Scientist discovers two new plant species in Babia Góra National Park

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As a result of several years of floristic research on Babia Góra National Park, two new species of hawkweed have been identified.

'Professor Zbigniew Szeląg, who specializes in the genus hieracium, i.e. hawkweed, a fairly common flower both in forests and above their upper boundary, analysed the flora of Babia Góra and identified two species, which he published as new to science. (…) These are Hieracium besseri and Hieracium babiogorense. (...) According to the professor, they are endemic to Babia Góra', Tomasz Pasierbek, director of the Babia Góra National Park told PAP.

He added that they differed from the previously known hawkweeds in details that were important from a scientific point of view, although an untrained observer might not notice them. 'You need to pay careful attention to the diagnostic features. (…) The differences are sufficiently significant to justify separating them as new species (…). And this was published in a scientific journal. New hawkweed species have appeared in botanical circulation', he said.

*Hieracium babiogorense* (left) and *H. besseri* (right). Source: Góra National Park representatives report. These species occur only on Babia Góra National Park

The epithet besseri in the name comes from Willibald Besser, a Polish botanist and florist of German origin who lived at the turn of the 19th century and contributed to the knowledge of the flora of Galicia at that time. 'The name of the second species - Hieracium babiogorense, refers to the fact that information about it was published in 2024, when we start celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Babia Góra National Park', Pasierbek said.

Hieracium besseri is rarer. Professor Szeląg found several dozen specimens. Hieracium babiogorense is more common. 'We are talking about several hundred plants. They occur near the upper forest boundary and above it', Pasierbek added.

He continued that the area of the national park - due to its small area - is not rich in endemic species. 'That is why this information is even more important to us. (…) There are very few species endemic to Babia Góra', he said. Endemic species are unique to a particular place or region.

Hawkweed is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

The Babia Góra National Park was established in 1954 and covers the entire area of the highest mountain in the Beskids - Babia Góra (1,725 m above sea level). In 1977, this area was recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve. (PAP)

PAP - Science in Poland, Marek Szafrański

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