Phytogeographic survey on the endemic vascular flora of the Hyblaean territory (SE Sicily, Italy)

Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all As

et al. 2014

This study is aimed at (1) producing a complete and updated inventory of the endemic vascular flora of Peloritani Mountains, (2) defining the geographical limits of Peloritani, regarded here as a biogeographical district and (3) highlighting possible paleogeographic connections with other Mediterranean lands. The heterogeneity analysis of the endemic flora was performed by means of contingency tables, through the x 2 test. The endemic flora of this area consists of 129 specific and infraspecific taxa, of which 15 are restricted to the Peloritani Mountains. The analysis of habitats revealed that endemic taxa are most abundant on cliffs, rangelands, woods and garrigues. A large number of surveyed taxa are endemic to central-southern Italy and Sicily, while the number of endemic taxa in common with Calabria, Etna and Aeolian Islands turned out to be rather low, in spite of the geographical proximity. The endemic flora of Peloritani allows to emphasize palaeogeographical relationships not only with the neighbouring Mediterranean territories, but also with currently remote ones, such as southern Spain, Sardinia and Corsica. The phytogeographical framework substantiates the hypothesis that the Peloritani floristic district coincides with the limit given to Peloritani Mountains by structural geologists.

Section: Degree Of Endemismmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The endemic vascular flora of Peloritani Mountains (NE Sicily): Plant functional traits and phytogeographical relationships in the most isolated and fragmentary micro-plate of the Alpine orogeny

Sciandrello

Guarino

Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all As

et al. 2014

“…The last recorded endemics confirm the peculiarity of the Mediterranean flora, not only for the high rate of narrow endemics particularly on islands or wherever mountains exceed 1500 m in altitude (cf. Pignatti et al 1980, Greuter 1991, Médail & Quézel 1997, Thompson 2005, Guarino et al 2005, Brullo et al 2001, 2005, Brullo et al 2011b) but also for the peculiar distribution patterns that make the Mediterranean island biogeography so interesting and intriguing .…”

Section: Taxonomic Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Bituminaria basaltica</i> (Fabaceae), a new species from Italy

Brullo²,

Brullo³

et al. 2013

Phytotaxa

Self Cite

Bituminaria basaltica is described and illustrated from Filicudi, an islet of the Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily, Italy). This new species, belonging to a small genus of Fabaceae occurring in the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands, is morphologically distinct from the other taxa in the following features: leaf shape and size, inflorescence size, petal colour, size and shape of flowers, pods and seeds. Its relationships with the known species of Bituminaria are examined and a key to the genus is provided.

“…From the chorological viewpoint (Fig. 3) the greatest number of plants belong to the Mediterranean chorological element (54 species, 66%), including the Hyblaean endemic Limonium syracusanum, (Brullo et al, 2011a), Seseli tortuosum subsp. maritimum endemic of Sicily, Sardinia and west Calabria (Brullo et al, 2011b); dominant inside the group is the Circum-Mediterranean element (40 species, 48%) and there is a relevant presence of W Mediterranean species (8, 10%), (Fig.…”

Section: Floramentioning

confidence: 99%

Flora and habitats of Vendicari Islet (Isola di Vendicari) in South East Sicily

Sciandrello

2017

Nat Croat

Self Cite

The vascular flora of 'Isola di Vendicari', a small islet (surface 4.45 hectares) located along the Ionian coast of south east Sicily, has been investigated. The surveyed taxa at specific and infraspecific level amount to 80, of which 21 are new records from this islet. The life form spectrum of the current flora brings out the dominance of therophytes as well as a significant occurrence of hemicryptophytes. The plant communities colonizing the surface of the islet have been investigated from floristic, phytosociological and ecological points of view. The vegetation is represented mainly by psammophilous and halophilous aspects. As regards the conservation area policy, the islet falls within the Nature Reserve of Vendicari, which is also a SCI of the Natura 2000 network, showing its remarkable importance for the biodiversity conservation. Istraživana je vaskularna flora malog otočića 'Isola di Vendicari' (površina 4,45 ha) koji se nalazi uz jonske obale jugoistočne Sicilije. Utvrđeno je 80 vrsta i nižih svojti, od toga je 21 nova za otočić. U spektru životnih oblika prevladavaju terofiti, uz značajan udio hemikriptofita. Biljne zajednice na otočiću analizirane su s florističkog, fitocenološkog i ekološkog gledišta. Vegetacija je uglavnom psamofitska halofitska. S aspekta zaštite, otočić je dio Rezervata prirode Vendicari, nalazi se unutar područja Natura 2000 ekološke mreže, što ukazuje na važnost potrebe očuvanja bioraznolikosti.