Atti e Convegni 3 RiccaRdo GuaRino & SalvatoRe PaSta Botanical excuRSionS in centRal and WeSteRn Sicily Field Guide FoR the 60th iavS SymPoSium PaleRmo, 20-24 June 2017 Atti e Convegni - 3 Riccardo Guarino & Salvatore Pasta - Botanical Excursions in Central and Western Sicily. Field Guide for the 60th IAVS Symposium - Palermo, 20-24 June 2017 ISBN (a stampa): 978-88-99934-47-7 ISBN (online): 978-88-99934-45-3 © Copyright 2017 New Digital Frontiers srl Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 16 (c/o ARCA) 90128 Palermo www.newdigitalfrontiers.com Contents Introduction 7 Itineraries 27 I. The coastal capes around Palermo 29 II. The northwestern corner 53 III. Salt pans, salt marshes and lagoons of western Sicily 77 IV. The south-western corner 95 V. Evaporitic memories 117 VI. Sandy hills 143 VII. Nebrodi Mts. 167 VIII. Madonie Mts 197 IX. The wood of Ficuzza and Rocca Busambra 237 X. Other itineraries 263 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units 281 Florae Siculae Synopsis 373 Thematic bibliography 547 Index of species 567 Index of families 603 Introduction Green landscapes of Sicily R. GuaRino The physical setting Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island, with an extension of nearly 26000 km2. The Sicilian territory is predominantly hilly or mountainous: one fourth of the island is at more than 700 m a.s.l.; two thirds range between 300 and 700; one sixth below 300 m a.s.l. Fig. 1 Geological map of Sicily (simpliied version of the 1:250.000 map published by ISPRA, UniCT and INGV), with the names of the main mountain districts of the island. The main geostratigraphic units are summarized in the map reported below Introduction The geographical position of Sicily, its complex geological history and the high topographic diversity make the island one of the most heterogeneous Mediterranean territories, under the geo-morphologic, edaphic and climatic viewpoint (Fig. 1). The single most relevant landmark of the island is Mt. Etna (currently standing 3329 m), the biggest volcano of the Mediterranean region. It dominates the Eastern side of Sicily, with multiple layers of erupted materials that cover an area of 1190 km², with a basal circumference of 140 km. Apart from Etna, the main elevations of Sicily (ranging from 1400 to 1979 m) are aligned along the so-called Sicilian Apennine, ranging along the NE-coast from the Strait of Messina up to the valley of the Torto River. Three sectors can be recognized, from east to west: Peloritani-, Nebrodi- and Madonie Mountains. Peloritani are constituted by the oldest outcrops of Sicily: a complex of diferent metamorphic rocks (gneiss, schistose and phylladic alternations) partially covered by sedimentary sandstones and limestones. Nebrodi are mostly consisting of quartzose sandstone rocks, clayey and siltose depositions belonging to the Numidian Flysch. Madonie are formed by carbonatic, dolomitic and quartzitic outcrops, frequently interrupted by outcroppings of salty clay and layers of halite. Carbonatic and dolomitic rocks are forming, as well, the reliefs in the western part of Sicily, overlapping a basal complex constituted by carbonate sands and clays. The central and southern parts of Sicily are characterized by the hilly complex of “normal” and “chaotic” depositions belonging to the Messinian evaporitic series (the “Gessoso-Solifera” Formation), mixed with whitish marls of the late Pliocene and by yellowish Plio-Pleistocenic calcareous sandstones. The south-Eastern corner of Sicily is formed by the carbonate platform named “Hyblaean Plateau”, a succession of horizontal layers of mesozoic limestones frequently interrupted by a radial system of deep canyons departing from the highest elevation (Mt. Lauro, 970 m a.s.l.) formed by alkaline basaltic lows and calcareous tuf that covered the northern portion of the plateau during the Pliocene. The Hyblaean and the Etnean region are divided by the largest alluvial plain of Sicily, the so-called “Piana di Catania”, created by the depositions of the main Sicilian river: the Simeto, collecting water from the south8 Introduction ern side of Mt. Soro (i.e. the main elevation of Nebrodi Mts.) and all along the western lank of Mt. Etna. The plain of Catania is the single most important agricultural area in the region, consisting of 108,097 ha of arable land and 102,350 ha of permanent crops. Simeto is the only river of Sicily whose low is reaching the average of 18 m3/sec., followed by the Alcantara- (8.8 m3/sec.) and the Platani River (6.9 m3/sec.). Most of the Sicilian rivers are modest (less than 1 m3/sec.), with a pronounced seasonal gap during the summer months, due to the lack of rainfall, the short persistence of snow and the relatively small extension of the catchment basins. Climate and bioclimates The average annual temperatures recorded by the weather stations of Sicily are ranging between 17-18 °C at the sea level and 7-5 °C around 1800 m a.s.l. Trends of temperatures are greatly inluenced not only by the elevations, but also by the distance from the sea and by the exposure: daily and seasonal temperature ranges are the lowest along the northern coast of the island (Zampino et al. 1997). The highest temperatures are recorded in July in the inner districts, with frequent peaks well above 40 °C. In the same areas, minimum temperatures go frequently below 0°C during the winter months. The coldest month is January, with average min. temperatures of 9-10 °C in the lowlands and 1-0 °C around 1800 m a.s.l. According to the Rivas-Martínez’s bioclimatic classiication (Brullo et al., 1996), the following thermotypes and ombrotypes are occurring in Sicily (abbreviations: T = Average year temperature, It = Index of thermicity): • • Inframediterranean (T = 18-20 °C, It = 500-450) upper semiarid (Lampedusa) and upper dry (Linosa and Pantelleria). Lower Thermomediterranean (T = 16-18 °C, It = 449-400) lower dry (coastal districts from Licata to Pachino), upper dry (Egadi Islands, coastal districts from St. Vito Lo Capo to Licata and from Pachino to Augusta), lower subhumid (coastal districts from St. Vito Lo Capo to Capo Gallo, Cefalù, from Augusta to Acireale, NE-Hyblaei, Aeolian Islands), upper subhumid (coastal districts from Cefalù to Messina). 9 Introduction • Upper Thermomediterranean (T = 16-18 °C, It = 399-350) lower dry (Piana di Catania), upper dry (hills of southern and SE-Sicily), subhumid (inlands of Trapani and Agrigento, hilly and coastal districts from Giardini to Messina), lower humid (Mts. surrounding Palermo, foothills of northern Peloritani and eastern lanks of Etna, from Acireale to Giardini). • Mesomediterranean (T = 13-16 °C, It = 349-210) upper dry and lower subhumid (Mts. of western and central Sicily, southern lanks on Madonie and Nebrodi, southern Hyblaei), lower humid (northern lanks of Nebrodi and Peloritani, top of the Hyblaean plateau), upper humid (eastern lanks of Etna and Peloritani). • Supramediterranean (T = 8-13 °C, It = 209-70) subhumid /lower humid (top of Madonie, Sicani, Nebrodi and western slopes of Etna), upper humid (top of Peloritani and eastern slopes of Etna). • Oromediterranean (T = 4-8 °C, It = 69- -10) humid (Etna, between 2000 and 2800 m a.s.l.). • Cryo-oromediterranean (T = 2-4 °C, It = -11- -100) upper humid (Etna, above 2800 m a.s.l.). Distribution maps of the thermotypes and ombrotypes of Sicily are reported in Figg. 2-3. Fig. 2 10 Introduction Fig. 3 Bioclimatic Units of Sicily (after Bazan G., et al. 2015). 11 Introduction Flora and Vegetation The vascular lora of Sicily and surrounding islets is currently estimated in around 3000 species (Giardina et al., 2008): loristically, the Sicilian territory turns out to be one of the richest in the Mediterranean. The high diversity of species is primarily related to the previously mentioned high topographic and bioclimatic diversity of the island. Moreover, for its geographical position, Sicily can be deined the crossroad of the Mediterranean lora, as many species are reaching here the northern- (Reaumuria vermiculata, Zyzyphus lotus, Rhus tripartita, etc.), southern- (Fagus sylvatica, Ferulago campestris, Allium ursinum etc.), eastern- (Chamaerops humilis, Ambrosina bassii, Cistus crispus etc.), western- (Fritillaria messanensis, Salvia fruticosa, Jasminum fruticans etc.) limit of their distribution range. These occurrences testify ancient biogeographical connections with the mainland (starting from the Messinian Age), as well as the plant migrations driven by the Plio-Pleistocenic climate swings. Climate changes may locally lead to the severe reduction and splitting of plant populations. This is the case, for instance, of the disjoint Sicilian populations of Heteropogon contortus, Artemisia alba, Sesleria nitida ssp. sicula, Koeleria splendens, Helictotrichon convolutum that probably reached the island in the Pleistocene, during the dry interglacial periods (Guarino, 2006). At the same time, the insularity and the geographical segregation of refuge areas (coastal capes and high mountain districts) promoted the survival of many biogeographical relics and the diferentiation of a rich endemic lora, currently estimated in 338 species, among which the genera Allium, Limonium, Astragalus, Anthemis, Erysimum, Centaurea, Brassica, Viola, Hieracium display remarkable examples of schizo-endemics resulted from the splitting of ancient distribution ranges, combined with the eicient occupation of particular ecological niches. In addition to the schizo-endemics, many Tertiary relics survived in Sicily, some of which are currently known as palaeo-endemics. This is the case, for example, of Abies nebrodensis, Cytisus aeolicus, Erica sicula ssp. sicula, Petagnaea gussonei, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, Rhamnus lojaconoi, Zelkova sicula. As a whole, approximately 1/4 of the whole Sicilian lora (about 750 taxa) has got a remarkable biogeographical and systematic interest (Brullo et al. 1995). Many of these elements are currently threatened by the human activities. 12 Introduction Most natural communities have been degraded or permanently altered throughout Sicily and surrounding islets. The natural vegetation is threatened by continuing conversion to agriculture, pasture, and urban areas. Frequent ires, logging of remaining native woodlands, exotic species, intensive grazing are also common threats, as well as the touristic exploitation of the coastal districts. As Sicily has been a central crossroads of human activity for thousands of years, it ofers a major perspective on all the problems and challenges of accommodating humans and nature in the much trampled Mediterranean basin. The vegetation of the island shows almost everywhere the traces of a long-lasting exploitation of the land. The only well preserved patches of natural vegetation are limited to the most inaccessible places (clifs, screes, rocky ledges, very steep slopes and windy ridges, plus the Etnean heights). In total, they cover a surface of about 7300 ha, i.e. 0.29% of the island (Bazan et al., 2009). With reference to the phytosociological classification of the Sicilian plant communities (Brullo et al. 2002), the best preserved natural plant communities of Sicily are those belonging to the following syntaxa: Rumici-Astragaletea siculi (orohopilous chamaephytic vegetation), Scrophulario-Helichrysetea (hemicryptophitic and chamaephytic vegetation of screes, talus slopes and riverbeds) Saxifragion australis (chasmophytic vegetation on alkaline rocks), Dianthion rupicolae (chasmophytic vegetation on acidic rocks) and, in part, Crithmo-Limonietea (halo-chasmophytic vegetation of rocky coasts). The Sicilian woodlands can be also included in the relatively well preserved natural vegetation, although most of them are disturbed by husbandry and periodical coppicing. The following phytosociological units are represented (Brullo et al., 2008): Quercetalia ilicis (holm-oak woods, cork-oak woods, plus a large number of diferent wood-types dominated by the turkey-oak and/or by the downy-oak: a rather intricate species-complex well-known for its extremely high variability in Sicily); Querco-Fagetea (beech-woods, riverside woods). In total, Sicilian woods are covering approx. 72000 ha, i.e. 2.9 % of the island. The rest of the island is mostly colonized by secondary and synanthropic vegetation. The secondary vegetation includes chestnut-woods 13 Introduction and reforestations, scrublands (Quercetalia calliprini, Prunetalia spinosi), garigues (Cisto-Micromerietea, Cisto-Lavanduletea), perennial semi-natural grasslands (Molinio-Arrhenateretea, Lygeo-Stipetea), covering in total 23.12% of the island. The synanthropic vegetation (Onopordetea acanthii, Secalietea, Stellarietea mediae, etc.) is widely distributed on 1,245,000 ha, i.e. nearly 50% of the island, wherever an extensive agriculture is performed (Brullo & Guarino, 2007; Brullo et al. 2007). Most of the Sicilian territory is occupied hard-wheat ields, but other dry-land farming, like olive groves and plantations of almond, pistachio, ash-tree, still characterizes a relevant part of the Sicilian rural landscape (Fig. 4). Intensive agriculture covers around 25% of the island. Citrus groves, orchards, greenhouses and vineyard are included here. The impact of intensive agriculture is progressively increasing, together with the popularity of the Sicilian wines and early-fruits. Mechanized agricultural practices, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are drastically selecting the weedy plants, penalizing the Mediterranean plants and enhancing the chances of non-native weeds. Modern technology, like everywhere in the world, underpin the modern trend “from local to global”. It is hard to believe that ubiquitous plants, like Oxalis pes-caprae or Pennisetum setaceum, arrived in Sicily such a short time ago. They belong to a process of “banalisation” of the landscape that is one of the newest form of global impact. 