Taxon‐level assessment of the data collection quality in Atlas Florae Europaeae : insights from the case of Rosa (Rosaceae) in Eastern Europe

By the method of data re-collection and re-assessment, we here test completeness distribution areas species aggregates Rosa in Eastern Europe as mapped volume 13 Atlas Florae Europaeae (AFE), discuss insights into issues connected with data. We found many new occurrences which are additions to published maps: 1068 records 570 aggregates. The listed references sources, updated AFE maps provided. greatest increase by native was revealed for that widespread or taxonomically complicated, alien currently expand their secondary areas. mapping work 2004 is considered good, minor omissions caused possible oversights incomplete sampling. majority originated period after original collection. Nearly same amount from larger smaller herbarium collections, underlining value small collections chorological studies. only ca 20% based on specimens have been published, thus highlighting need papers publication distributional insufficiently studied territories (Belarus, central, northern eastern parts Russia), whereas level reasonably good coverage (Latvia) achieved observations. conclude overall sparsity a lower collection rather than poor availability, floristic surveys cannot compete speed density observation-based surveys, may become main source information future.