96 ACTA BOT. CROAT. 82 (2), 2023 Acta Bot. Croat. 82 (2), 96–100, 2023 CODEN: ABCRA 25 DOI: 10.37427/botcro-2023-014 ISSN 0365-0588 eISSN 1847-8476 A new subspecies of Cephalaria pastricensis Dörfl. & Hayek (Dipsacaceae) from North Macedonia Aco Teofilovski Public Enterprise Nacionalni šumi, Sv. Kliment Ohridski 68, MK-1000 Skopje, North Macedonia Abstract – Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis Teofilovski (Dipsacaceae), from NW North Macedonia, is reported as a new subspecies to science. It is distinguished from C. pastricensis Dörfl. & Hayek subsp. pastricensis by its densely, ± patent-subvillous petioles and rachis of the leaves, and the midrib of the lower surface of the leaf lobes (vs. with sparse, short, ± appressed hairs), densely pubescent lower surface of the leaves (vs. with scattered hairs on the nerves), and densely pubescent to subglabrous upper surface of the leaves (vs. glabrous or with scattered hairs on the nerves). The new subspecies is a Macedonian endemic known from small areas in the Šar Mountains (near Brezno village) and Mt. Buković (near Gorna Đonovica village). Its distribution range is geographically distinct from that of C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis, which is a Balkan endemic, distributed in Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia. Keywords: Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis, indumentum, new subspecies, North Macedonia Introduction The genus Cephalaria Schrader (Dipsacaceae) is distrib- uted from N Africa and S & SE Europe to W China, with some species also occurring in parts of S Africa (Szabó 1940). This author quoted 65 species worldwide while since then, the number of known species has been raised to 94 (Göktürk and Sümbül 2014). With 11 native species, the Bal- kan Peninsula has a relatively low diversity [compared e.g. to 39 species representing the genus in Turkey (Göktürk and Sümbül 2014)]. In the flora of North Macedonia, the follow- ing six native species are known so far: C. ambrosioides (Sibth. & Sm.) Roem. & Schult., C. flava (Sibth. & Sm.) Szabó, C. leucantha (L.) Roem. & Schult., C. pastricensis Dörfl. & Hay., C. transsylvanica (L.) Roem. & Schult., and C. uralensis (Murray) Roem. & Schult. The only adventive species known in North Macedonia as well as in the Balkan Peninsula is the SW Asian C. syriaca (L.) Roem. & Schult. Cephalaria pastricensis is a Balkan endemic, with a dis- persed distribution in NE & SE Albania, Montenegro, C, E & S Bosnia and Herzegovina, W Kosovo, C & E Serbia, and NW North Macedonia (Hayek 1921, Szabó 1940, Millaku et al. 2013, Teofilovski 2014, Tomović et al. 2022). Babalonas (1983) reported this species also for NW Greece, however, according to Constantinidis and Phitos (2004) this report actually refers to a species belonging to another section. In North Macedonia it is a very rare species, discovered relatively recently, in two localities near Brezno village in the Šar Mountains (Teofilovski 2014) [these data were erro- neously referenced by Tomović et al. (2022) to “Vladimirov et al. 2014”]. Despite the identified differences in the indu- mentum between the collected specimens and typical C. pastricensis, due to the lack of additional information, they were not taken into consideration in the cited article. In the summer of 2022, during extensive fieldwork in the forest area south of Gostivar (NW North Macedonia), C. pastricensis was also recorded in Mt. Buković, with the indumentum of all the observed individuals matching those of the plants from Šar Mountains. The uniform indumentum of the plants from both mountain areas, obviously not matching that of the typical C. pastricensis, motivated the author to study the taxonomic position of the recorded populations. The comparative analysis showed that Macedonian popu- lations should be classified as a separate subspecies of C. pastricensis. Materials and methods During fieldwork conducted in 2012, 2013, and 2022, appropriate parts of representative plants were collected and Corresponding author e-mail: acoteofilovski@hotmail.com A NEW SUBSPECIES OF CEPHALARIA PASTRICENSIS ACTA BOT. CROAT. 82 (2), 2023 97 photographed. The collected material was herbarized and stored in the author’s private herbarium, in the Herbarium of the Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Skopje (MKNH), and the Herbarium of the Natural History Museum of the Republic of North Mace- donia. Scans of herbarium specimens from the type collec- tion and several other collections of C. pastricensis were used as comparative material (details listed in Discussion). Relevant literature related to the taxonomy of the genus Cephalaria was used during the morphological study of the collected material (Hayek 1921, Hayek 1928–1931, Szabó 1940, Matthews 1972, Diklić 1973, Ferguson 1976, Pignatti 1982, Kokkini 1991). Diagnosis of the newly described sub- species accompanied by a comparative table of the diagnos- tic characteristics and relevant photographs is presented. The distribution of the new