The northernmost population of Podocytisus caramanicus (Fabaceae) in the Balkan Peninsula: evidence from Kosovo

Abstract

Podocytisus caramanicus (Fabaceae) is a monotypic genus with a disjunct range between southern Anatolia and the southern Balkans, representing a relict element of Mediterra-nean forest biodiversity. This study provides the first detailed reassessment of the species in Kosovo, where it forms the northernmost known population in the Balkans. Field sur-veys were carried out in 2025 in the Lepenc gorge to document its current distribution, population size, habitat characteristics, and associated vegetation. Morphometric traits were measured and compared with populations from North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey, while the national conservation status was evaluated following IUCN criteria. The species was confirmed in five small subpopulations covering an area of occupancy of 0.28 km² within an extent of occurrence of 2.8 km², confined to dry, south-facing calcareous slopes at 400–420 m a.s.l. dominated by Quercus pubescens and Fraxinus ornus . Habitat conditions are severely impacted by infrastructure development and settlement expan-sion, leading to pronounced fragmentation and decline. Morphometric results indicate the closest similarity between the Kosovo and North Macedonian populations. The popula-tion’s restricted extent, fragmentation, and continuing decline justify its classification as Endangered. Immediate in-situ and ex-situ conservation actions are essential to ensure the survival of this phylogenetically and biogeographically significant species.