14 Introduction Trends at landscape scale, protected areas and management problems As we have seen, the main feature of the Mediterranean region is a remarkable diversity of habitats, with hilly or mountainous inland and few alluvial plains in coastal sites. There is a tight coexistence of semi-natural and synanthropic ecosystems, with a great topographic and biological diversity, driven by ecological gradients of diferent intensity, highly inluenced by the distance from the sea and by the orientation and altitude of the mountains. The natural patchiness of the Sicilian landscapes has been often increased up to critical levels by the human activities. Land use and human demography have signiicantly changed during the last six decades, as a consequence of the mechanization of agriculture, the decline of the extensive land use and traditional agriculture, particularly on terraced ields (Barbera et al., 2009). The development of new economic sectors, like services and infrastructures functional to the tourism, promoted the concentration of people within few miles from the coastline, with an ever increasing impact on coastal habitats. On the other hand, many lands used by agriculture or husbandry until recent times are currently abandoned, particularly in the mountain districts (Fig. 5). 15 Introduction One of the newest issues in the policy of the Sicilian administration is the protection of natural and cultural landscapes. The irst three protected areas have been created in the year 1981 (regional law nr. 98), all three in coastal districts: Stagnone di Marsala, Vendicari, Lo Zingaro. In 1988, with the regional law nr. 14 1988, followed by the Regional Plan for wildlife preserves, issued in 1991, to the irst three protected area, 79 new ones have been added. In addition to these protected areas, four regional parks were established: Etna in 1987, Madonie in 1989, Nebrodi in 1993 and Alcantara in 2001. In more recent times, following the “Birds Directive” (79/409/ EEC) and the “Habitats Directive” (92/43/EEC), the “Natura 2000 network” of Sicily includes 214 SCIs (Sites of Community Importance) and 47 SPZ (Special Protection Zone), many of which overlapping the previously mentioned regional parks and reserves. When the management plans of SCIs and SPZs will become operative, 8% of the Sicilian territory will be protected (Guarino, 2008). Two main kinds of protected areas can be found in Sicily: those occurring on mountains are on average quite extended, the coastal ones, instead, are on average six times smaller. Many of them are just little spots that have been set to save the saveable, i.e. the few coastal traits escaped from the massive urbanization that took place in those districts in recent times. The conservation and management of the Sicilian coastal sites, exposed to the pressure of strong economical interests, is quite problematic and poses a number of speciic themes (Guarino & Guglielmo, 2010). To promote conservation strategies in situ for threatened habitats and species of Sicily, it is urgently needed a network of stakeholders, administrators and scientiic experts which will support capacity building, management and policy actions. Unfortunately, these intentions are inevitably constrained by the lack of scientiic knowledge on the ecosystem functioning and by the reality of limited economical resources. Conservation must therefore be based on the establishment of priorities, in order to determine how these limited resources could be best allocated (Guarino et al. 2011). People’s perception on protected areas is, in most of the cases, limited to the recreational or aesthetical function of biotopes and biodiversity: a kind of “playground for ecologists” that can be used for outdoor activities and experiential marketing. This limited view should be wid16 Introduction ened through the use of protected areas as living labs for the environmental education, to raise the public awareness on the function of ecosystems, but unfortunately managers and planners seem to be much more sensitive to the marketing and promotion of typical products and to the construction of infrastructures in order to improve accessibility and usability of these areas. This is not necessarily a negative aspect, but it can be so if it becomes the priority target for the development of protected areas. Environmental education is also education to a smart parsimony, to the reduction of waste, to the awareness of gestures. It is also education to the motion, to walk on natural terrains by adapting to the roughness of the pathways. Too many habitats and natural sceneries have been irreparably spoiled by senseless interventions to “improve” accessibility and usability. This is the case, for example, of the renowned Etnean “Rifugio Sapienza” and surrounding areas, where thousands of absent-mindedly tourists are brought on Mt. Etna “to walk on the lava”, with best regards to the supericiality that already characterizes the average way of living of the urban people. The only way to contrast these dangerous shortcuts is to look at the Natura 2000 network and, more in general, to every protected area, as a system with strong interactions with the non protected areas, i.e. part of the productive system at the basis of the economical development of the human societies. To preserve biodiversity on the long term, it would be probably more efective to reduce the energetic inputs around the protected areas, rather than to build infrastructures and to implement management plans and actions within them. 17 Introduction Bioclimatic Synthesis of Sicily (after Bazan G., et al. 2015) 1 Upper Cryomediterranean (UCme) - Tp=1-150 Distribution - - - Mt. Etna, at altitudes above 3000 m a.s.l. Ombrotypes - - - Upper Hyperhumid (UHh) - - - 18<Io<24.0 Vegetation series - - - volcanic desert, without any visible vascular vegetation. 2 Lower Cryomediterranean (LCme) - Tp=150-450 Distribution - - - Mt. Etna, between 2400 and 3000 m a.s.l. Ombrotypes - - - Lower Hyperhumid (UHh) - - - 12.0<Io<18.0 Vegetation series - - - Volcanic desert and recent lava lows with scattered pioneer vegetation of Rumici-Anthemidetum aetnensis (Brullo S. et al. 2006). 3 Upper Oromediterranean (UOme) - Tp=450-675 Distribution - - - Mt. Etna, between 2000 and 2400 m a.s.l. Ombrotypes - - - Lower Hyperhumid (LHh) - - - 12.0<Io<18.0 Vegetation series - - - The vegetation is characterized by pulvinate shrubby communities of Astragaletum siculi (Rumici-Astragalion siculi). It forms a discontinuous formation of high phytogeographic interest with a set of endemic and rare species. Astragaletum siculi is physiognomically diferentiated by the thorny pulvinate Astragalus siculus, growing together with Senecio aethnensis, Galium aetnicum, Festuca circummediterranea, Robertia taraxacoides, Tanacetum siculum and Viola aetnensis (Brullo S. et al. 2006). 4 Lower Oromediterranean (LOme) - Tp=675-900 Distribution - - - Madonie, Nebrodi, Etna between 1550 and 2000 m a.s.l. Ombrotypes - - - Upper Humid (UHu) - - - 9.0<Io<12.0; Lower Humid (LHu) 6.0<Io<9.0 Vegetation series - - - Orophilous shrubby communities of highest peaks adapted to cold environmental conditions. The occurrence of several rare taxa with relict distribution has high phytogeographical and ecological signiicance. On Mt. Etna, the Astragaletum siculi becomes progressively denser and rich in taxa. In Nebrodi and Madonie Mts. the vegetation has a similar structure, but diferent loristic settlement, which is ascribed to the alliance Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis (Brullo S. et al. 2006). 5 Upper supramediterranean (USme) - It=(120)-150 Distribution - - - Madonie, Nebrodi, Etna between 1370 and 1550 m a.s.l. 18 Introduction Ombrotypes - - - Lower Humid (LHu) 6.0<Io<9.00; Upper Subhumid (USh) - - - 4.8<Io<6.0; Lower Subhumid (LSh) - - - 3.6<Io<4.8. The Upper Subhumid is widespread within this thermotypic horizon. Vegetation series - - - the Upper supramediterranean thermotype is characterized by beech forests, loristically distinguished by diferent edaphic conditions. On Etna, in the Lower Humid horizon, the mature stage of vegetation is represented by the Epipactido meridionalis-Fagetum, loristically very poor and with a scarce shrub layer. Under the same ombrotype, the Etnean birch-woods (Cephalanthero longifoliae-Betuletum aetnensis) are also occurring, as edapho-xerophilous replacement of the Epipactido meridionalis-Fagetum sylvaticae (Brullo C. et al. 2012). On the Sicilian Appennine, the most prevalent ombrotype in the Upper Subhumid. On carbonatic substrata of Madonie, beech woods are represented by the Luzulo siculae-Fagetum, while on siliceous substrata of Madonie and Nebrodi, the mature stage of vegetation series is Anemono-Apenninae-Fagetum. In the climatophilous belt of Luzulo siculae-Fagetum, narrow gorges with a microclimate characterized by a high degree of atmospheric moisture, on dolomites, are settled by Hieracio madoniensis-Fagetum sylvaticae. Additionally, Junipero hemisphaericae-Abietetum nebrodensis represents the edapho-xerophilous vegetation type, with a remarkable pioneer character, occurring on Madonie within the area potentially occupied by the acidophilous beech forest (Brullo S. et al. 2001). On the northern slopes of Nebrodi, the beech forests of the Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae are replaced by Taxus baccata forests (Ilici aquifolii-Taxetum baccatae) in stands characterized by colder and more humid and oceanic conditions. On rocky substrata, slightly acidic and well humiied of Madonie, Nebrodi and Peloritani, the acidophilous holm oak forest named Geranio versicoloris-Quercetum ilicis is also found (Bazan et al. 2010). The Lower subhumid ombrotype, on the north-eastern slopes of Etna, is characterized by mesophilous Quercus congesta woods (Agropyro panormitani-Quercetum congestae). This association in more xeric conditions is replaced by Daphno laureolae-Pinetum calabricae, and in eastern slopes of Etna at higher altitudes by Vicio cassubicae-Quercetum cerridis. In the sheltered and shady valleys, linked to more mesic conditions in comparison with the previous two associations, the Agropyro panormitani-Populetum tremulae is occurring. 19 Introduction 6 Lower supramediterranean (LSme) - It=150-220 Distribution - - - Sicani Mts., Busambra Rock, Palermo Mts., San Calogero, Favara and Granza, Madonie, Nebrodi, Peloritani, Etna, between 960 and 1400 m a.s.l. Ombrotypes - - - Lower subhumid. (LSh) - - - 3.6<Io<4.8; Upper dry (Udry) - - - 2.8<Io<3.6. Vegetation series - - - Within Lower subhumid ombrotype, in the mountain ridges of Nebrodi, the most widespread type of wood is Arrhenathero nebrodensis-Quercetum cerridis. This association represents the mature stage of a vegetation series made up by the shrubby vegetation of Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii and mesophilous meadows of Plantaginion cupanii. Arrhenathero nebrodensis-Quercetum cerridis is loristically well differentiated from other Turkey oak woods of Southern Apennines for the occurrence of several endemic species such as Arrhenatherum nebrodense, Aristolochia sicula, A. clusii. On the northern slopes of the Nebrodi ridge, with a remarkably oceanic mesoclimate caused by the exposure to moisture condensation from the sea, the Arrhenathero nebrodensis-Quercetum cerridis is replaced by the Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum cerridis. This association is well diferentiated from the loristic, ecological and syndynamic viewpoint. Within the Arrhenathero nebrodensis-Quercetum cerridis distribution area, in the north-facing slopes of the valleys of Peloritani, with remarkably humid microclimatic conditions, the turkey oak vegetation is replaced by Melitto albidae-Fagetum sylvaticae, which has to be regarded as an extrazonal community (Brullo C. et al. 2012). On the Madonie, on quartz sandstones and lysch, under oceanic mesoclimatic conditions, the Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum austrothyrrenicae is occurring. Within the same bioclimatic belt, on gently slopes less humid, this association is replaced by Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum leptobalani. Its physiognomy is given by the occurrence of many diferent oak species, such as Quercus leptobalanos, Q. congesta, Q. dalechampii and sometimes Q. ilex. The Lower Supramediterranean Upper dry is quite a rare bioclimatic combination in Sicily, well identiied by the series of the Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis, limited to restricted areas of Madonie and western Nebrodi. 