Areal-Geographical Characterization of the Retezat Flora and the Endangered Species

Abstract

Out of the 1152 species and 104 subspecies of cormophyte plants identified in the Retezat National Park, 24.5% are European elements, 23.2% Eurasians, 13.3% European alpine, 8.3% circumpolar, 12.5% Carpathian endemites and 12.2% Dacian-Balkan ones. Among the endangered species we mention: Draba simonkaiana (CR), Barbarea lepuznica (CR), Oxytropis pyrenaica (CR), Pseudorchis frivaldii (CR), Scutellaria alpina (CR), Salix alpina (CR) and Pulsatilla vulgaris ssp. grandis (CR). The species with great phytogeographical significance are the regional, Carpathian, local and general endemic, as well as the Carpathian-Balkan species, which floristically differentiate the plant communities in the South-Eastern Carpathians from those in the Western Carpathians and the Alps. Some of these species are extremely rare (Draba dorneri, Chrysosplenium alpinum) or live in several areas of the park (Achillea lingulata, Alyssum repens, Campanula transsilvanica, Festuca carpatica, Gentiana lutea, Hepatica transsilvanica, Phyteuma vagneri and Thlaspi dacicum).