New localities of Cirsium candelabrum (Asteraceae) in Croatia

Cirsium candelabrum is a Balkan endemic species, non-indigenous to Croatia. In the last 13 years its spread was observed only in Central Dalmatia. From 2015 to 2021 we have been recording its invasive spreading across the Kvarner region and its arrival to the southern edge of Gorski Kotar. The plants appear in diverse numbers in two different habitat types. In the sub-Mediterranean zone, the species inhabits ruderal habitats arising from the degradation of the natural vegetation by the construction works for traffic and communal infrastructure and the erection of industrial zones and shopping centres, accompanied by numerous invasive alien species. In the upper (montane and subalpine) zone of Mali and Veliki Platak, C. candelabrum dominates in stands on gravely road edges, forest ways, on incisions with glacial till, and especially luxuriant and dense populations form on the dug-up soil under the ski lift and along the ski run on Radeševo. Here, C. candelabrum is accompanied by native species characteristic for the forest edges and clearings and sometimes for ruderal, chasmophytyc or scree habitats.