are characterised by a restricted distribution: Adiantum
capillus-veneris, Blechnum spicant, Crytogramma crispa, Ophioglossum vulgatum,
Osmunda regalis, Phyllitis scolopendrium, Thelipteris palustris, as well as the
endemic species Asplenium macedonicum (in the vicinity of Prilep). This group also
includes the two species of aquatic ferns (Marsilea quadrifolia and Salvinia natans).
• Gymnosperms. These are represented by four families, six genera and 15 indigenous
species (the most polymorphic are the genera Juniperus and Pinus, each with five
species). Some species have been introduced (exotic), mainly from the genera Abies,
Juniperus, Picea, Pinus, Sequoia, Taxodium etc.
• Angiosperms. Angiosperms are represented by 120 families, 720 genera and
approximately 3,200 species (5,000 taxa). The most polymorphic families of the
class Dicotyledonae are the families Caryophyllaceae (345 species), Compositae (c.
470), Cruciferae (264), Labiatae (c. 260), and Leguminosae (457), whereas of the
class Monocotyledonae, the families Gramineae (c. 280) and Liliaceae (c.130) are
most polymorphic.
Table 12. Number of families, genera, species and lower taxa of higher plants in the Republic of
Macedonia.
Group Families Genera Species
Subspecies,
Varieties, Forms
Total
Taxa
Total mosses (Bryopsida) 67 167 349
- Hepaticae
- Anthocerotae
25
1
36
1
52
1
- -
- Musci
41 130 296
Peat mosses (Lycopsida) 3 5 6 - 6
Horsetails (Sphenopsida) 1 1 7 13 20
Ferns (Filicinae) 15 21 42 18 60
Gymnosperms
(Gymnospermae)
4 6 15 7 22
Total Angiosperms
(Angiospermae)
c. 120 c. 720 c. 3,200 c. 1,700 c. 4,900
- Dicotyledonae c. 102 c. 565 c. 2,600 c. 1,500 c. 4,100
- Monocotyledonae c. 18 c. 155 c. 600 c. 200 c. 800
Total Higher Plants c. 210 c. 920 c. 3,700 c. 1,740 c. 5,350