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The Aegean archipelago of Greece is floristically rich and of great biogeographical interest, with a high degree of endemism. It provides a model area for studies of evolution and speciation.
For the first time in more than 70 years a complete survey of the Aegean flora is now presented, with detailed distribution maps for all species, as well as keys, descriptions, photographic colour plates and extensive references. Atlas of the Aegean Flora covers all species and subspecies of native and naturalized vascular plants with reliable records from at least one Aegean island.
The work comprises two parts in A4 hardcover format: part 1 with identification keys, descriptions and notes for 3316 species, references, and 48 colour plates with photographs of 16 habitats and 421 species; part 2 with 3362 colour distribution maps, mounted four to a page. In both volumes taxa have been arranged alphabetically according to family, genus and species. With few exceptions taxonomy and nomenclature follow Vascular Plants of Greece: An Annotated Checklist.
The text volume provides keys to species and, in some cases, subspecies. For each taxon there is a brief description (usually 60–120 words) with emphasis on diagnostic characters, and there are frequently also notes on taxonomy, nomenclature, etymology, variation and other relevant features. Some 780 titles are listed in the references. The first two colour plates comprise 16 photographs of landscapes and vegetation; the remaining 46 show plant portraits, with nine photographs per page and insets showing details; altogether 421 species are illustrated. Photographs have been selected to include common and characteristic species as well as many Aegean endemics or taxa that are otherwise of special taxonomic, biogeographical or ecological interest.
The maps have been generated from the Flora Hellenica Database, which comprises some 917,000 records based on several major herbaria as well as all relevant literature records. A text box on each map gives the name of the taxon as well as brief notes on ecology, total distribution, etc.