subspecies is mapped. Results Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis Teofilovski, subsp. nov. Diagnosis: Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis Teofilovski, subsp. nov. differs from C. pastricensis Dörfl. & Hayek subsp. pastricensis by its densely, ± patent-subvillous petioles and rachis of the leaves, and the midrib of the low- er surface of the leaf lobes (vs. with sparse, short, ± ap- pressed hairs), densely pubescent lower surface of the leaves (vs. with scattered hairs on the nerves), and densely to sparsely pubescent upper surface of the leaves (or subgla- brous in upper cauline ones) (vs. glabrous or with scattered hairs on the nerves) (Tab. 1, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) Holotype: North Macedonia, Mt. Buković, 2.2 km SW of Gorna Đonovica village, forest clearing in the zone of a mixed forest of Ostrya carpinifolia Scop. and Fagua sylvatica L., limestone, 1250 m, 41.690475 N, 20.892805 E, 10.8.2022, leg. & det. A. Teofilovski (MKNH). Isotype: herb. A. Teofilovski. Other examined collections: North Macedonia, Šar Mountains, 4.5 km NW of Brezno village, roadside in the zone of beech forest, siliceous substrate, 1460 m, 42.111214 N, 20.993406 E, 20.7.2012, leg. & det. A. Teofilovski (herb. A. Teofilovski) (Teofilovski 2014, sub C. pastricensis); North Macedonia, Šar Mountains, 1.8 km NW of Brezno village, pastures and shrubby places, siliceous substrate, 1570–1590 m a.s.l., 42.092039 N 21.017495 E, 5.8.2013, leg. & det. A. Fig. 1. Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis: A – holotype (MKNH), B-D – details from the holotype. B – rachis of the basal cauline leaf, C – abaxial surface of the basal cauline leaf, D – abaxial surface of a middle cauline leaf, E – detail from the adaxial surface of a basal cauline leaf of a plant from the type locality. Scale bars = 3 mm (Photo: A. Teofilovski). TEOFILOVSKI A. 98 ACTA BOT. CROAT. 82 (2), 2023 Teofilovski (herb. A. Teofilovski; Herbarium of the Natural History Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia) (Teofilovski 2014, sub C. pastricensis); North Macedonia, Buković Mt., 2.4 km SW of Gorna Đonovica village, mixed forest of Acer obtusatum Willd. and Quercus cerris L., lime- stone, 1285 m a.s.l., 41.688651 N, 20.896195 E, 10.8.2022, photo. A. Teofilovski; North Macedonia, Buković Mt., 1.3 other on Mt. Buković (near Gorna Đonovica village) ( Fig. 3). The distance between the two areas is ca. 47 km. Habitats: The ecological preferences of C. pastricensis subsp. pologensis seem to be similar to those of C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis reported in the literature and recorded in the available herbarium sheets. It grows in open and sparse forest habitats in the zone of mesic and meso-ther- mophytic forests, at an altitude of between 1036 and 1590 m a.s.l. It is indifferent as regards geological substrate, grow- ing on both silicate (in the Šar Mountains) and limestone (on Mt. Buković). Size of the population and threats: Despite the author’s extensive fieldwork over many years in the valley of Polog, so far only 11 individuals were observed in Šar Mountains and ca. 60 individuals on Mt. Buković. The recorded popu- lations are apparently highly endangered due to the frequent occurrence of wildfires and forest management activities in the areas. Etymology: The epithet of the new subspecies refers to the valley of Polog, in which it is distributed. Tab. 1. Morphological differences between Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis Teofilovski, subsp. nov. and C. pastricensis Dörfl. & Hayek subsp. pastricensis. Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis (Fig. 2) Petioles, rachis of the leaves, and the midrib of the lower surface of the leaf lobes densely, ± patently subvillous with sparse, short, ± appressed hairs Lower surface of the leaves densely pubescent with scattered hairs on the nerves Upper surface of the leaves densely to sparsely pubescent (or subglabrous in upper cauline ones) glabrous or with scattered hairs on the nerves Distribution North Macedonia (Šar Mountains, Mt. Buković) Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina Fig. 3. Distribution of Cephalaria pastricensis subsp. pologensis in North Macedonia (red dots). Abbreviations: Al – Albania, Bu – Bulgaria, Gr – Greece, Ko – Kosovo, NMk – North Macedo- nia, Sr – Serbia. Fig. 2. Cephalaria. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis: A-B – details of the abaxial surface of a basal cauline leaf (Mt. Prokletije, Koso- vo) (23367, BEO), C – detail of the abaxial surface of a middle cauline leaf (Mt. Suva Planina, Serbia). Scale bars = 1 mm (BEO) (Photo: M. Niketić). km S of Gorna Đonovica village, forest margin, limestone, 1035 m a.s.l., 41.697198 N, 20.906883 E, 10.8.2022, leg. & det. A. Teofilovski (herb. A. Teofilovski). Distribution: According to present knowledge, C. pastricensis subsp. pologensis is endemic to the valley of Polog (NW North Macedonia), occurring in two small areas – one in the Šar Mountains (near Brezno village) and the A NEW SUBSPECIES OF CEPHALARIA PASTRICENSIS ACTA BOT. CROAT. 