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It is a region quite undisturbed and undeveloped with extensive forests and alpine grasslands. It is also an important site for threatened species such as the bear, chamois, Triturus alpestris and also birds of prey. Although the area has also great botanical importance there are only few studies. Pachychilon pictus is a common species with big populations in the neighbouring countries (Albania, FYROM). In Greece, Aoos river is the southest limit of its presence, and thus, it is considered as a rare one not only for our country but also for the European Union. This is an important site for resident raptors and species associated with alpine habitats. Species of concern include: Aquila chrysaetos and Anthus campestris. Concerning further the fauna the quality of the site is indicated by the occurence of the invertebrates Coenonympha orientalis, Kirinia climene, Pseudichazara cingovskii, Carcharodus flocciferus, Thecla betulae which are refered to Heath J. 1981. Threatened Rhopalocera (butterflies) of Europe. Council of Europe, the invertebrate Apatura iris which is contained to the Presidential Decree 67/1981 and the invertebrate Erebia aethiopella which is the southern edge of extension.Concerning the wild growning plants the quality of the site is indicated by the occurrence of many important taxa. Among them, 19 taxa are greek endemics (between them one local serpentine endemic), 9 taxa are protected by the Bern International Convention and/or the EC Environment Legislation (1992), 7 taxa (Aethionema saxatile ssp. oreophilum, Festuca koritnicensis, Pedicularis olympica, Sempervivum marmoreum, Silene schwarzenbergeri, Soldanella pindicola, Valeriana crinii ssp. epirotica) are included in the WCMC and/or European Red Data list, 22 taxa (Androsace villosa, Aster alpinus, Campanula hawkinsiana, Cephalanthera damasonium, Coeloglossum viride, Colchicum triphyllum, Dactylorhiza saccifera, Digitalis ferruginea L. ssp. ferruginea, Digitalis viridiflora, Epipactis atrorubens, Gentiana lutea, Jovibarba heuffelii, Lactuca intricata, Lilium carniolicum ssp. albanicum, Neottia nidus-avis, Ophrys ferrum - equinum ssp. ferrun - equinum, Ophrys insectifera, Ophrys scolopax ssp.cornuta, Orchis laxiflora ssp. palustris, Platanthera chlorantha, Poa thessala, Scabiosa taygetea ssp. portae) are protected by the Greek Presidental Decree (67/1981), 9 taxa (Achillea distans, Alchemilla incisa, Astragalus pubiflorus, Festuca horvatiana, Hieracium naegelianiforme, Hieracium scardicum, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Oxytropis prenjia, Trifolium badium,) are rare in Greece and/or reach their extreme distribution limits in Northern Greece, 70 taxa (Achillea abrotanoides, Achillea chrysocoma, Alchemilla heterotricha, Alchemilla lanuginosa, Anthyllis aurea, Arenaria conferta ssp. serpentinii, Asperula aristata ssp. condensata, Asperula doerfleri, Athamanta albanica, Aubrieta scardica, Bornmuellera baldaccii ssp. baldaccii, Campanula spatulata ssp. spatulata, Campanula tymphaea, Carum graecum ssp. serpentinicum, Carum rupestre, Centaurea deustiformis, Centaurea epirota, Centaurea napulifera ssp. velenovskyi, Cerastium banaticum ssp. speciosum, Cerastium decalvans, Cirsium appendiculatum, Cirsium tymphaeum, Crepis viscidula ssp. geracioides, Crocus cvijicii, Dianthus cruentus, Dianthus deltoides ssp. degenii, Dianthus haematocalyx ssp. pindicola, Dianthus integer ssp. minutiflorus, Dianthus pinifolius ssp. lilacinus, Erysimum microstylum, Euphorbia glabriflora, Festuca peristerea, Galium anisophyllon ssp. plebeium, Galium breviramosum, Galium laconicum, Gentianella bulgarica, Geranium aristatum, Herniaria parnassica ssp. parnassica, Hieracium cymosum ssp. heldeichianum, Lactuca visiani, Linum flavum ssp. albanicum, Myosotis alpestris ssp. suaveolens, Nepeta spruneri, Onobrychis montana ssp. scardica, Pedicularis graeca, Pedicularis leucodon ssp. leucodon, Peucedanum oligophyllum, Pinguicula balcanica ssp. balcanica, Plantago media ssp. pindica, Rhinanthus melampyroides, Saxifraga porophylla ssp. friderici-augusti, Saxifraga rotundifolia ssp. taygetea, Scrophularia laciniata, Sesleria tenerrima, Sideritis raeseri ssp. raeseri, Silene caesia, Silene fabarioides, Silene parnassica, Silene radicosa ssp. radicosa, Stachys recta ssp. baldaccii, Thesium parnassi, Thlaspi microphyllum, Thymus boissieri, Thymus teucrioides ssp. alpinus, Trifolium pignantii, Trinia glauca ssp. pindica, Trisetum flavescens ssp. tenue, Valantia aprica, Viola albanica, Viola orphanidis) are Balkan endemics and 7 taxa (Campanula foliosa, Campanula trichocalycina, Erigeron epiroticus, Gnaphalium hoppeanum ssp. magellense, Linum punctatum ssp. pycnophyllum, Thymus longicaulis ssp. chaubardii, Thymus thracicus) find their main distribution area in the Balkan Peninsula extending also to Turkey or Italy. |