20 Introduction 7 Upper mesomediterranean (UMme) - It=220-285 Distribution - - - Mountain areas between 620 and 1030 m a.s.l. This termotype is widespread on the mountain areas of Sicily: Palermo Mts., High Belice Corleonese, Sicani Mts., Madonie Mts., Upper Valley of the Salso River, Nebrodi, highest hills of Enna, Peloritani Mts., Erei Mts., Etna and Hybalean Mts. Ombrotypes - - - Lower dry (Ldry) - Io= 2.0-2.8; Upper dry (Udry) - Io=2.8-3.6; Lower subhumid (Lsh) - Io=3.6-4.8; Upper subhumid (Ush) - Io=4.8-6.00. Vegetation series - - - The subhumid ombrotype, occurring in the Peloritani and Etna areas is linked to acidophilous vegetation series. On Etna, it is outlined by the Agropyro panormitani-Quercetum congestae and by the Arabido turritae-Quercetum congestae. The last one is a basiphilous forest physiognomically characterized by the dominance of southern oaks, as Quercus congesta, Q. dalechampii and Q. ilex. In narrow impluvia, where there are particular environmental conditions, represented by elevated atmospheric moisture, the series of Aceri obtusati-Ostryetum carpinifoliae is found. On eastern slopes of Etna, the Doronico orientalis-Castanetum sativae is occurring: a chestnut wood that appears loristically and ecologically quite natural. The Upper Dry ombrotype is localized on the south and western slopes of Etna, on the southern slopes of the Nebrodi and Madonie. The vegetation series is referred to the Festuco heterophyllae-Querceto congestae sigmetum, whose stationary state is a wood physiognomized by dominant Quercus congesta which grows together with other oaks, such as Q. dalechampii, Q. ilex and Q. amplifolia (Guarino et al., in press). The Arrhenathero nebrodensis-Querco cerridis sigmetum, mainly linked to supramediterranean termotype, is gradually replaced by the Querco gussonei sigmetum in the Upper mesomediterranean belt, on siliceous sandy soils resulting from the weathering of quartz sandstones and lysch. The stands of Quercus gussonei are widespread along the northern slopes of the Nebrodi and Busambra, at elevations between 600 and 900 m a.s.l. In the highest elevations of the Hybalean Mts. (600-900 m a.s.l.), this bioclimatic belt is correlated to Mespilo germanicae-Querco virgilianae sigmetum. The Quercus virgiliana forest represents a mesophilous plant community, strictly linked to basaltic substrata, diferentiated from the 21 Introduction other thermophilous oak woods by the occurrence of Mespilus germanica. Within this series, in localities characterized by a high degree of soil moisture, the Mespilo germanicae-Quercetum virgilianae is replaced by the edaphophilous vegetation of Lauro nobilis-Quercetum virgilianae. The vegetation series of Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis is widespread along the valleys and north-facing slopes of Sicilian mountains, on siliceous substrata (schists, granites, gneiss, vulcanites, quartz sandstones and lysch). This association is an acidophilous holm oak forest, characterized by the occurrence of calcifuge species such as Cytisus villosus, Erica arborea, Pulicaria odora, Festuca exaltata and Teucrium siculum. On Sicani Mts. and Palermo Mts., the Sorbo torminalis-Querco ilicis sigmetum is occurring. The vegetation head o series is physiognomically characterized by the dominance Quercus virgiliana and other rare species in Sicily such as Sorbus torminalis, Physospermum verticillatum and Geocaryum cynapioides. Frequent trees in this vegetation are: Quercus ilex, Q. amplifolia, Fraxinus ornus, Acer campestre and Ostrya carpinifolia. On calcareous and dolomitic rocks, stable screes and immature soils, the woody vegetation is usually represented by the Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis. It is an orophilous wood, characterized by Ilex aquifolium, Acer campestre, A. monspessulanum, Sorbus graeca and Ulmus glabra, loristically well diferentiated from the other Quercus ilex woods of the Mediterranean Region. 8 Lower mesomediterranean (LMme) - It=285-350 Distribution - - - Palermo Mts, Sicani Mts., Erei Mts., uplands of the Gypsum-Sulphur Outcrops and Hybalean Mts. between 250 and 700 m a.s.l. It is the most widespread termotype of Sicily and covers the 33,9% of the regional surface. Ombrotypes - - - Lower dry (Ldry) - Io= 2.0-2.8; Upper dry (Udry) Io=2.8-3.6; Lower subhumid (Lsh) - Io=3.6-4.8; The distribution follow a geographical gradient, increasing from west to east and from south to north. Vegetation series - - - The mature stands of vegetation are climatophilous forest ascribed to the orders Quercetea ilicis. The Lower sub humid ombrotype is localized on Peloritani Mts. This thermotypic horizon is linked to the vegetation series of Erico arboreae-Quercetum virgilianae. The head of series is a forest physiogno- 22 Introduction mically dominated by Quercus virgiliana with a dense shrubby layer characterized by many calcifuge species, such as Erica arborea, Cytisus villosus, Arbutus unedo, Teline monspessulana, etc. The Erico arboreae-Querco virgilianae sigmetum occur in all ombrotypes of the Lower Mesomediterranean vegetation belt, on siliceous substrata with deep and well humiied soils, and is also widespread in the Nebrodi, Madonie and Eolie Islands. The vegetation series most closely related to the Upper Dry ombrotype is Querco leptobalanae sigmetum. It is an acidophilus vegetation characterized by Quercus leptobalanos, together with Q. dalechampii, Q. congesta, Q. amplifolia. On marl formation, in the Lower Dry ombrotype, the Pinus halepensis series is occurring. The mature stand of series is the Thymo capitati-Pinetum halepensis a pine wood with a rich shrubby layer, chiely represented by Thymus capitatus and other sclerophyllous species such as Pistacia lentiscus, Chamaerops humilis, Phillyrea latifolia, Teucrium fruticans. Within deep and mature soils on calcareous substrata, the most widespread vegetation series is the Oleo sylvestris-Querco virgilianae sigmetum that characterizes the whole Lower mesomediterranean belt and the Upper thermomediterranean. The diferent aspects of the series are connected by a catenal contact with series of Pistacio-Rhamno alaterni sigmion and Querco-Fago sigmetea. The potential natural vegetation is a Quercus virgiliana forest which include other tree species, such as: Q. amplifolia Q. ilex, Fraxinus ornus, Acer campestre. This vegetation has more xeric requirements, as shown by the occurrence of Mediterranean species such as Olea europaea var. sylvestris, Pistacia lentiscus, Teucrium fruticans, Prasium majus, Asparagus albus. The oak-woods of Oleo sylvestris-Querco virgilianae sigmetum are quite rare, in relation to their potential distribution, due the anthropization. These growing sites homed agricultural and pastoral activities dating back at least to the 2° Century b.C. The residual well preserved patches occur in areas owned by the church, or in private hunting reserves. Lower Mesomediterranean and Upper Thermomediterranean thermotypes occur in 68,6% of regional area. This large surface could be probably not only linked to the Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum virgilianae. This association, and the related sigmetum should be considered sensu latu, because of the lack of knowledge on other vegetation types. 23 Introduction In the deep canyons of the Hyblean Plateau (Cave), the Doronico orientalis-Quercetum ilicis is found. This is a mesophilous association characterized by the dominance of Quercus ilex and sporadic deciduous oak, such as Quercus virgiliana and Q. amplifolia. 9 Upper thermomediterranean (UTme) - It=350-400 Distribution - - - Hills between 0 and 450 m a.s.l. The Termotype characterizes the hilly landscape of southern Sicily, the alluvial plains of Catania and along the Tyrrhenian coast, from Cape Zaferano to Cape of Orlando. It is a very representative bioclimatic belt of Sicily, covering 32,8% of the regional surface. Ombrotypes - - - Upper semiarid (Usa) - Io=1.5-2.0; Lower dry (Ldry) Io= 2.0-2.8; Upper dry (Udry) - Io=2.8-3.6; Lower subhumid (Lsh) - Io=3.64.8; The values of the Ombrothermic Index (Io) are increasing from south to north-east. The lowest values (Semiarid) are located in the Plain of Gela. Vegetation series - - - The Lower dry ombrotype is linked, either to cork oak and holm oak woodlands. On the Tyrrhenian slopes of Madonie and Nebrodi, on siliceous sandy substrata, the most mature vegetation stand is represented by the Genisto aristatae-Quercetum suberis. It is a cork-oak wood dominated by Quercus suber and other trees belonging to the genera Quercus (Q. congesta, Q. dalechampii, Q. amplifolia, Q. ilex, Q. gussonei, Q. ×fontanesii) (Marino et al., 2012). In Southern Sicily cork-oak woods are ascribed to the Stipo bromoides-Quercetum suberis. The related vegetation series is widespread in Caltagirone, Niscemi, Mazzarino territories (SE-Sicily), Meni and Castelvetrano territories (SW-Sicily). The Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum suberis is a xerophilous association, localized on Pleistocenic sand deposits. On sandy soil of fossil dunes in SE Sicily, the Junipero turbinatae-Querco calliprini sigmetum is occurring. The series is localized between Gela and Marina di Ragusa, and around the Gulf of Castellammare. The Junipero-Quercetum calliprini association represents a maquis with small trees of Quercus calliprinos and Juniperus turbinata growing together with Pistacia lentiscus, Phillyrea latifolia and Rhamnus alaternus. On carbonatic substrata in the thermotype at issue, the Pistacio lentisci-Querco ilicis sigmetum and the Rhamno alaterni-Querco ilicis sigmetum are occurring. Both are Quercus ilex stands, rich in thermophilous species featuring the order Quercetalia calliprini such as: Pistacia lentiscus Rhamnus alaternus Pistacia terebinthus. The series of Pistacio 24 Introduction lentisci-Quercetum ilicis is localized on shallow and rocky soils, widespread everywhere in the Island, Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis is localized on humid costal slopes in North-West Sicily. This association is rich of lauriphyll such as Rhamnus alaternus, Viburnum tinus, Laurus nobilis and climbers like Hedera helix, Smilax aspera, Rosa sempervirens, Rubia peregrina, etc. The more humid microclimatic conditions, due to sea breezes, determines the presence of this extrazonal vegetation linked to subhumid condition within the lower dry ombrotype horizon (Marino et al., 2013). 10 Lower thermomediterranean (LTme) - It=400-450 Distribution - - - Costal areas between 0 and 220 m a.s.l. The termotype unit characterizes the costal area of the whole Region and covers the 11,5% of its surface. Ombrotypes - - - Upper semiarid (Usa) - Io=1.5-2.0; Lower dry (Ldry) - Io= 2.0-2.8; Upper dry (Udry) - Io=2.8-3.6; Lower subhumid (Lsh) - Io=3.6-4.8. The values of the Ombrothermic Index (Io) are increasing from south to north-east. The lowest values (Semiarid) are located in the Plain of Gela; the most humid (subhumid) along the coast of the Strait of Messina. Vegetation series - - - The vegetation of Lower subhumid ombrotypes is characterized by the occurrence of Pinus pinea woodlands, with a shrub layer rich in acidophilus species belonging to Cisto-Lavanduletea such as: Cistus crispus, C. salvifolius, Tuberaria guttata, Erica arborea. The vegetion series of Cisto crispi-Pino pineae sigmetum is linked to sandy schistose soils of NE Peloritani, near Messina (Bartolo et al. 1994). The Upper dry ombrotype is characterized by the occurrence of Oleo-Euphorbio dendroidis sigmetum. The head vegetation series, Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis, in most of the Island has to be considered an azonal community linked to the steepest rocky slopes. However, within the coastland of Etna and Peloritani, the coastland of Agrigento and the islands of Lipari, Vulcano, Ustica, this association represents a climatophilous community. Lower dry obrotype is characterized by the occurrence of shrublands/maquis communities, chiely dominated by evergreen sclerophyll and summer-deciduous shrub, belonging to the alliance Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae. The mature stand of vegetation series are: Chamaeropo humilis-Quercetum calliprini, Pistacio lentisci-Chamaerope- 25 Introduction tum humilis, Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci and Calicotomo infestae-Rhoetum tripartitae. These associations are widespread especially along the coastland of Sicily and are related to diferent substrata. These vegetation series are in catenal contact with the climatophilous series of Querco ilicis sigmetalia and halophilous communites of Chritmo-Limonietea. 