The significance of this discovery is further enhanced by the fact that it belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes plants such as sage (Salvia) and heather (Calluna), a well-researched plant group.
After two centuries, Montenegro has witnessed a botanical sensation—the discovery of a new plant, Petrolamium crnojevicii, which could not only become a symbol of the country’s 21st-century flora but also position Montenegro at the forefront of the European and global botanical scene.
This was announced at a press conference dedicated to the discovery of a new genus (Petrolamium Dragićević, Vuksanović & Surina) and a new species for science (Petrolamium crnojevicii Dragićević, Vuksanović & Surina) in the flora of Montenegro. The event was organized by the Public Institution Natural History Museum of Montenegro.
The museum’s director, Natalija Čađenović, reminded that the institution holds holotypes and paratypes of several newly discovered species from Montenegro, including certain cave-dwelling beetles and ant species.
"This is an opportunity for the safe in which we store holotypes and paratypes to be enriched with a herbarium sheet containing the holotype of the new genus Petrolamium. Our botanists would know better when the last new plant species from Montenegro was described, but it certainly wasn't recent. The question remains—when will the Natural History Museum next acquire the holotype of a new plant species, let alone a new genus?" Čađenović pointed out.
She also recalled that Montenegro's Nature Protection Law mandates that researchers and scientists deposit the holotype of any newly discovered species collected within the country at the Natural History Museum.
"Unfortunately, as there are no penalties for failing to comply with this requirement, very few researchers have reached out to us and submitted holotypes. Over the past three decades, new species—mostly invertebrates—have been discovered mainly by foreign researchers and described in international scientific journals. Even some domestic researchers do not always follow this legal obligation when discovering new species," Čađenović noted.
She urged the Montenegrin Nature Protection Agency to withhold permits for research and specimen collection from individuals and teams who fail to comply with these regulations. Additionally, she called for better training of customs officers and border police to prevent the illegal export of natural history specimens.
Čađenović emphasized that the museum, despite inadequate working conditions and limited space, strives to collect and document as many species as possible from Montenegro’s rich biodiversity.
"Scientific data on collected species is shared in collaboration with institutions both within and outside Montenegro. These findings serve as the basis for exhibitions and events that promote our biodiversity," she explained.
Montenegro's Natural History Museum exhibitions are in high demand and frequently travel across the region, spreading awareness of the country’s natural wealth.
"This discovery of a new genus, which can be summed up in a single line of text, has the potential to inspire a comprehensive new exhibition that could tour the region and beyond. Together, all these efforts make the museum a cultural, educational, and scientific institution of great importance to Montenegrin society. Thanks to the dedicated work of its staff, the museum continues to grow and gain recognition across the region," Čađenović concluded.
A Botanical Marvel and a Symbol of Montenegro
Independent Advisor at the ENEKO Center of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU), Snežana Dragićević, stated that this plant is so unique that it rivals endemic species such as the Lovćen bellflower (Edraianthus wettsteinii) for the title of Montenegro’s botanical symbol.
"As with every story with a happy ending, ours began on a beautiful May day in 2019. At the time, as a curator at the Natural History Museum of Montenegro, I set out for Štitar with my colleague Marko Karaman. Our goal was to visit a cave that biologists and speleologists from the University of Ljubljana wanted to explore as part of a joint Montenegro-Slovenia research project," Dragićević recalled.
Although she had been conducting natural history research since 1997, she admitted that this region was entirely unfamiliar to her.
"Along the way, we encountered typical karst vegetation, but the real surprise came on our return. As we rested in the shade of old linden trees, a nearly bare rock before us hosted a single small tuft of green vegetation. Something about it compelled me to stand up and take a closer look. I immediately realized I had never seen anything like it before. I took a few photos and sent them to Dr. Snežana Vuksanović, who also confirmed that the plant looked unusual. That was the beginning of it all," Dragićević explained.
Initial analyses, conducted with Professor Boštjan Surina from the Natural History Museum in Rijeka and Peter Glasnović from the University of Koper, confirmed that the plant did not belong to any known genus.
"Professor Boštjan was as puzzled as we were. He examined the photos and kept saying, 'It could belong to this genus, but it doesn't because of this, or that genus, but it can't because of that… Snežana, this is something new and extraordinary. This is a miracle!' That’s why we initially called it ‘The Miracle of Štitar,’" Dragićević recalled.
After years of research, final confirmation came from genetic analyses conducted in state-of-the-art laboratories in China. The new genus and species were named Petrolamium crnojevicii in honor of Ivan Crnojević, who defended the capital from invaders from Soko Grad.
However, Dragićević emphasized that the plant’s habitat is extremely fragile.
"This is a unique location with specific geological, morphological, and climatic characteristics. The plant grows in a very small area, making it critically endangered according to IUCN criteria. If we continue to disturb its habitat—especially through deforestation—we risk losing it. That’s why I urge local residents of Štitar, Bokovo, Kosijeri, and Đinovići, as well as Montenegrin authorities, to work together to protect this plant," she pleaded.
A Unique Evolutionary Lineage
Curator Snežana Vuksanović explained that extensive morphological, cytogenetic, molecular, and ecological analyses were conducted to unravel the mystery of this plant.
"The result is a new monotypic genus and species for science—Petrolamium crnojevicii. Petrolamium is a perennial plant that exclusively grows in the cracks of limestone rocks, making it unique within the large Lamiaceae family, which includes mint and sage. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses revealed that Petrolamium is a distinct evolutionary lineage, closely related to the Lamieae tribe, which consists of only a few genera. While Lamium is widespread in the Old World, the other three genera are found only in Central and Eastern Asia," Vuksanović explained.
She added that while various names had been considered, the final genus name Petrolamium was derived from the Latin petro (rock) and Lamium (a related genus), referencing its habitat and botanical lineage.
"The species name crnojevicii was never in question; we knew it from the beginning," Vuksanović noted.
Due to its limited distribution, Petrolamium crnojevicii has been classified as critically endangered (CR) under IUCN criteria.
"In recent European botanical history, discovering a new genus and species in recent flora is unheard of—it’s a privilege usually reserved for tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and South America. This makes the discovery of Petrolamium crnojevicii all the more significant and extraordinary!" Vuksanović concluded.
Professor Boštjan Surina emphasized that Montenegro is now firmly back on the global botanical map, as such discoveries are exceptionally rare in Europe.
"Nature still holds surprises, and Petrolamium crnojevicii is one of the greatest botanical discoveries of the last 200 years," Surina stated.
Bonus video:
