NATURA MONTENEGRINA, Podgorica, 2013, 12(3-4): 569-574 569 ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER Pulsatilla halleri (All.) Willd. AND Viola schariensis Erben, NEW SPECIES FOR THE FLORA OF KOSOVO Zeqir HASHANI and Lulëzim SHUKA Department of Biology, FNS, University of Tirana. E-mail: zeqirhashani@hotmail.com Key words: Kosovo, new species, Koritnik, Vraca, Kallabak, calcareous, silicate substrate. SYNOPSIS In this paper, Pulsatilla halleri (All.) Willd. and Viola schariensis Erben are recorded for the first time in Kosovo. Both species were collected in the mountains of Koritnik, Vraca and Kallabak, located along the border of Kosovo, Albania and FYR of Macedonia. These species inhabit different habitat types in the calcareous and silicate substrates. For the identification, the new species have been compared with their closest relatives in the Balkans. In addition, morphological and taxonomic data for both species and illustrations of the entire plants are given. Finally, their distribution in Kosovo and neighboring countries is mapped, too. INTRODUCTION Kosova surface comprises about 2.3% of the Balkan area. It is characterized by richness and diversity of flora and fauna, natural habitats and landscapes. Its geographical position, geological, pedological, hydrological, topographical surface and climate are some of the factors that have allowed Kosovo to have a rich biological and landscape diversity (KEPA/MESP, 2010). Based on previous flora research, in the territory of Kosovo have been identified about 2.500 species of vascular plant flora, of which about 200 species are endemic, relict and subendemic of the Balkans and 20 species are considered as endemic species of Kosovo (Rexhepi, 1986; Vangjeli et al., 1994; Maxhuni et al., 2012). Among the richest floristic areas, not only in Kosovo but also in the Balkans, is the Sharri Mt range, which is known for its high plant diversity with a large number of endemic, rare and endangered relicts (Millaku et al., 2013) . Below is described the current situation as well as distribution range of two species for the flora of Balkans like Pulsatilla halleri in the Koritniku mountain and Viola schariensis in southern part of