11 Upper Inframediterranean (UIme) - It=450-515 Distribution - - - Lampedusa at from 0 to 30 m a.s.l. Ombrotypes - - - Lower Semiarid (Sar) - Io=1.0-1.5. Localized on the East part of Lampedusa Island. Vegetation series - - - Periploco-Juniperetum turbinatae sigmetum. The head of vegetation series is a termo-xerophilous maquis physiognomized by Juniperus turbinata and Periploca angustifolia. Abundant are some shrubs of Quercetalia calliprini such as: Pistacia lentiscus, Prasium majus, Olea europea var. sylvestris, Teucrium fruticans, Asparagus albus, etc. 26 ITINERARIES RiccaRdo GuaRino & SalvatoRe PaSta PLEASE, NOTE: hiking time refers to the approximate time spent walking/moving on terrain in a very relaxed mood. You are supposed to make frequent stops along the trail, to observe vegetation/rare plant species/scenic views. The time spent in this way, as well as for lunch/ technical breaks, is not included in the computation of the hiking time. All the excursions are on hiking trails and cross terrain with exposed rock faces, where falls are possible. Hiking boots and outdoor wear for all temperatures between 12° and 35 °C will be needed. Be prepared to spend the whole day outside, including many hours in very sunny places, with no shade at all and temperatures up to 35°C (95°F), occasionally windy. The sites visited during the hikes are also home to wildlife that may be dangerous, including but not limited to snakes and disease-carrying invertebrates. A repellent could be used to spray your clothes before the hikes, however you should be aware that the byte protection cannot be guaranteed and the application of the repellent can cause mild skin irritation and burning. The authors are not responsible any damage or personal injuries may result from the hikes discussed on this website. All outdoor activities are carried out at your own risk. Please consider this before you go! I The coastal capes around Palermo Itinerary1 - Capo Gallo Capo Gallo is a promontory closing the NW side of the Gulf of Palermo. We will walk along the north-western clif of Mt. Gallo, a thick layer of Mesozoic limestone, 586 m high, shaped by the combined efect of karst processes and intense tectonic uplift. The botanical wealth of the reserve is ensured by the occurrence of three exclusive endemites (Hieracium lucidum, Limonium panormitanum, Genista gasparrinii) and one, Anthemis ismelia, in common with the nearby Mt. Pecoraro. They are found on the huge vertical clifs (Dianthion rupicolae) and, occasionally, in the Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis fringing the steepest part of the pediment. The hike develops on the debris at the base of the clif, which was terraced and cultivated since ancient times (olive tree, grapewine and sumac) and currently, after the abandonment, it is colonized by a perennial dry grassland dominated by Ampelodesmos mauritanicus and Erica multilora. The vegetation dynam- Itineraries ic along the hike is frequently afected by wildires, that hamper the evolution towards an evegreen maquis (Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis), still occurring on the less accessible sites. In the second part of the trail we will enjoy the vegetation of rocky coasts (Crithmo-Limonietea), characterized by Limonium bocconei, endemic to the NW coast of Sicily. Trail: Length: 4 km round trip, Hiking time: 1.5 hrs., Elevation range: 360 m Itinerary2 - Capo Zafferano Capo Zaferano is a promontory closing the SE side of the Gulf of Palermo. We will walk along the northern clif of the cape, consisting of a 226 m high outcrop of dark microcrystalline limestones, dolomitized upwards. The rugged morphology preserved a vegetation of high naturalness and great scientiic interest. The vertical clifs are colonized by the endemite rich vegetation of Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae (Diathion rupicolae), while on the debris at the base of the clif, the vegetation dynamic is afected by a millennial husbandry and frequent wildires, that hamper the evolution towards a thermoxerophilous maquis, here represented by the Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis on steep stony slopes and by the Pistac30 Itineraries io-Chamaeropetum humilis in more gently sloping sites. As a consequence of frequent ires, the most abundant vegetation on Capo Zaferano are two perennial dry grasslands: the Helictotricho-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici on deeper soils and cooler sites and Bothriochloo panormitanae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae in drier sites, on stony-gravelly, partially eroded soils. At the end of the trail, next to the lighthouse of the cape, we will approach the rocky shoreline to observe the aerohaline vegetation described as Limonietum bocconei limbardetosum crithmoidis (Crithmo-Staticion). In the afternoon, we will visit the archaeological site of Solunto, at 183 m a.s.l., on the SE side of Mt. Catalfano, near Capo Zaferano. Solunto was an Hellenistic town built in accordance with the urbanistic rules proposed by Hippodamus of Miletus. The Hippodamian plan is revealed by broad, straight streets, cutting one another at right angles and by the wide central area, which was intended to be the “Agora”, i.e the centre of both the city and the society. Trail: Length: 3km, Hiking time: 1 hr, Elevation range: 130 m Itinerary3 - Solunto 31 Itineraries Soluntum (in ancient Greek: Σολόεις or Σολοῦς, Solūs) is located about 16 km east of Palermo at 183 m a.s.l., on the SE side of Mt. Catalfano, where it was re-founded around IV century BC in a naturally protected area, after the destruction of the original homonymous Phoenician settlement (VII-VI century BC), located approximately 2 km southwards. The new Hellenistic town of Soluntum remained loyal to Carthaginians until the end of the First Punic War (265 BC). Under Roman dominion it became a municipal town of little importance; gradually abandoned, it was almost desert already in the II-III centuries AD, although the inding of some coins testiies the sporadic human presence in the site in the following centuries. The excavations, started on 1825, have brought to light considerable remains of the Hellenistic and Roman period. Despite the unevenness of the ground, most of the streets were laid out regularly and intersected at right angles following the Hippodamian system. The traces of two ancient roads, paved with large blocks of stone, which led up to the city, may still be followed. A huge statue of Zeus-Jupiter found in this site is now conserved at the archaeological museum ‘A. Salinas’ of Palermo. Trail: Length: 1.4 km round trip, Hiking time: 0.5 hours, Elevation range: 80 m General Description 1.1. Physical setting The Mounts of Palermo belong to the Sicilian-Maghrebid Foreland-Thrust belt connecting the NW African mountain ranges and the Apennines. Calcareous rocks (limestones and dolomias) are the most common rock outcrops, although marls, radiolarites and sandstones many prevail somewhere. These thick layers of calcareous rocks testify the long-lasting tropical conditions (from Upper Trias to mid Eocene, i.e. approximately 228-40 Ma BP) favouring the spread of coral reefs throughout Tethys, the ocean which separated Eurasia from present Africa and Oceania. The coastal plains are made of both marine and continental deposits accumulated between upper Pleistocene (1.81-0.78 Ma) and Holocene. Fairly all the coastal capes experienced repeated phases of insularity, as testiied by paleontological data concerning the vertebrate fauna. 32 Itineraries View of the the north-western clif of Mt. Gallo, with the trail across a perennial dry prairie dominated by Ampelodesmos mauritanicus and Erica multilora, colonizing the debris at the base of the clif. The Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis (Fraxino orni-Quercion ilicis) is conined to the most impervious places by the periodical ires afecting the basal areas of Mt. Gallo. Vertical clifs are colonized by the endemite rich vegetation of Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae (Diantion rupicolae). 33 Itineraries While the innermost Mounts of Palermo frequently exceed 1,000 m a.s.l., the steep coastal capes hardly go beyond 600 m a.s.l.. Their harsh morphology, characterized by abrupt slopes, vertical and even overhanging clifs and wide screes, has been shaped by the combined efect of karstic processes and local and regional intense tectonic uplift. According to USDA soil taxonomy, the area hosts a combination of rock outcrops, lithic xerorthents (shallow soils with pH ≥7 and typic and/or lithic rhodoxeralphs (‘terra rossa’, pH <7). According to Rivas-Martínez bioclimatic classiication, the area is subject to lower Thermomediterranean thermotype and lower subhumid ombrotype. Yearly temperatures are of 17-18 °C, and the highest mean monthly temperatures never exceed 25 °C (August) and never go below 8 °C (January). Frost is a very rare event, occurring once every 20-30 years. The annual amount of rainfall is approximately 600-700 mm, with 4-5 months of drought stress between May and September. As the calcareous rocks are intensely fractured and subject to karstic processes, most of the rainfall penetrates deep underground feeding a very complex aquifer. The only rivers which deserve to be mentioned are the Eleuterio (ca. 35 km long), lowing down from Rocca Busambra, the Oreto which crosses the Plain of Palermo (ca. 21 km) and the Nocella (ca. 18 km) in the Plain of Partinico. The almost total lack of sand beaches (only few ones occur at Mondello, Arenella and Romagnolo near the city of Palermo) is due to ongoing tectonic uplift. In fact, most of the coastline is rocky and often bordered (e.g. at Sferracavallo and Isola delle Femmine) by living intertidal structures similar to coral reefs, called ‘trottoirs’ (= pavements in French), built up by two co-occurring calcium-accumulating organisms, red algae and molluscs, and/or delimited by steep and high costal clifs (Capo Zaferano, Terrasini). 1.2. Flora and vegetation The surroundings of Palermo probably are among the best studied areas of the whole Mediterranean. In fact, already at the end of XVII century S. Boccone and F. Cupane described lots of plants observed in this territory. Since the end of the XVIII (B. da Ucria) and the XIX century many good botanists, like A. Bivona-Bernardi, C. S. Rainesque-Schmaltz, F. Parlatore, V. Tineo, G. Gussone, A. Todaro and M. Lojacono-Pojero, lived in Palermo and thoroughly explored its territory, which was an almost 34 Itineraries obligatory stop-over for many European scholars (e.g. C.B. Presl, C.F. Nyman, J.F. Schouw, etc.) who visited the island to become familiar with the Mediterranean plants. Hence, it is not surprising if this area is the ‘locus classicus’ of plenty of species described in that period. According to Brullo et al. (1995), the whole area of the Mts. of Palermo belongs to the Drepano-Panormitan district, which igures among the species-richest areas of Sicily (>2000 taxa of vascular plants, more than 30 local or Sicilian endemics) and is listed among the Italian Important Plant Areas (hereinafter IPAs) with the code ‘SIC 10 - Capo Gallo, Rilievi di Palermo e F. Oreto’). The coastal sector of the Mounts of Palermo hosts many endemic vascular plants. Some of theme are extremely localised, like Hieracium lucidum, Limonium panormitanum, Genista gasparrinii and Anthemis ismelia which only occur on Monte Gallo, and Limonium poimenum, endemic to M. Pecoraro. Other species with a wider distribution range are exclusive of this area: for instance, the population of Aristida coerulescens growing on the S-facing slopes of M. Gallo and that of Lathyrus saxatilis at Mt. Catalfano are the only ones of Italy and Sicily, respectively. The southern slopes of Mt. Gallo are heavily invaded by Pennisetum setaceum, which outmatched the Bothriochloo panormitanae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae in the last four decades. This new neophytic vegetation has been described as Penniseto setacei-Hyparrhenietum hirtae. 35 Itineraries Zonal vegetation Due to the millenary impact of man on this area, no true forest assemblages occur. Some fragments of evegreen maquis (QUERCETEA and QUERCETEALIA ILICIS) occur on less accessible sites, enjoying the air humidity coming from the sea, like those on the E- and N-facing slopes of M. Pellegrino (Rotoli and Addaura), ascribed to Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis and rich in lauriphyllous (Hedera helix, Laurus nobilis Rhamnus alaternus, Viburnum tinus) and deciduous (Fraxinus ornus and Pistacia terebinthus) woody species. The margins of these woodlands are often covered by mantle communities (PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII) referred to Clematido cirrhosae-Rubetum ulmifolii, where Celtis australis and several alien woody species (Ailanthus altissima, Asclepias fruticosa and Cercis siliquastrum) frequently occur. The steep, rocky and wind-exposed areas are characterised by Euphorbietum dendroidis, an open thermophilous scrub rich in both summer-deciduous species, like Euphorbia dendroides, E. bivonae, Anagyris foetida, and evergreen sclerophyllous plants typical to the alliance OLEO-CERATONION, like Olea europaea var. sylvestris, Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia lentiscus, etc. Along the NW slopes of Mt. Gallo, all seral stages of the Rhamno alaterni-Querceto ilicis sigmetum can be observed. 