Areography, environmental heterogeneity and spatial models explain patterns of past and present diversity in Edraianthus (Campanulaceae).

This article investigates the distribution patterns, species diversity, and environmental niche relationships of 17 taxa within the genus *Edraianthus* (Campanulaceae) in the Balkan Peninsula, focusing on current and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) conditions through ecological niche modelling (ENM). The study identifies the central and southern Dinaric Alps as a key center of diversity and endemism, with species richness best explained by topographic factors (e.g., slope) and bioclimatic variables related to temperature and precipitation. ENM projections suggest that lowland and thermophilic taxa shifted their ranges southward during the Quaternary glaciations, while high-mountain taxa primarily shifted elevationally. Niche overlap analyses reveal greater similarity among phylogenetically close or ecologically similar taxa, whereas isolated or elevationally distinct species show less overlap, indicating that both allopatric and sympatric processes have contributed to diversification. The genetic diversity of the widespread taxon *E. graminifolius* correlates positively with local taxon richness, possibly reflecting past and ongoing hybridization and ecological specialization within this genus.