{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox | image = | image_caption = | genus = Draba | species = bertiscea | authority = Lakusić & Stevanović }}
'''''Draba bertiscea''''' is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is a small, perennial herb known only from a single high mountain locality on Mount Prokletije in southeastern Montenegro.<ref name="Lakusic1995">{{cite journal |last1=Lakušić |first1=Dmitar |last2=Stevanović |first2=Vladimir |year=1995 |title=''Draba bertiscea'' (''D.'' sect. ''Aizopsis'', Brassicaceae), a new species from Montenegro (Yugoslavia) |journal=Willdenowia |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=75–80 |url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/3996974}}</ref>
== Taxonomy and systematics == ''Draba bertiscea'' was described as a species new to science in 1995 by botanists Dmitar Lakušić and Vladimir Stevanović. The specific epithet ''bertiscea'' is derived from the Latin name for Mount Prokletije, ''mons Bertiscus''.<ref name="Lakusic1995" /> The species belongs to ''Draba'' sect. ''Aizopsis'' and is part of the ''D. lasiocarpa'' complex distributed in the Balkan Peninsula. This species complex includes taxa such as ''D. scardica'', ''D. compacta'', ''D. boueana'', ''D. athoa'', and ''D. elongata''. The authors note that ''D. bertiscea'' is morphologically most similar to ''D. compacta'', particularly the Carpathian variety ''D. compacta'' var. ''pseudoaizoides''.<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
The holotype was collected on Maja Kolata, Mount Prokletije, at {{cvt|2200|m|-1}} altitude on 8 July 1988.<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
== Description == ''Draba bertiscea'' is a densely or laxly caespitose perennial herb. At anthesis it is {{cvt|1.5|-|10|mm|in}} tall, growing to {{cvt|13|mm|in}} when fruiting. It has a lignified taproot up to {{cvt|2|mm|in}} in diameter.<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
The rosette leaves are lanceolate or lingulate, rarely elliptical, measuring {{cvt|2.5|–|9|mm|in}} long by {{cvt|0.8|–|2|mm|in}} wide. They are glabrous, with margins that are typically without cilia (very rare exceptions exist).<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
The flowering scape is glabrous, bearing a condensed, corymbose inflorescence that becomes subcapitate in fruit. The plant produces 1–8 small flowers. The sepals are {{cvt|1.1|–|2.1|mm|in}} long, glabrous, with rounded apices and hyaline margins. The petals are yellow, lanceolate-obovate, measuring {{cvt|2|–|4|mm|in}} long. The stamens are {{cvt|0.8|–|1.7|mm|in}} long with anthers approximately {{cvt|0.25|mm|in}} long.<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
The silicules are elliptical, glabrous, measuring {{cvt|3|–|4|mm|in}} long by {{cvt|1.5|–|2|mm|in}} wide, on pedicels {{cvt|1.5|–|8|mm|in}} long. The style is {{cvt|0.3|–|0.6|mm|in}} long. The seeds are ovate, approximately {{cvt|0.7|mm|in}} long.<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
== Distribution and habitat == ''Draba bertiscea'' is endemic to Montenegro and is known only from its type locality on the Maja Kolata peak of the Prokletije massif in the southeastern part of the country.<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
It grows in fixed, calcareous screes around persistent snow patches at approximately {{cvt|2200|m|ft|-1}} altitude. The habitat is a north-facing, slightly inclined slope on dolomitic limestone. The site is covered by snow until late June or July, resulting in a short growing season of 3–4 months. Associated species include ''Trifolium pallescens'', ''Plantago atrata'', ''Dryas octopetala'', ''Salix retusa'', and ''Polygonum viviparum''. The species is sympatric with the related ''Draba compacta'', which inhabits south-facing rocky ground.<ref name="Lakusic1995"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15465203}}
Category:Endemic flora of Montenegro Category:Plants described in 1995 bertiscea