36 Itineraries The nuclei of open maquis dominated by Chamaerops humilis which still occur near the coasts of M. Catalfano, Sferracavallo and Capo Rama probably issue from the degradation of other evergreen maquis assemblages, such as Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis (Mt. Pellegrino) and Chamaeropo humilis-Quercetum calliprini (Mt. Catalfano and Terrasini). The scattered occurrence of Ziziphus lotus near the sea-shores on the E and NE slopes of M. Pellegrino (Asparago acutifolii-Ziziphetum loti) may issue from its past introduction of from Phoenicians or Romans. On the other hand, the past presence of some small spots of thermo-xerophilous summer-deciduous maquis (alliance PERIPLOCION ANGUSTIFOLIAE) on the edge of NW Sicilian promontories cannot be completely discarded. In fact, at the beginning of the XIX century other species with similar ecological requirements, were reported to thrive there, such as Rhus pentaphylla at Mt. Pellegrino and near Mt. Catalfano, and Rhus tripartita for Santa Flavia near Mt. Catalfano. The base-rich or subacid (terra rossa) shallow soils host several typologies of garrigue. These subshrub communities are referred to the central-Mediterranean alliance CISTO ERIOCEPHALI-ERICION MULTIFLORAE and are represented by the associations Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multilorae (present at Mt. Catalfano and endemic to NW Sicily and Egadi Islands), Brachypodio ramosi-Cistetum cretici (endemic to NW Sicily) and Genistetum gasparrinii (endemic to the upper ridges of Mt. Gallo). Due to millennia of deforestation, overgrazing and wildires, most of the surface of the coastal capes near Palermo is covered with thermo-xerophilous grasslands referred to the order HYPARRHENIETALIA HIRTAE. More in detail, the association Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis is rather common on the abandoned agricultural terraces of Mt. Gallo and Mt. Pellegrino. In suburban areas it is often substituted by a ruderal community dominated by the alien invasive Boehravia coccinea (Boerhraavio viscosae-Oryzopsietum miliaceae, BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE). The exceptionally arid (S-facing and/or wind-exposed) sites host xerophilous grasslands referred to the alliance ARISTIDO COERULESCENTIS-HYPARRHENION HIRTAE (Cenchro ciliari-Hyparrhenietum hirtae and Bothriochloo panormitanae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae on the Mts. Pellegrino and Catalfano, Heteropogono contorti-Hyparrhenietum hirtae on Mt. Pellegrino). These communities host plenty of perennial grasses belonging to Paleotrop37 Itineraries The coastal maquis of Pistacio-Chamaeropetum humilis (Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae) and, in the background, the rocky coast colonized by the Limonietum bocconei (Crithmo-Staticion). The coastline of Mt. Gallo is bordered by living intertidal structures similar to coral reefs, called ‘trottoirs’ (= pavements in French), built up by two co-occurring calcium-accumulating organisms: red algae and a molluscs (Dendropoma petraeum and Vermetus triquetrus). 38 Itineraries ical genera such as Aristida caerulescens, Cenchrus ciliaris, Megathyrsus bivonianus, Heteropogon contortus, Bothriochloa insculpta susbp. panormitana, as well as narrow endemics like Allium panormitanum. During last decades an invasive alien grass, Pennisetum setaceum, was able to invade these xeric communities and to turn them into species-poor assemblages (Penniseto setacei-Hyparrhenietum hirtae). The top of the considered hills and their N-facing slopes are mostly covered by Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici, a species- (and endemic species-)rich community endemic to the calcareous lithosoils of NW Sicily. Two associations (Thapsio garganicae-Feruletum communis and Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis) referred to the recently described alliance CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI occur in the area. These communities are perfectly adapted to stand overgrazing, frequent burning and soil erosion and are dominated by (mostly) poisonous geophytes (e.g. Charybdis pancration, Mandragora autumnalis, etc.) and/or spiny (e.g. Carlina spp.) hemicryptophytes. The above-mentioned perennial grasslands are often intermingled with therophytic ephemeral prairies which may be referred to TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE. Although only two associations, i.e. Vulpio ciliatae-Trisetarietum aureae and Thero-Sedetum caerulei, have been reported for the territory, plenty of other species characteristic of this class may be encountered. On the coastal areas inluenced by salt-spray two associations (Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae) referred to the order STIPO-BUPLEURETALIA SEMICOMPOSITI have been detected. Among the numerous characteristic of the order and the alliance. Vegetation of coastal ecosystems Many endemics of the Drepano-Panormitan district (e.g. Allium obtusilorum, Desmazeria sicula, Limonium bocconei, Limonium lagellare, Romulea linaresii subsp. linaresii and Silene crassiuscula) and other plants of high biogeographic and conservation interest (e.g. Allium lehmanii, Anthemis secundiramea, Camphorosma monspeliaca, Galium verrucosum subsp. halophilum, etc.) thrive on sea-facing clifs and along rocky shores. The halo-nitrophilous annual communities of sandy-loamy salted soils (SAGINETEA MARITIMAE and FRANKENION PULVERULENTAE) are ascribed to the local association Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae. 39 Itineraries Two most common vegetation units of Capo Zaferano are the vegetation of Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae (Diantion rupicolae) on the clifs and the Helictotricho-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici (Avenulo ampelodesmion mauritanici) on the pediment under the clifs. The Ampelodesmos-vegetation tends to evolve into the Pistacio-Chamaeropetum humilis (Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae) but the wildires periodically restart the succession. The vegetation of the rocky clifs has direct sunlight only few hours a day and beneits from the humid sea breeze that bufers the summer aridity. 40 Itineraries As for the litho-halophilous chasmophitic communities, the class CRITHMO-STATICETEA is locally represented by Limonietum bocconei (endemic to NW Sicily and Egadi Islands), Limonietum lagellaris (coasts of NW Sicily between Palermo and Mt. Cofano) on the rocky shores subject to marine salt-spray, and by Hyoseridetum taurinae on the rocky clifs near the coast. The rare (and often degraded) spots of halo-nitrophilous annual vegetation of the coastal strandlines (CAKILETEA MARITIMAE) may be referred to the alliance EUPHORBION PEPLIS and to the associations Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum paraliae and Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae. The halo-hygrophilous hemicryptophitic vegetation of brackish swamps (JUNCETEA MARITIMI) has disappeared along with the drainage of the retrodunal lagoon of Mondello, carried out at the end of the XIX century. Hence, no local communities may be ascribed to this class, with the exception of some pure stands of Juncus maritimus located in areas covered with marine water during winter storms (Capo Rama and Isola delle Femmine islet). As for the halo-hygrophilous scrubland (SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE), small nuclei of Limoniastrum monopetalum occur near Terrasini. Thanks to their tolerance to high nitrate and phosphate soil content, Suaeda vera and/or Arthrocnemum glaucum mostly occur on microinsular areas (e.g. Isola delle Femmine, Isolotto near Capo Zaferano) where they dominate species-poor chenopod scrubs in the nesting sites of the yellow-legged seagull (Larus michahellis). Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes Several moss- and fern-rich communities linked to the humid and dripping clifs (ADIANTETEA) are scattered in the territory: a good example of Eucladio verticillati-Adiantetum capilli-veneris can be observed in the XVI century sanctuary of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo, on Mt. Pellegrino. Also the chasmo-chomophytic and epiphytic moss- and fern-communities (POLYPODIETEA and POLYPODION SERRATI) are quite common. The chasmophytic vegetation of local undisturbed base-rich rocky clifs (DIANTHION RUPICOLAE) is ascribed to Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae. Within this association two subassociations have been described, helichrysetosum straminei from Mt. Pellegrino westwards and Centauretosum todari from Mongerbino-Mt. Catalfano eastwards. 41 Itineraries The interstitial space of the perennial vegetation is colonized by species-rich annual communities (Trachynion distachyae. Their survival is ensured by disturbances, such as rockfalls, landslides, periodical ires. Their spatial pattern is inluenced by the seed rearrangement and predation by ants. Preliminary data from a decennial monitoring of the species distribution patterns in the annual dry grasslands of Capo Zaferano suggest that there is a demographic luctuation between Poaceae (essentially: Bromus and Trachynia) and dicots. Every three-four years the Poaceae became so dense and clumped that their seed productivity dramatically drops down and this beneits dicots in the following year. 42 Itineraries Plenty of interesting plants may co-occur on the same site, e.g. district endemics (Asperula rupestris, Centaurea panormitana subsp. ucriae, C. panormitana subsp. umbrosa, Euphorbia bivonae and E. papillaris, Galium pallidum, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. stramineum), Sicilian endemics (Centaurea panormitana subsp. todari, Cymbalaria pubescens, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. latifolium, Odontites bocconei, etc.), circum-Tyrrhenian endemics (Asplenium petrarchae subsp. petrarchae, Brassica rupestris subsp. rupestris, Convolvulus cneorum, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola, Glandora rosmarinifolia, Hyoseris taurina, Iberis semperlorens, Matthiola incana subsp. rupestris, Seseli bocconei, etc.). Several communities linked to rock crevices (ASPLENIETALIA LANCEOLATO-OBOVATI), such as Phagnalo saxatilis-Cheilanthetum maderensis and Cosentinietum bivalentis occur on Mt. Pellegrino and Mt. Gallo, while the chasmo-nitrophilous vegetation of disturbed rocky clifs and stone walls (CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA DIFFUSAE) is locally represented by numerous communities referred to CYMBALARIO-ASPLENION (e.g. Sedo dasyphylli-Ceterachetum oicinarum) and ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS-CAPPARIDION SPINOSAE (Capparidetum rupestris, Centranthetum rubri, Parietarietum judaicae and Antirrhinetum siculi). The pioneer community typical to local screes (Sedo sediformis-Centranthetum rubri) belongs to the endemic alliance EUPHORBION RIGIDAE. Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation There are no temporary ponds, with the exception of the few small ones on Mt. Pellegrino, like the Gorgo di Santa Rosalia (see Box 1.2), covered by the loating hydrophyte Lemna minuta (LEMNETEA MINORIS) in early spring and dominated by another alien plant, Paspalum distichum (PASPALO-AGROSTION VERTICILLATI) before complete drying up during summer season. The embankements of local rivers and streams host some communities dominated by few rhizomatous helophites which belong to the alliance PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS. Some of these assemblages, linked to meso- and eutrophic slow lowing waters, are very common throughout Europe, like Phragmitetum communis and Typhetum latifoliae, while Caricetum pendulo-panormitanae is endemic of the river Oreto. The muddy and shallow river banks are often covered by Helosciadetum nodilori and Nasturtietum oicinali (GLYCERIO-SPARGANION). 43 Itineraries Local streams and drainage canals are often covered by Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis a sciaphilous-nitrophilous megaphorb community ascribed to EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII-CONVOLVULETALIA SEPIUM. Anthropogenic vegetation The chaotic urbanisation of the plains and coastal areas, the high number of abandoned infrastructures and the ongoing abandonment of agricultural practices explain the high frequency of winter-annual weedy and ruderal communities linked to man-made habitats (CHENOPODIETEA). To CHENOPODION are referred several nutrient-demanding ruderal assemblages (Lavateretum cretico-arboreae, Chenopodio muralis-Parietarietum difusae), while the winter-annual ruderal association Hordeo leporini-Centauretum macracanthae (HORDEION MURINI) occurs in disturbed xeric suburban areas on man-made and nutrient-rich soils like sheepfolds and landills. To ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE should be ascribed the tall-herb ruderal vegetation occurring on calcareous nutrient-rich soils typical to abandoned crop ields and to fallows subject to frequent wildires. The plant communities of GERANIO PURPUREI-CARDAMINETALIA HIRSUTAE are linked to more mesic conditions due to tree canopy shade and water input. Dense olive groves are characterised by a nitro-sciaphilous geophyte-rich fringe community called Acantho mollis-Smyrnietum olusatri (ALLION TRIQUETRI). The alliance VALANTIO MURALIS-GALION MURALIS, including all the (sub)nitrosciaphilous winter-annual fringe and wall communities of the central-eastern Mediterranean, is locally represented by the Valantio murali-Polycarpetum alsinifolii, also found underneath garrigue and open maquis communities. The alliance VERONICO-URTICION URENTIS includes the subnitro-sciaphilous weed assemblages of the fertilized and irrigated Citrus groves on alluvial soils of the central Mediterranean; it is locally represented by Bromo sterili-Brassicetum sylvestris. Together with irrigated annual crop ields, Citrus orchards also host thermophilous communities rich in summer-annual C4 plants (mostly thermo-cosmopolitan aliens such as Amaranthus spp., Cyperus spp., Eragrostis spp., Setaria spp., etc.) referred to DIGITARIO SANGUINALIS-ERAGROSTIETEA MINORIS, locally represented by Setario glaucae-Echinochloëtum coloni. 