Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi

Krasniqi, Elez & Berisha, Naim, 2025, Anchusella cretica (Boraginaceae): a new genus and species record for the flora of Kosovo (Southeast Europe), Biodiversity Data Journal 13, pp. e 164900-e 164900 : e164900-

Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi

Materials

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 25B7C46E-906D-5A9F-87F9-5D40147BCB7F; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Lugina e Drinit ; verbatimElevation: 315 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.227927°N, 20.639507°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.227927°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.639507°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 114AC267-1902-50CD-AF32-241030B3F9FE; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Lugina e Drinit ; verbatimElevation: 315 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.226860°N, 20.638344°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.226860°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.638344°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 79AFFBEB-A6B0-55F4-BA52-D4A9D20B80DD; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Lugina e Drinit ; verbatimElevation: 315 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.221352°N, 20.637665°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.221352°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.637665°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 8ECF137E-2D5C-5FD7-A68C-F40770CD9862; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Lugina e Drinit ; verbatimElevation: 315 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.217452°N, 20.630672°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.217452°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.630672°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: D9659D6E-321F-5A24-A00C-9674091CE635; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Planeje ; verbatimElevation: 708 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.215771°N, 20.576035°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.215771°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.576035°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: AFED05C5-A299-5B4C-B00E-FED92B66E67E; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Planeje ; verbatimElevation: 708 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.215079°N, 20.575552°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.215079°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.575552°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 9FC4CC2A-EC2E-5A55-A93B-5CF440249645; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Planeje ; verbatimElevation: 708 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.215276°N, 20.577337°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.215276°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.577337°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 3209874E-AD13-59D7-8FED-51F82CCBB7C6; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Planeje ; verbatimElevation: 708 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.209428°N, 20.579546°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.209428°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.579546°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: DAD2B87F-BC36-5516-BB19-BE4D13886D8B; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Mazrek ; verbatimElevation: 360 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.230282°N, 20.616600°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.230282°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.616600°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: EF62FA45-37E4-5071-BC1B-5F3A2B005F05; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Mazrek ; verbatimElevation: 360 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.233447°N, 20.617197°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.233447°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.617197°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 7203DA2A-5473-5EB1-9ABF-2B4389870630; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Ura e Fshajte ; verbatimElevation: 310 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.354280°N, 20.542625°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.354280°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.542625°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: 6B775A8B-8204-5DF0-9789-AA8B5E2FAE04; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Ura e Fshajte ; verbatimElevation: 310 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.354057°N, 20.540495°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.354057°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.540495°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: B1D118C9-7E4B-5F39-AB95-CD0B66265211; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Ura e Fshajte ; verbatimElevation: 310 m; verbatimCoordinates: 42.354392°N, 20.539100°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.354392°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.539100°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: occurrenceRemarks: New national record; recordedBy: Krasniqi & Berisha; occurrenceID: C9BB3272-D045-58EA-ACF4-911AD14D7550; Taxon: taxonID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; originalNameUsageID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; scientificName: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al. in Pl. Syst. Evol. 205: 257. 1997; acceptedNameUsage: Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi & al.; parentNameUsage: Boraginaceae ; originalNameUsage: Anchusa cretica Mill., Gard. Dict. , ed. 8: Anchusa no. 7. 1768; kingdom: Plantae; phylum: Spermatophytina; class: Magnoliopsida; order: Boraginales ; family: Boraginaceae ; genus: Anchusella ; taxonRank: Species; scientificNameAuthorship: (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi & Selvi; nomenclaturalCode: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995790-1; taxonomicStatus: Accepted; Location: higherGeographyID: SE Europe; higherGeography: SE Europe; continent: Europe; country: Kosovo; countryCode: XK; municipality: Prizren; locality: Ura e Fshajte ; verbatimCoordinates: 42.355563°N, 20.545754°E; verbatimLatitude: 42.355563°N; verbatimLongitude: 20.545754°E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Naim Berisha; dateIdentified: 3 / 31 / 2025; Event: eventDate: 3 / 31 / 2025; Record Level: language: en; collectionCode: Plants; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen (Herbarium)

Distribution

In Kosovo, Anchusella cretica (Fig. 1 ) has been found in four disjunct populations of different sizes (Fig. 2 ). The first population consists of three subpopulations distributed along the western bank of the river Drini i Bardhë (Fig. 1 ), about 9.5 to 11.5 km north-east of the Albanian border. These sites are located on calcareous rocky slopes and dry, south-east facing clearings at altitudes between 306 and 328 meters above sea level.

