Abstract
Ornithogalum
sensu stricto (Asparagaceae) is a genus of bulbous geophytes characterized by milky white tepals with longitudinal green stripes on the abaxial side and flowers arranged in racemose inflorescences, appearing from late winter to mid-summer. Research on this genus has been limited by a long history of misidentifications, inconsistent taxonomic treatments, and incomplete distribution data across its native range, where taxa occupy diverse habitats and have extended flowering periods. Although diverse, the genus has been largely overlooked in the Montenegrin flora, with existing records remaining fragmented and outdated, underlining the need for a systematic revision. To overcome these ambiguities, a comprehensive investigation of 766 records was undertaken, incorporating a literature review, examination of herbarium specimens, and fieldwork conducted between 2022 and 2025. Analysis of these data revealed previously unrecognized diversity, including taxa newly documented within the national flora. The results of this study expand and supplement previously known distributional ranges for each taxon across the Balkan Peninsula, and demonstrate their broader ecological amplitudes, habitat preferences, and notable ecological plasticity in environments altered by human activity. Finally, an identification key for 13 recognized species is provided, offering a revised account of
Ornithogalum
s. str. in Montenegro. These findings advance knowledge of geophytic diversity and ecology in the Balkan Peninsula and Mediterranean Basin and lay the groundwork for future research on the genus across the region and within Montenegro.
