Wednesday, 5 March 2025 Botanical Research by Biodiversity Department Leads to the Discovery of a New Plant Genus and Species

An international team of researchers from China, Croatia, France, Montenegro, Slovenia and Spain has announced the discovery and description of a new plant genus and species – Petrolamium crnojevicii Dragićević, Vuksanović & Surina – found in a remote and inaccessible area of Montenegro. The research also involved two members of the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT, Assoc. Prof. Boštjan Surina, who led the study, and Assist. Prof. Peter Glasnović. Modern molecular-genetic, cytogenetic, and classical methods have clearly defined the phylogenetic position and evolutionary history of this new taxon.

The discovery of new species is not uncommon, especially with the use of modern research methods. However, the discovery of a new genus is a significantly rarer event. The identification and description of the new plant genus and species Petrolamium crnojevicii in the rugged karst terrain of Montenegro represent one of the most significant – if not the greatest discoveries in the last 200 years of plant diversity and evolution research. The discovery is particularly notable as the plant belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae), one of the most extensively studied plant families due to its medicinal properties and versatile uses.

The newly discovered plant has its closest living relatives in the high-altitude scree slopes of the Himalayas. It thrives in the crevices of limestone cliffs within a very limited area of Montenegro, between Cetinje and Podgorica. Due to its extremely restricted distribution and numerous potential threats, the species has been proposed for inclusion on the Red List as critically endangered. A specimen of the new genus and species Petrolamium crnojevicii (isotype) has also been preserved in the Herbarium of the University of Primorska (KP). The research findings were published in February this year in the international scientific journal TAXON: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tax.13313