82 (2), 2023 99 Discussion Cephalaria pastricensis is a robust, perennial species classified within Sect. Atrocephala Szabó and the monotypic Ser. Rupestris Szabó (Szabó 1940). It is described from the subalpine zone of the Albanian part of Mt. Paštrik (NE Albania) (Hayek 1921), with the following description provided in the protologue: “Perennis fere 2 cm alta. Caulis erectus glaber superne ramosus. Folia dilute viridia non nitentia, in pagina inferiore ad nervos minute puberula caeterum glabra, 5-6-jugo pin- natisecta segmentis oblongo-lanceolatis logitudine latitudi- nem 6-7-plo superante sensim acutatis anguste serratis, basi ad rhachim usque ad foliolum proximum anguste decurrenti- bus, summis late decurrentibus, terminali lateralibus sub- breviore; infima longe caulina breviter petiolata, summa tan- tum 3-juga. Pedunculi elongati glaberrimi, lateralibus supra medium bracteolarum parvarum lanceolatarum pare, in quorum axilla capitula rudimentaria sessilia oriuntur, instructa. Capitula globosa plusquam 3 cm longa et lata. Bracteae nigricantes 4–5 mm longae triangulares breviter cuspidato-acuminatae hamato-recurvae extus dense sericeo- pilosae. Corolla 10–12 mm longa ochroleuca extus sericeo pilosa.” The comparative morphological study showed that the newly described C. pastricensis subsp. pologensis differs from the typical C. pastricensis by the type and much high- er density of the indumentum of the pedicels and leaves (Tab. 1, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). These characteristics are rather uniform in the recorded populations, with none of the col- lected individuals or ca 30 examined in the field matching or approaching C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis. Besides the morphological differences, the recognition of the new subspecies is also justified by its apparently allopatric distribution in regard to C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis. The closest known distance (c. 40 km) between localities of the two subspecies is the one between the type locality of C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis (Mt. Paštrik, NW Albania) and the localities of C. pastricensis subsp. pologensis in the Šar Mountains. There are also no indica- tions that plants approaching or matching C. pastricensis subsp. pologensis occur within the range of C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis, as most of the chorological data for C. pastricensis s.l. (Hayek 1921, Hayek 1928–1931, Szabó 1940, Diklić 1973, Ferguson 1976) are accompanied by a morphological description strictly matching the typical C. pastricensis. In this context, of particular importance is the information provided by Szabó (1940) in his valuable monography of the genus Cephalaria, who quoted 11 checked by himself herbarium collections from Bosnia (Stolac, Višegrad, Silvolje, Čemerno), Herzegovina (Kokorje, sources of the Neretva River, Gacko), and Serbia (Ozren, Kopasnik, Biljanica, Ostra Čuka – Aleksinac). It should be mentioned in support of this author’s opinion that the indumentum of all specimens in the following herbarium collections of C. pastricensis is typical for subsp. pastricensis: – NE Albania, “District Hasi. Gerrolhalden an then süd- hängen des Paštrik, ca. 1800 m, n° 917,” leg. I. Dörfler, 26.7.1918, 109004709, 109004710, 109004712, (B) (type col- lection); – NE Albania, “Bergwiesen am westabhang des Paštrik”, leg. H. Zerny, 13. July, 1918, 0047629 (GB); – W Kosovo, Prokletije Mt., “In rupestribus calcareis su- pra pg. Lipa”, leg. P. Černjavski, I. Rudski, V. Lindtner, det. P. Černjavski, 1.8.1933”, 23367 (BEO) (Fig. 2A, B); – W Kosovo, “m. Žljeb, u bukovoj šumi pored puta Stu- bice – Savine Vode” leg. P. Černjavski, I. Rudski, V. Lindtner, det. P. Černjavski, 3.8.1933, 23368, 23369, 23370, 23371 (BEO); – SE Serbia, “Mt. Suva Planina, Golemo Stražište, De- balac”, leg. M. Niketić, 17.8.2003. (BEO) (Fig. 2 C). However, the infraspecific affiliation of the populations reported from SE Albania (Barina et al. 2017) needs to be checked. They represent the southernmost points in the dis- tributional range of C. pastricensis s.l., situated significant- ly closer to the localities of C. pastricensis subsp. pologensis than those of C. pastricensis subsp. pastricensis. Due to the indumentum of the leaves and pedicels C. pastricensis subsp. pologensis is reminiscent of C. alpina (L.) Roem. & Schult., distributed in SW & C Alps, Jura, and N Appennini. However, it differs at least by the following mor- phological characteristics that clearly classify it within C. pastricensis: intermediate setae of the involucels distinctly shorter than the longer ones (vs. slightly shorter), usually narrower shape of the lobes of the leaves (oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate vs. elliptic to oblong-lanceolate), and recep- tacular scales appressed sericeous (vs. patently villous). 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