44 Itineraries Steep stony slopes are colonized by the Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis (Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae), in which also many species of the vertical clifs occur (for instance Convolvulus cneorum, in the left corner of the photo). These are the preferred nesting sites of sea gulls (Larus michahellis). The local annual nitrophilous assemblages typical to trampled areas belong to Polycarpo tetraphylli-Spergularietum rubrae and Trisetario aureae-Crepidetum bursifoliae (POLYGONO-POËTEA, POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI:). The overgrazed pastures host some (sub)xerophilous and hypernitrophilous ruderal communities dominated by perennial herbs (mostly thistles) referred to the order CARTHAMETALIA LANATI, and locally represented by the Scolymetum maculato-grandilori. Many suburban landills and the banks of drainage and sewage canals are colonized by nitrophilous pioneer assemblages referred to the NICOTIANO GLAUCAE-RICINION COMMUNIS, dominated by many fast-growing alien thermo-cosmopolitan invasive species such as Arundo donax, Nicotiana glauca, Ricinus communis, Tropaeolum majus and Parkinsonia aculeata. 1.3. Landscape and land use history The famous upper Paleolithic incisions and paintings of the caves of Mt. Gallo and Mt. Pellegrino testify at least 10,000 years of human 45 Itineraries presence and land use in the surroundings of Palermo. The early colonization of this area was probably due to many favourable factors such as high freshwater availability, abundant marine food resources, caves, high availability of preys (mammals, birds) to hunt, large and wind-sheltered docking sites. The settlements in the area increased in number and density during the Neolithic, the Copper and the Bronze age. Around VIII century BC Phoenicians founded two important emporia (markets) near M. Catalfano and Mt. Pellegrino, whose present names, i.e. Solunto and Palermo, do not derive from the original ones, i.e. ‘Kfr’ and ‘Sys’ (= lower), but from those given by Greek neighbours, i.e. ‘Solūs’ and ‘Pánormos’ (= all port). To underline the economic importance of Palermo also for the enemies, its cultivated plains were renowned in all the Mediterranean basin with the Greek name of ‘ho kēpos’ (= ‘the’ garden). The area was of strategic importance during the irst Punic war. Under Roman and Byzantine rule (c. 250 BC-850 AD) Panhormus was one of the most important cities of the island, but it became the capital only after the Arabs besieged and conquered Syracuse and destroyed its walls (878 AD). ‘Balarm’ was one of the wealthiest cities The rocky shoreline is colonized by aerohaline vegetation (Limonietum bocconei limbardetosum crithmoidis, Crithmo-Staticion). 46 Itineraries of the whole Muslim Empire. Having the opportunity of applying their hydraulic knowledge in an area full of springs, Arabs improved and diversiied the local agricultural production by introducing new techniques, new engines, new species (e.g. date palms, eggplants, rice, sesame, sugar cane, etc.). The magniicent (and eicient) cultural landscape shaped by Arab farmers looked like a green mosaic of gardens, streams, natural and artiicial ponds, crop ields, orchards, olive groves and wide wild areas used as hunting reserves. The so-called ‘Genoard’ (from the Arab ‘Jannat al-ard’ = the Garden – or Paradise - on Earth) was still admired by European travellers visiting the area under Norman kings and Swabian emperors (XI-XIII centuries). A rapid change on local landscape occurred during the irst decades of the XIV century, when sugar cane plantations covered most of the plain. Between 1320 and 1450 Palermo was the main sugar producer in the whole Mediterranean area. This monoculture probably had a deep impact on local ecosystems (e.g. drainage of many wetlands, canalisation of streams, exhaustion of springs) and blew up the remnant mountain forests, because wood was necessary to transport the row canes and to produce the heat to obtain the sugar. By the end of XV century, with the collapse of local sugar economy, the most common cultures became vineyards, cereal crops and fruit orchards on deeper soils, while stress-tolerant woody plants like Olea europaea, Amygdalus communis, Ceratonia siliqua, Crataegus azerolus, Ficus carica, Fraxinus ornus, Olea europaea and Rhus coriaria were cultivated in less suitable areas and also on the slopes of the mountains. No signiicant changes occurred until the end of the XVIII century, when the plain and the slopes of the mountains were irrigated once again and converted into ‘artiicial woody agro-ecosystems’ with Citrus spp., Diospyros kaki and Eriobotrya japonica. No or few information is available on the land use history of the mountainous areas, which probably were subject to millenary overgrazing. As a matter of fact, many photos and postcards of the beginning of the XX century clearly show the total lack of woody cover on Mt. Pellegrino. Between 1930s and 1970s intensive reforestation with non-native trees (Pinus halepensis, Cupressus sempervirens and Eucalyptus camaldulensis) were carried out on the coastal hills near Palermo. After the Word War II the combined efect of demographic boom and the crisis of citrus market induced another dramatic change of 47 Itineraries local landscape, an irreversible one. After two millennia the territory of Palermo has lost its agricultural identity, and nowadays it is almost completely covered with buildings and second houses from the foothills to the coastline. The city hosts nearly a million inhabitants and there is no gap between Terrasini and Bagheria. The ecosystems coping with this overcrowded area are threatened with habitat fragmentation, soil and air pollution, freshwater pollution and salinisation. Also non native plant invasions pose a serious threat to local botanical heritage; not surprisingly, here many alien tropical plants became wild for the irst time in Italy and Europe. As concerns nature protection, Mt. Gallo, Mt. Pellegrino, Isola delle Femmine and Capo Rama are nature reserves, and the coastal capes fall almost entirely within the regional Natura 2000 network. 48 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Caldarella O., La Rosa A., Pasta S., Di Dio V., 2010. La lora vascolare della Riserva Naturale Orientata Isola delle Femmine (Sicilia nord-occidentale): aggiornamento della check-list e commento del turnover. Naturalista siciliano, 34 (3-4): 421-476. Catalano R., Basilone L., Di Maggio C., Gasparo Morticelli M., Agate M. & Avellone G., 2013. Carta Geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50.000 ‘Partinico-Mondello’, ISPRA. Federico C., 2007. La lora della Riserva Naturale Orientata di Capo Gallo. Guida illustrata con 500 foto a colori. Palermo, Tipograia Priulla, 291 pp. Gianguzzi L., D’Amico A., Caldarella O., 2007. La lora vascolare dei Monti di Palermo. Collana Sicilia Foreste n° 36, Azienda Foreste Demaniali della Regione Siciliana, Palermo, 360 pp. Gianguzzi L., Ilardi V., Raimondo F.M., 1996. La vegetazione del promontorio di Monte Pellegrino (Palermo). Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 4 (1993): 79-137. Gristina A.S., Marcenò C., 2008. Gli indici di bioindicazione di Pignatti-Ellenberg nello studio loristico-vegetazionale del promontorio di Capo Zaferano (Sicilia nord-occidentale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 32(1-2): 61-96. Leone M., Lo Piccolo F., Schilleci F. (a cura di), 2009. Il paesaggio agricolo nella Conca d’Oro di Palermo. Alinea Editrice, Firenze, 318 pp. Marcenò C., Colombo P., 1982. Su alcuni esempi di vegetazione ad Erica multilora L. (Erico-Polygaletum preslii dei Cisto-Ericetalia) sui monti di Palermo (Sicilia). Revue de Biologie et Ecologie méditérranéenne, 9(2-3): 85-94. Marcenò C., Raimondo F.M., 1972. Sulla presenza della Quercus calliprinos Webb nella Sicilia nord-occidentale. Giornale botanico italiano, 106(5): 290-291. 49 Itineraries Pasta S., Badalamenti E., Sala G., La Mantia T., 2016. Nicodemia madagascariensis (Lam.) R. Parker (fam. Scrophulariaceae), a casual alien plant new to Italy. Webbia, 71(1): 155-162. Raimondo F.M., Gianguzzi L., Di Martino C., 1996. La lora vascolare del Promontorio del Monte Pellegrino (Palermo). Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 4 (1993): 13-34. Raimondo F.M., Mazzola P., Schicchi R., 2002. Rapporti itogeograici fra i promontori carbonatici della costa tirrenica della Sicilia. Biogeographia, 22 (2001): 65-77. Riggio S., Raimondo F.M., 1992. Proposta di una riserva costiera per la tutela e la valorizzazione dei biotopi di Isola delle Femmine e di Monte Gallo (Palermo). Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 2 (1991): 59-96. 50 Itineraries Box 1.1. Santa Rosalia heritage: blessing or curse? Mount Pellegrino is where Rosalia Sinibaldi, the patron saint of Palermo, is believed to have spent her last years during XIII century. Rosalia was also proposed as the patron saint of evolutionary studies and biodiversity by the American hydrobiologist G.E. Hutchinson (1959). His observations of the co-occurrence of several predators in a small temporary pond near the cave where the remains of the Norman noblewoman were found inspired him to write a very inluential paper on niche width, disturbance regime and competition. Today Mount Pellegrino is characterized by two co-occurring contrasting features: 1) it igures among the Italian Important Plant Areas because its vertical rock clifs burst with endemic species, but 2) this large protected area is surrounded by an even larger city (c. 800,000 inhabitants) and is subject to habitat fragmentation, vehicular traic, forest plantation, wildires, etc. These disturbance factors favored the establishment and the spread of invasive alien plants, which are increasing in number, frequency and cover. As a consequence, native species have almost disappeared over large areas, and sound eradication-control strategies are urgently needed to preserve the identity and the function of the remnant fragments of the most interesting habitats (i.e. rocky clifs, temporary ponds, maquis and grasslands). References Hutchinson G.E., 1959. Homage to Santa Rosalia or why are there so many kinds of animals? The American Naturalist, 93 (870): 145-149. Naselli Flores L., Barone R., Pasta S., Livreri Console S., 2002. Il Gorgo di Santa Rosalia. Studio limnologico e prospettive di conservazione. Unione Europea, Regione Siciliana, Assessorato Territorio e Ambiente, R.N.O. “Monte Pellegrino”, Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche, Palermo, 80 p. Naselli-Flores L., Rossetti G., 2010. Fifty years after the ‘Homage to Santa Rosalia’: Old and new paradigms on biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. Series ‘Developments in Hydrobiology’, vol. 213, Springer, Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York, 243 pp. 51 II The northwestern corner Itinerary1 - From Baglio Cofano to Cornino Bay The western part of Sicily consists of carbonatic and dolomitic rocks, overlapping a basal complex constituted by metaquartzites or carbonatic sandstones and clays. One of the most attractive coastal capes of NW Sicily is Mt. Cofano, mostly formed by Triassic limestones and dolomites ascribed to the geolithological units Monte Sparacio-Monte Cofano and Monte Speziale-Monte Palatimone. Bioclastic calcarenites and conglomerates of arenitic type are bordering the carbonatic units of Mt. Cofano, reaching an elevation of 659 m. The vascular lora of Mt. Cofano is currently estimated in 651 taxa (Gianguzzi et al. 2005). The remarkable species richness is primarily related to the topographic and bioclimatic diversity of Mt. Cofano. Moreover, its geographical segregation promoted the survival of many biogeograph- Itineraries ical relics and the diferentiation of a rich endemic lora, currently estimated in 48 species, 7.4 % of the whole lora, including some interesting Tertiary relics. Unfortunately, in the same context, prickly pear (Opuntia icus-barbarica) is today widespread thanks to anthropo- and zoochory. This species was imported in the Mediterranean basin after the discovery of America and it is now so widely naturalized that it is considered as an essential element of the Mediterranean coastal landscapes. As a matter of fact, most of the natural vegetation of Mt. Cofano have been spoiled or permanently altered by a millennial human activity. The vegetation of the promontory shows almost everywhere the traces of a long-lasting exploitation of the land. After the recent abandonment of agricultural activities, husbandry and ire are the only occasional disturbances in the area. Along the trail, we will observe many diferent vegetation types, including: Mediterranean temporary ponds (Luronio-Potametalia; Nanocyperetalia), annual and perennial dry grasslands (Thero-Brometalia, Trachynietalia distachyae, Hyparrhenietalia), vegetation of rocky clifs (Asplenietalia