Resurrection of a regionally extinct taxon in Croatia – the case of Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link (Poaceae)

A regionally extinct taxon, Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link subsp. arundinacea H. Lindb., has been rediscovered in the Croatian flora after 78 years. Previously it was known only from two coastal sand dune sites in Northern Dalmatia. The habitat at the locality of Crnika near Lopar on the northern Adriatic island of Rab is destroyed and A. arenaria subsp. arundinacea does not grow there anymore. At the second locality, on the sand dunes of Kraljičina plaža in the vicinity of the town of Nin, A. arenaria subsp. arundinacea was rediscovered and confirmed after 174 years. This is the only population of this taxon in Croatia, counting 48 mature individuals where the psammophylous habitat of Kraljičina plaža is under strong anthropogenic influence. This taxon is now classified as critically endangered (CR) and merits adequate active protection and conservation of its psammophylous habitat.