Achillea asplenifolia in Moravia (Czech Republic), with taxonomic remarks.

Achillea asplenifolia Vent. is one of three central European diploid species (together with A. setacea Waldst. et Kit. and A. roseoalba Ehrend.) of the A. millefolium group. Its taxonomic and phytogeographic account from the central European perspective is given mainly on the basis of herbarium and field studies. The synonymy of A. asplenifolia includes A. millefolium var. crustata Rochel and A. scabra Host; both names are typified here. No variation deserving taxonomic recognition was observed. From the taxonomic point of view, A. asplenifolia is a clearly delimited species. It grows in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and Romania. From the phytogeographic point of view, it can be classified as a Pannonian geoelement with overlaps to Transylvania and to the marginal parts of the eastern Mediterranean. Within the Czech Republic, its distribution range includes only the warmest and driest part of southern Moravia, with the northernmost site situated near the town of Vyškov. In southern Moravia, A. asplenifolia was confined to extrazonal habitats, mainly to islands of halophilous vegetation such as moist saline meadows (formerly used as pastures) and lowland fens rich in mineral nutrients, but most of the sites were destroyed. Out of six or seven localities preserved up to present, only two host vital populations.