glandulosi; Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae), halo-petrophilous vegetation (Crithmo-Limonietalia; Frankenietalia pulverulentae), dwarf palm maquis (Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni). On the way back, if not too late, we’ll make a short visit at Bosco di Scorace (Quercetalia ilicis and reforestations). Trail: Length: 5.2 km round trip, Hiking time: 3 hours, Elevation range: 280 m General Description 2.1. The physical setting The Mounts of Trapani and the Egadi islands represent the westernmost part of the Sicilian-Maghrebid Foreland-Thrust belt connecting the NW African mountain ranges and the Apennines. They issue from the tectonic overlap of limestones and dolomitic limestones (coral reefs of upper Triassic and lower Giurassic, i.e. c. 230-190 Ma) with clays and sandy marls dating back to lower Pliocene (c. 5.5 Ma). The bays of Cornino and Màcari (W and E of Mt. Cofano), Capo San Vito and the Egadi islands are characterised by marine terraces made both of marine and continental deposits, i.e. calcarenites and calcareous sandstones of the lower Pleistocene (1.8-0.8 Ma), coarse marine conglomerates, 54 Itineraries screes and alluvial fans dating back to upper Pleistocene-Holocene (0.8 Ma onwards). These terraces are often bordered by steep and jagged sea clifs, elsewhere are lower, intermingled with little pebble beaches and bordered by living biostructures called trottoirs. The only sand beaches of the area are located on the island of Favignana and in the bay of San Vito Lo Capo. Mt. Cofano belongs to the Mt. Sparagio-Mt. Cofano Unit (limestones and dolomites), while the Mts. of Zingaro and San Vito Lo Capo belong four diferent lithological units mostly made up of limestones; among them, the unit Mt. Speziale-Mt. Palatimone is particularly rich in karst morphologies (deep luvio-karstic canyons, vertical clifs, sinkholes, etc.), while the unit Mt. Acci-Pizzo di Sella contains also marls, radiolarites and argillites, which occur in the four lithological units of Marettimo as well. Not surprisingly, most of the springs and dripping sites are concentrated in these latter lithological units. Mt. Sparagio (1111 m a.s.l.) and Mt. Inici (1066) are the highest Mounts of Trapani; several peaks located in the Zingaro reserve go beyond 800 m (Mt. Speziale: 911, Mt. Passo del Lupo: 867, Mt. Acci: 829) and together with Mt. Cofano (657 m s.l.m.), Mt. Palatimone (595) and Mt. Monaco (529 m s.l.m.) dominate the small plains of Castelluzzo and San Vito. Limonietum bocconei helichrysetosum cophanensis on coastal clifs. 55 Itineraries The Egadi Archipelago includes the islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo and few satellite islets (e.g. Formica) and stacks. The two coastal plains of Favignana are separated by a S-N spreading central ridge of rocky hills, the highest being Mt. Santa Caterina (314 m a.s.l.), Punta della Campana (296 m) and Punta Grossa (252 m); the highest hills of Levanzo are Pizzo del Monaco (278 m a.s.l.) and Pizzo del Corvo (201 m), separated from a little plain. Marettimo is a very steep island, rich of little canyons and screes; its highest peaks go beyond 600 m s.l.m. (e.g. Pizzo Falcone, 686). The harsh morphology of most part of the area, characterized by abrupt slopes, steep clifs and wide screes, is mainly shaped from the diferent response of the outcropping rocks to the combined efect of past and ongoing karstic and tectonic processes. In some cases selective erosion caused the collapse of calcareous clifs, which in turn gave rise to wide landslides made of huge coarse blocks (e.g. at Firriato, above and below the village of Scopello, etc.). As a consequence of intense karst processes afecting the calcareous and dolomitic rock outcrops, most of the rainfall penetrates deep underground feeding a very complex aquifer. The only true river of this territory is Fiume San Bartolomeo (E of Castellamare del Golfo, Halo-tolerant annual dry grasslands on coastal rocky pavements (Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae) 56 Itineraries 38 km), then streams like Torrente Guidaloca (between Castellamare and the Zingaro reserve) and Torrente Forgia (13 km, W of Mt. Cofano), while only little gullies cross the steep slopes of the Zingaro reserve, Marettimo and the Peninsula of San Vito Lo Capo. According to USDA soil taxonomy, the area hosts a combination of rock outcrops, lithic xerorthents (shallow soils with pH ≥7 and typic and/or lithic rhodoxeralphs (‘terra rossa’, pH <7). + typic e/o calcixerollic xerochrepts (calcic cambisols) on M. S. Giuliano (Erice). If we consider the available thermo-pluviometric data coming from three stations encompassing the area and located at diferent altitudes, i.e. Erice, Castellamare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo, according to Rivas-Martínez bioclimatic classiication the coastal sector of the Mounts of Trapani is subject to lower Thermomediterranean thermotype and upper dry and upper subhumid ombrotype. Yearly temperatures are of 13.5-19 °C, and the highest mean monthly temperatures reach 24-27.5 °C (July-August) and never go below 5-12 °C (January). The annual amount of rainfall ranges probably between 500 and 850 mm, with 4-5 months of drought stress between AprilMay and September. 2.2. Flora and vegetation Part of the coastal sector of the Mts. of Trapani (San Vito Lo Capo, Scopello, Guidaloca) was visited by G. Gussone, A. Todaro and M. Lojacono-Pojero during the XX century, but most of the available information on this area issues from ield investigations started in the Eighties of last century. As for Egadi islands, although some plants from Favignana were already reported by Boccone (1697) and Ucria (1789), the main islands have been explored between 1825 and 1895 and, after 60 years, since 1955 until today. More recently, also the vascular lora of tiny satellite islets has been studied. According to Brullo et al. (1995), the Mts. of Trapani belong to the Drepano-Panormitan district. Among the species-richest of Sicily, this area is listed among the Sicilian IPAs with the code SIC8 ‘Capo S. Vito e Monti di Castellamare’, and hosts at least 900 taxa of vascular plants and more than 200 taxa of biogeographic or conservation interest. Among them, there are extremely localised endemics, like Hieracium cophanense, Limonium cophanense, Erica sicula subsp. sicula, which only occur on Mt. Cofano, Limonium todaroanum and Brassica villosa subsp. 57 Itineraries brevisiliqua, growing on few clifs of the western part of the Peninsula of San Vito Lo Capo, Ptilostemon greuteri, endemic to M. Inici, Centaurea erycina and Silene nefelites endemic to Mt. San Giuliano. Moreover, the Mts. of Trapani host many plants which are endemic (Botriochloa panormitana, Brassica villosa subsp. bivoniana, Brassica villosa subsp. drepanensis, Brassica villosa subsp. villosa, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. stramineum, Limonium lagellare) to or exclusive (Convolvulus cneorum, Phagnalon metlesicsii, etc.) of the Drepano-Panormitan district. Each island of the Egadi archipelago has been included in the list of Sicilian IPAs (SIC4 ‘Favignana’, SIC5 ‘Marettimo’ and SIC7 ‘Levanzo’). Taking into account the very high number of narrow endemic or exclusive plants shared by Trapani Mts. and Egadi Islands (Asperula rupestris, Centaurea panormitana subsp. ucriae, Centaurea panormitana subsp. umbrosa, Euphorbia bivonae, Euphorbia papillaris, Galium pallidum, Limonium bocconei, Limonium lojaconoi, Limonium ponzoi, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, Simethis mattiazzi, etc.), the proposal of Brullo et al. (1995) to treat all the Egadi islands as a separate district appears questionable. In fact, the few original traits are two endemics to the archipelago (Brassica macrocarpa and Senecio aegadensis), two endemics of Favignana, i.e. the apomyctic Limonium aegusae and Allium aethusanum (probably nothing more than an ecotype of A. lehmanii), and the only known Sicilian populations of Aristolochia navicularis and Ophrys holosericea subsp. apulica. Yet Marettimo alone could be treated as a separate district: in fact, it is home of 7 narrow endemics (Allium franciniae, Bupleurum dianthifolium, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. messeriae, Limonium tenuiculum, Oncostema hughii, Prospero hierae and Thymus nitidus) and of 4 species that occur nowhere else in Sicily (Daphne sericea, Erodium maritimum, Lagurus ovatus subsp. vestitus, Thymelaea tartonraira). Zonal vegetation Some fragments of evegreen maquis (QUERCETEA and QUERCETEALIA ILICIS) occur on steep, stony and less accessible sites, enjoying the air humidity coming from the sea. Those colonising the screes of Mt. Cofano are ascribed to Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis (Rhamnus alaternus, Fraxinus ornus and Pistacia terebinthus), while those occurring on the limestones and dolomias along the E- and N-facing slopes of Mt. Speziale, Mt. Cofano and Marettimo are referred to the Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis. 58 Itineraries SW lank of Mt. Cofano, with Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis in the foreground, Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici on the talus slope and Scabioso-Centaureetum ucriae on vertical clifs. Husbandry is still performed along the eastern lank of Mt. Cofano: cattle grazing leads to the establishment of Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis, here beneath still surviving elements of the maquis (Chamaerops humilis and Pistacia lentiscus). 59 Itineraries On the hills of the northern part of the Peninsula of San Vito Lo Capo, where acidic rocks outcrop, scattered nuclei of open Quercus suber woodland with Arbutus unedo, Erica arborea and Cytisus villosus (ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS) occur. The margins of these woodlands are often covered by mantle communities (PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII) referred to Clematido cirrhosae-Rubetum ulmifolii. The steep, rocky and wind-exposed areas are characterised by Euphorbietum dendroidis, an open thermophilous scrub rich in both summer-deciduous species, like Euphorbia dendroides, E. bivonae, Anagyris foetida, and sclerophyllous plants (OLEO-CERATONION). More complex and mature nuclei of evergreen maquis-forest can be observed in the localities Firriato e Cipollazzo and at Balata di Baida. The nuclei of open maquis dominated by Chamaerops humilis which still occur along the coasts of Zingaro reserve, west of San Vito Lo Capo and west of Mt. Cofano (Cornino) are ascribed to Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis. Thermo-xerophilous summer-deciduous maquis (PERIPLOCION ANGUSTIFOLIAE) was probably present in the past on the edge of the promontories of the Mts. of Trapani and is still represent by the association Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis on the warmest sites of the main Egadi islands. The base-rich or subacid (terra rossa) shallow soils host several typologies of garrigue. These subshrub communities are referred to the central-Mediterranean alliance CISTO ERIOCEPHALI-ERICION MULTIFLORAE and are represented by the associations Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multilorae (common on Egadi Islands and within Zingaro reserve) and Brachypodio ramosi-Cistetum cretici (Mt. Cofano, endemic to NW Sicily). Some probably native Pinus halepensis stands found on Marettimo have been referred to the association Coridothymo capitati-Pinetum halepensis. As an issue of millennia of anthopogenic disturbance (deforestation, overgrazing and wildires), more than half of the surface of the considered area is covered with thermo-xerophilous grasslands (HYPARRHENIETALIA HIRTAE). The association Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis is rather common on the abandoned agricultural terraces of the lowlands, while Sanguisorbo verrucosae-Magydaretum pastinaceae occurs on stony ground in the moister sites of Favignana and Levanzo. A small spot of xerophilous grassland referred to Both60 Itineraries Western lank of Mt. Cofano, with mixed patches of Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis, Erico-Micromerietum fruticulosae, Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici. Vegetation dynamics and patchiness are strongly inluenced by periodical ires. riochloo panormitanae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae (ARISTIDO COERULESCENTIS-HYPARRHENION HIRTAE) is localized near the eastern coast of the Peninsula of San Vito. The top and the N-facing slopes of the local mountains are covered by Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici, a species-rich community endemic to the calcareous lithosoils of NW Sicily, often severely disturbed by the increasingly frequent wildires and overgrazing and trampling due to domestic herbivores (mostly cows) and introduced wildboars. The association Coronillo glaucae-Brachypodietum retusi described for Marettimo belongs to the alliance REICHARDIO MARITIMAE-DACTYLION HISPANICAE, including all the subhalophilous and wind-exposed perennial grasslands on calcareous soils of central and eastern Mediterranean area. Two associations (Thapsio garganicae-Feruletum communis and Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis) referred to the alliance CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI occur in the area. These communities, very widespread on Mt. Palatimone and in Zingaro reserve, are perfectly adapted to stand overgrazing, frequent burning and soil erosion and are dominated by (mostly) poisonous geophytes. 