New national species records of charophytes (Characeae) for Montenegro, Croatia, and Cyprus: update of rare species distribution in Southeast Europe

Field studies in 2022–2024 and the checking of collection of the Natural History Museum of Montenegro revealed seven new national species records for Montenegro: Chara corfuensis Groves ex Fil., C. galioides DC., C. squamosa Desf., Sphaerochara intricata (Trentep. ex Roth) Feist-Castel & N. Grambast, Tolypella hispanica Nordst. ex Allen, T. nidifica (O. F. Müll.) A. Braun and “Mediterranean Chara”. The checking of the specimens stored in ZE Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin, Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS, and Naturhistorisches Museum Wien revealed old specimens of C. galioides, a new species for Croatia, and new sites of T. hispanica for Greece. The field research in Cyprus resulted in a new national species record of C. squamosa. New data enriched knowledge about the distribution of charophytes in Central and Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Europe and allowed tentative suggestions of important charophyte areas in Montenegro. The tentative evaluation of species protection statuses was implemented here. The updated species list of Montenegrin charophytes counted 37 species making Montenegro one of the charophyte species-rich countries in Europe.