Willdenowia 25- 1996 455 ELENI ELEFTHERIADOU & THOMAS RAUS The vascular flora of the nature reserve Frakto Virgin Forest of Nomos Dramas (E Makedonia, Greece) Abstract Eleftheriadou, E. & Raus, Th.: The vascular flora of the nature reserve Frak:to Virgin Forest of Nomos Dramas (E Mak:edonia, Greece). - Willdenowia 25: 455-485. 1996. - ISSN 0511- 9618. The nature reserve "Frak:to Virgin Forest of Nomos Dramas" (Central Rodopi massif, E Mak:edonia, Greece), established in 1980 to protect a unique area of upper montane forest untouched for c. 400 years, harbours the southemmost natural population of Picea abies in Europe and, within Greece, is of outstanding biogeographical interest owing to the boreal11nd Central European element, well represented in its vascular flora. A first floristic inventory of the area is presented, based on extensive recent field work and on scattered published informa- tion. Concise notes on the ecology and frequency of most taxa are provided. Ajuga pyrami- dalis, Anthemis orbelica, Cardamine amara, Centaurea stenolepis subsp. razgradensis, Cha- maecytisus absinthoides subsp. rhodopaeus, Geum rhodopeum, Petasites kablikiamts, Primula e/atior subsp. elatior, Silene roemeri subsp. roemeri, Sorbus austriaca subsp. austriaca, and Thlaspi kovatsii are new to or reconfmned for the flora of Greece. Introduction The nature reserve Frakto Virgin Forest of Nomos Dramas (Central Rodopi massif, E · Makedonia, Greece) protects a unique assemblage of mixed deciduous and coniferous monta- ne forest, including some of the southemmost autochthonous populations of spruce (Picea abies) in Europe. In 1980, by decree 200995/7950 of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture, an area of 589.25 ha was declared a Preserved Monument of Nature (proclaimed under reference number FEK 121/TD/21-2-1980 as "Virgin Public Forest of the Paranesti Area of Nomos Dramas"). The reserve initially consisted of two separate areas, a disadvantage later elimina- ted by adding an interjacent area of 483 ha (by decree 151256/2122/6-8-1981 of the Ministry of Agriculture). The total area (1072.25 ha) is now completely protected from any kind of exploitation. Currently one may acceed to the Frakto nature reserve only for purposes of scientific research, by special permission of the Forest Administration of Nomos Drama.