With the aim of locating and mapping the distribution of the endemic plant Heliosperma intonsum, a research mission was carried out in the Aoos Gorge, within the Northern Pindos National Park.
It is one of the rarest endemic plants in Greece, as it has not been recorded anywhere else in the world. The expedition included botanists Stathis Apostolopoulos and Nikos Gournelos from the Laboratory of Systematic Botany, Department of Ecology and Taxonomy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as the MedINA research team.
The mountains of Greece are biodiversity hotspots. Modern scientific studies describe them as both cradles and “museums” of nature because of their exceptional natural richness. The Pindus mountain range, one of the country’s most important centres of plant diversity, is home to more than 300 endemic plant species.
This rare plant is found in one of the most spectacular parts of the Pindus mountain range, within the Aoos Gorge. The site where it grows is part of the Vikos–Aoos UNESCO Global Geopark and lies within the Strict Nature Protection Zone of Northern Pindos National Park. This area is subject to the highest level of protection, ensuring that its ecosystems are preserved in their natural state, free from human disturbance. The species is protected under Presidential Decree 67/1981, Greece’s main legislation for the conservation of rare and threatened native plant species.
Although this small plant has been known for decades, no systematic study had previously been carried out to estimate the total size of its population or to map its distribution in detail. Likewise, the main pressures and threats facing the species had not yet been assessed in the field.
Getting to know the flower of Aoos
Heliosperma intonsum is a typical chasmophyte, meaning that it grows exclusively in rock crevices, cliffs, or gorges, obtaining nutrients from the small amounts of soil that accumulates there. During its flowering season, between May and June, its white flowers stand out against the steep cliffs of the Aoos Gorge.
The rugged terrain of the gorge and its vertical rock formations make locating H. intonsum particularly challenging. During the survey, researchers used an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), allowing for the survey and documentation of the plant’s populations in areas where observation and identification are difficult or even impossible.
The data collected during the expedition are expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of the species’ distribution, conservation status, as well as the current threats and pressures it may face. This information will provide valuable scientific knowledge for the protection of both the flora and the wider ecosystem of the Aoos Gorge.