The second population was found near the village of Planejë in the Hasi region, where A. cretica grows in dry, calcareous meadows that are apparently abandoned and no longer used for grazing or haymaking, at altitudes between 672 and 745 meters above sea level.

The third population occurs near the village of Mazrek (also in the Hasi region), where the species grows along roadsides in similar dry, calcareous meadow habitats. This site comprises two small subpopulations, each with only a few individuals (Table 1 ) - at altitudes between 470 and 490 meters above sea level.

The fourth and most remarkable population was discovered in the gorge of Ura e Fshajtë, on the upper bank of the river Drini i Bardhë. This population is not only the largest of those recorded, but also the most ecologically interesting. It inhabits steep, rocky, calcareous slopes and open clearings at altitudes between 340 and 360 meters above sea level. It is exposed to considerable human disturbance due to the nearby recreational infrastructure, including hiking trails and a hotel playground.

In terms of habitat classification ( Anonymous 2023, Chytrý et al. 2024) according to the broad EUNIS system used by the European Union, the habitats where Anchusella cretica occurs in Kosovo fall predominantly under EUNIS habitat type E 1.26 – Dry calcareous grasslands and steppes and partially overlap with EUNIS habitat H 3.4 – South Balkan and Aegean calcareous screes on steep rocky slopes. These habitats are characterised by shallow, skeletal soils over limestone or dolomite, typically hosting a diverse assemblage of heliophilous and thermophilous species. Based on the FloraVeg. EU alliances ( Chytrý et al. 2024), the vegetation broadly corresponds to Bromion erecti Koch 1926 and related dry grassland communities, often with Festuco - Brometea Br. - Bl. et Tx. ex Soó 1947 elements in transition. The occurrence of A. cretica in these habitats emphasises its preference for open, sun-exposed, nutrient-poor conditions and illustrates the ecological specificity of the species in the karstic lowlands and foothills of the central western Balkans.

Conservation

Based on currently available data, Anchusella cretica is known from four disjunct localities in southern Kosovo, with an estimated Area of Occupancy (AOO) of 5.54 km ² and an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of 80 km ². These values are below the threshold values for the category " threatened " according to IUCN criterion B ( Anonymous 2024). However, the development of the overall population, potential undiscovered sites and the exact impact of habitat conditions remain uncertain.

Although habitat disturbance has been observed in at least one major site (Ura e Fshajtë canyon), such open conditions may actually favour the persistence of this annual species by preventing encroachment from woody plants. This factor suggests that moderate disturbance does not pose an immediate threat and may even favour the persistence of the population.

Given these uncertainties, A. cretica is best categorised as Near Threatened (NT) at the national level in Kosovo, pending further data. This classification reflects the limited and fragmented distribution while recognising that the species may be more widespread than currently documented.

Given the recent discovery of the species in Kosovo and its ecological distinctiveness, A. cretica should be closely monitored together with targeted field surveys and habitat evaluations to clarify its conservation status and determine possible conservation measures.

Figures

Figure 1. Anchusella cretica (Boraginaceae) in Kosovo. a Typical habitat on dry, rocky, calcareous slopes near the river Drini i Bardhë; b Close-up of the flowering individuals with the characteristic blue corolla and reddish calyx. (Photo: Berisha, N. - 31 March 2025).

Figure 2. Confirmed distribution of Anchusella cretica in Kosovo based on field surveys.