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The aim of this study was to collect and analyse data on aquatic plants within the Herbarium Croaticum (ZA), the largest and oldest herbarium collection in Croatia. In total 951 herbarium sheets representing 72 aquatic taxa were renovated, digitized, geo-referenced (generating distribution map for each taxa)and made publically available in Flora Croatica Database and Virtual herbarium of ZA & ZAHO. Aquatic plants within ZA collection have been collected during the period of 165 years, the oldest sheet originates from as early as 1844, while the average age of herbarium sheets is 76 years. The most abundant genera are Potamogeton and Ranunculus, whereas most common families are Potamogetonaceae and Ranunculaceae. Most of the specimens were collected in Croatia, and smaller part in neighbouring and geographically close countries (Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Italy, Austria and FYR Macedonia). As much as 28 Red listed aquatic taxa are stored within ZA collection. The importance of collection is expressed through specimens of many rare and threatened species, for which this collection represents the only evidence of their presence in Croatia (regionally extinct Caldessia parnassifolia, as well as Luronium natans, Callitriche platycarpa, C. truncata, C. hermaphroditica, Potamogeton alpinus, P. polygonifolius, Scheuchzeria palustris, Rynchospora fusca, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Nuphar × spenneriana and Sparganium minimum). Collection of aquatic plants in ZA is important source of data considering their historical and recent distribution, which are the basis for estimation of distribution changes, threat evaluation and protection planning. |
