Rubus silvae-bavaricae, a species new to the flora of the Czech Republic

Rubus silvae-bavaricae, a regional species of Rubus ser. Radula, endemic to the southern margin of the Bavarian Forest in Lower Bavaria, has newly been discovered for the flora of the Czech Republic. The species was found at two close localities in the surroundings of the villages of Petrovice nad Úhlavou (27 shrubs) and Žiznětice (one shrub), District of Klatovy, western Bohemia. These localities are located at about 50 km from the nearest localities known in Bavaria and represent the northernmost occurrence of the species in its overall range. In the Czech Republic, the species grows mainly on mesic, acid and mineral-poor soils and occupies forest habitats such as ditches and verges of forest roads, forests clearings and young or open plantations. Besides the detailed description of the newly discovered localities, the paper provides a description of the species, diagnostic characters which distinguish it from the most similar species growing in the Czech Republic, a map of its entire distribution, a line drawing, in situ photographs and a scan of a representative herbarium specimen.