Prodanović et al.: Diversity and ecological analysis of the serpentine flora of Kosovo's section of the Ibar river valley - comparision with the flora of nereaby regions - 7289 - APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 18(5):7289-7322. http://www.aloki.hu  ISSN 1589 1623 (Print)  ISSN 1785 0037 (Online) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1805_72897322 © 2020, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SERPENTINE FLORA IN THE KOSOVO SECTION OF THE IBAR RIVER VALLEY - COMPARISION WITH THE FLORA OF NEARBY REGIONS PRODANOVIĆ, D. 1* – KRIVOŠEJ, Z. 2 – AMIDŽIĆ, L. 3 – ĆIRIĆ, S. 1 – BIBERDŽIĆ, M. 1 – KRSTIĆ, Z. 2 1 University of Priština, Faculty of Agriculture Lešak, Kopaonička Street bb, 38219 Lešak, Serbia 2 University of Priština, Faculty of Natural Science Lole Ribara Street, No. 29, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia 3 Singidunum University, Environment and sustainable development studies, Danijelova Street, No. 32, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia * Corresponding author e-mail: danijela.prodanovic@gmail.com (Received 7 th May 2020; accepted 20 th Aug 2020) Abstract. Formation of serpentine flora and vegetation is primarily influenced by local geology and they represent an extraordinary area for botanical research studies (from both taxonomical and ecological perspective). During a sixteen-year research of serpentine terrain flora of the Ibar river middle-stream valley in northern Kosovo and Metohija, the existence of 882 taxa grouped into 83 families and 386 genera has been proven. The collected serpentine flora was analysed on taxonomical, ecological and phytogeographical basis. Out of the total number of identified taxa, 73 (8.27%) are endemic, sub-endemic, relict and endomorelic. 31 taxa belong to a group of internationally significant vascular plants. Of these, 14 taxa have been protected by CITES Convention. The taxonomic structure of the serpentine flora of the Ibar river middle-stream valley is compared to the serpentine flora of Mt. Studena and Goleš Mt. (parts of Ibar serpentine massive). Keywords: floristic composition, Ibar serpentine massif, endemism, floristic similarity, Serbia Introduction Serpentine is technically a mineral, but the same word is often used for all ultramafic rocks, the soils that form from them, and the unique ecosystems that form on them (Harrison and Rajakaruna, 2011). Serpentine is a ferromagnesian silicate mineral which contains high concentrations of nickel (Ni) and often chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) in a form available for plants (Westerbergh and Saura, 1992). Serpentine soils are often deficient in plant essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) (Rajakaruna and Boyd, 2014), while ratio of calcium (Ca): magnesium (Mg) is less than 1.0, and pH values range from basic to ultrabasic (Brooks, 1987; Selvi, 2007; Pavlova, 2007; Bani et al., 2013). Owing to this chemical composition, Novák (1926) described serpentine ranges as “dead rocks”. Serpentine soils are typically recognized on the landscape as patchily distributed rock outcrops with stunted vegetation (Anacker, 2014). Serpentine outcrops are often steep and comparatively rocky, making them particularly vulnerable to erosion, which results in shallow soils (Brady et al., 2005) and stony structure (Kurt et al., 2013). The serpentinite is rather unfavorable to plant growth, and its physical conditions also are inhospitable for many plants (Bani et al., 2013). However, plants would not be