Ecology and distribution of the endemic vascular plants of Europe.

摘要: This paper presents first results of the analysis of a list of vascular plants endemic to Europe. The list comprises 5534 taxa (162 species groups, 4575 species, and 797 subspecies). 44% of the endemics occur only in one region of Europe. The richest family is Asteraceae (19% of all European endemics). Many endemics tend to be (somewhat) calcicole and occur in stony or rocky landscapes of (southern) mountain areas. 80% belong to open terrestrial ecosystems, 11% are forest species, 5.4% live in coastal or saline habitats, and 3.6% inhabit freshwater ecosystems. Distribution, ecology and characteristic vegetation of the endemics are discussed in the context of evolutionary and ecological processes.