Long time no see – rediscovery of peculiar ephemeral fern Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link in Croatia

Abstract

Abstract Anogramma leptophylla is one of the rarest fern species in Balkan Peninsula. In Croatia, several localities were noted prior to this study, when its presence was confirmed with a discovery of a small population on the island of Mljet (Southern Adriatic). This was, after almost 80 years, the first reliable finding of this species along Eastern Adriatic. The establishment of A. leptophylla on the western part of the island of Mljet may be attributable to certain favourable environmental conditions, but essentially to higher air and soil humidity. Its unusual bryophyte-like life strategy, with short-living annual sporophytes, facilitates its survival under Mediterranean climate, generally unfavourable for pteridophytes.