61 Itineraries The above-mentioned perennial grasslands are often intermingled with therophytic ephemeral prairies which may be referred to TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE (Vulpio ciliatae-Trisetarietum aureae and Thero-Sedetum caerulei) or to STIPION RETORTAE (Ononido brevilorae-Stipetum capensis). On the coastal areas inluenced by salt-spray two associations (Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae and Catapodio marini-Sedetum litorei, STIPO-BUPLEURETALIA SEMICOMPOSITI) have been detected. Vegetation of coastal ecosystems Many endemics to NW Sicily (e.g. Allium obtusilorum, Desmazeria sicula, Limonium bocconei, Limonium lagellare, etc.) and other plants of high biogeographic and conservation interest (e.g. Allium lehmanii, Anthemis secundiramea, Galium verrucosum subsp. halophilum, Romulea linaresii subsp. linaresii, etc.) thrive on sea-facing clifs and along rocky shores. Local halo-nitrophilous annual communities of sandy-loamy salted soils (SAGINETEA MARITIMAE and FRANKENION PULVERULENTAE) are ascribed to the Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae (Zingaro and San Vito peninsula), Parapholido incurvae-Frankenietum pulverulentae and Frankenio pulverulentae-Anthemidetum secundirameae (Egadi) and Polypogonetum subspathacei (Levanzo). Hydrophytic vegetation surrounds the temporary pond near Baglio Cofano: Ranunculus baudotii (bottom left), Glyceria spicata (bottom right) and, in the background, Hordeo-Carduetum argiroae. 62 Itineraries As for the litho-halophilous chasmophitic communities, the class CRITHMO-STATICETEA is locally represented by very well preserved communities referred to Limonietum bocconei (endemic to NW Sicily and Egadi Islands), Limonietum tenuiculi and Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii (both endemic to Marettimo) on the rocky shores subject to marine salt-spray, and by Hyoseridetum taurinae on the rocky clifs near the coast. The rare (and often degraded) spots of halo-nitrophilous annual vegetation of the coastal strandlines (CAKILETEA MARITIMAE) found on Egadi islands may be referred to the associations Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum paraliae and Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae (EUPHORBION PEPLIS). Favignana also hosts some spots of grey dune vegetation (Sporoboletum arenarii, AMMOPHILETEA). The halo-hygrophilous hemicryptophitic community Inulo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi (JUNCETEA MARITIMI) surrounds the brackish swamps of Favignana. This habitat also hosts Ruppietum drepanensis (RUPPIETEA) and several plant communites belonging to THERO-SALICORNIETEA (Suaedetum spicatae, Salsoletum sodae and Cressetum creticae). Nuclei of halo-hygrophylous chenopod scrub (SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE) occur along the coasts of Favignana and Marettimo exposed to intense marine salt-spray (Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis, INULION CRITHMOIDIS). To the same class should be ascribed the low-growing scrub with Limonium aegusae at Favignana and several pure stands of Suaeda vera and/or Arthrocnemum glaucum occurring on some satellite islets of Favignana and Levanzo, where this plants are able colonize the nutrient-rich and disturbed nesting sites of the yellow-legged seagull (Larus michahellis) due to their tolerance to high nitrate and phosphate soil content. Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes Local rocky habitats cover a very wide surface and burst with richness of endemic species and species assemblages. Several moss- and fern-rich communities linked to the humid and dripping clifs (ADIANTETEA: Adiantum capillus-veneris and Asplenium sagittatum) are scattered in the territory: a very good example occurs in the picturesque rock blocks labyrinth of Firriato, other spots occur in the rock crevices of Marettimo, and in the natural caves of Zingaro reserve, Levanzo and Favignana. 63 Itineraries Also the chasmo-chomophytic and epiphytic moss- and fern-communities (POLYPODIETEA) are well represented with the association Anogrammo leptophyllae-Selaginelletum denticulatae (POLYPODION SERRATI). The chasmophytic vegetation of local undisturbed base-rich rocky clifs (DIANTHION RUPICOLAE) is ascribed to Bupleuro dianthifolii-Pseudoscabiosetum limonifoliae at Marettimo and to Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae elsewhere; several subassociations characterised by local narrow endemics are recorded in this area, i.e. helichrysetosum straminei at Zingaro, ericetosum siculae at Mt. Cofano, brassicetosum drepanensis on the top of Zingaro Mts., brassicetosum macrocarpae on Egadi Islands. Plenty of interesting plants may co-occur on the same site, not only the above-mentioned narrow endemics, but also Sicilian endemics like Anthemis cupaniana, Cymbalaria pubescens, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. latifolium, etc., circum-Tyrrhenian endemics such as Asplenium petrarchae subsp. petrarchae, Convolvulus cneorum, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola, Glandora rosmarinifolia, Hyoseris taurina, Iberis semperlorens, Senecio cineraria subsp. bicolor, Seseli bocconei, etc., and other very rare plants like Phagnalon metlesicsii, only occurring on Mt. Cofano and at Lanzarote in Canary islands. Several communities linked to rock crevices (ASPLENIETALIA LANCEOLATO-OBOVATI), such as Phagnalo saxatilis-Cheilanthetum maderensis and Cosentinietum bivalentis occur at Levanzo and Marettimo, while the chasmo-nitrophilous vegetation of disturbed rocky clifs and stone walls (CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA DIFFUSAE) is locally represented by numerous communities referred to CYMBALARIO-ASPLENION (e.g. Sedo dasyphylli-Ceterachetum oicinarum) and ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS-CAPPARIDION SPINOSAE (Capparidetum rupestris, Centranthetum rubri, Hyoscyamo albi-Parietarietum judaicae and Antirrhinetum siculi). The pioneer assemblages typical to local screes (Sedo sediformis-Centranthetum rubri), rather common on Mt. Inici, Mt. Sparagio, Mt. Palatimone, Mt. Monaco, Marettimo island, belong to the endemic alliance EUPHORBION RIGIDAE. Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation The streamlets of the locality called ‘Acci’ (= Apium in Sicilian dialect) in the northern part of Zingaro reserve host several hygrophilous communities dominated by few rhizomatous helophites 64 Itineraries (PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA). These assemblages, linked to meso- and eutrophic slow lowing waters, are ascribed to Phragmitetum communis and Typhetum latifoliae (PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS) and MAGNOCARICION ELATAE (Caricetum hispidae). The muddy and shallow river banks are often covered by Helosciadetum nodilori and Nasturtietum oicinali (GLYCERIO-SPARGANION) and species-poor assemblages referred to MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA and MENTHO LONGIFOLIAE-JUNCION INFLEXI. Only few small temporary ponds occur in this area. Some of them host communities ascribed to POTAMETEA PECTINATI and RANUNCULION AQUATILIS. More in detail, Ranunculetum baudotii occurs at Favignana, while a little temporary pond located SE of Mt. Cofano hosts both Ranunculetum peltati and Lemnetum gibbae (LEMNETEA). As concerns ISOËTO-NANOJUNCETEA, some simpliied aspects of ISOËTION occur on the Egadi Islands (Levanzo and Marettimo) and in the northern sector of Zingaro reserve, the association Elatinetum macropodae is recorded for Favignana, while species-poor assemblages ascribed to VERBENION SUPINAE are known for some disturbed ponds and rockpools of Marettimo, Favignana, and near the coast W of Mt. Cofano. Several fragments of Vitex agnus-castus-dominated riparian scrub (NERIO-TAMARICETEA) occur along the stony seasonal streams between Castellamare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo (e.g. Guidaloca, near the village of Scopello, Zingaro reserve, near the touristic village of Cala ’mpiso). Most of these watercourses are covered with Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis, a sciaphilous-nitrophilous reed community ascribed to EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII-CONVOLVULETALIA SEPIUM, often intermingled with dense and almost pure populations of Rubus ulmifolius. Anthropogenic vegetation Local arable crop ields on neutral sandy-loamy soils host plant communities ascribed to the alliance RIDOLFION SEGETI, that of base-rich soils to ROEMERION HYBRIDAE, the vegetation of vineyards, orchards and groves is represented by associations of the alliance FUMARION WIRTGENII-AGRARIAE (e.g. Diplotaxietum vimineo-erucoidis at Marettimo), while the annual crop cultures irrigated during summer (e.g. Amarantho graecizanti-Cyperetum rotundi at Favignana) belong to DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS. 65 Itineraries The slight urbanisation of the plains and coastal areas, and the ongoing abandonment of agricultural practices give rise to several winter-annual weedy and ruderal communities linked to man-made and nutrient-rich soils in suburban coastal areas (CHENOPODION MURALIS, MESEMBRYATHEMION CRYSTALLINI and HORDEION MURINI). To ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE should be ascribed the tall-herb ruderal vegetation occurring on calcareous nutrient-rich soils typical to abandoned crop ields and to fallows subject to frequent wildires. The plant communities of GERANIO PURPUREI-CARDAMINETALIA HIRSUTAE are linked to more mesic conditions due to tree canopy shade. Olive and abandoned manna-ash groves are characterised by a nitro-sciaphilous geophyte-rich fringe community called Acantho mollis-Smyrnietum olusatri (ALLION TRIQUETRI). The alliance VALANTIO MURALIS-GALION MURALIS, including all the (sub)nitrosciaphilous winter-annual wall (Parietario lusitanicae-Veronicetum cymbalariae) or fringe communities of the central-eastern Mediterranean, occurs underneath garrigues (Valantio murali-Polycarpetum alsinifolii in NW Sicily, Sedetum litoreo-stellati on Egadi islands) or even underneath open woodlands (Laguro vestiti-Erodietum maritimi at Marettimo). The local annual nitrophilous assemblages typical to trampled areas belong to Euphorbio chamaesyci-Oxalidetum corniculatae, Polycarpo tetraphylli-Spergularietum rubrae and Trisetario aureae-Crepidetum bursifoliae (POLYGONO-POËTEA, POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI). The overgrazed pastures host some (sub)xerophilous and hypernitrophilous ruderal communities dominated by perennial herbs (mostly thistles) referred to the order CARTHAMETALIA LANATI, like Glaucio lavi-Onopordetum horridi. The suburban area and the numerous abandoned stone quarries of Favignana are colonized by nitrophilous pioneer assemblages referred to the NICOTIANO GLAUCAE-RICINION COMMUNIS, dominated by many fast-growing alien thermo-cosmopolitan invasive species such as Arundo donax and Nicotiana glauca. 2.3. Landscape and land use history The famous upper Palaeolithic paintings of the caves of Egadi islands (see box 2.2) testify at least 12,000 years of human presence and land use in the area. The sites of Uzzo, Isolidda, etc., on the NW coasts of the main 66 Itineraries The Castle of Erice, surrounded by ruderal vegetation (Acantho-Smyrnietum olusatri) and, on vertical clifs, by the Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae, subass. Brassicetosum drepanensis. island, where inhabited since Mesolithic (10-6 Ka), when local communities had to cope with the shortage of wild herbivores and to intensify-reine plant and ish exploitation techniques. Not surprisingly, the people living in the caves of Levanzo, Mt. Cofano and Uzzo were protagonists of the Neolithic revolution in Sicily, practising farming and agriculture. An almost continuous human presence in the area during Copper Age (4000 BC: necropolis of Castelluzzo) and throughout the early Bronze age (c. 2500-1600 BC) is testiied by numerous indings ascribed to diferent cultural steps. Traces of the so-called Thapsos culture (mid Bronze age, XV-XIII centuries BC), characterised by intense trade connections with eastern Mediterranean people coming from present Greece, Cyprus, Syria and Palestine, have been found at Mt. Cofano. Between XII and IX century BC the Elymians, probably an Italic group coming from N Tuscany or Liguria, colonized the north-western part of Sicily and founded several cities, sharing the same territory and land resources with Phoenicians. The most important Elymian coastal centres were Eryx (Erice) and Segesta, which had their own emporia, Drepanon (now Trapani) and Emporium Segestanum (now Castellamare del Golfo), respectively. Although Elymians and Phoe- 67 Itineraries nicians were allied during their century-long ights against the bellicose neighbouring Greek colonies, these three ethnic groups strongly inluenced one each other: they shared the same alphabet, the same urbanistic style of their settlements and many toponyms of the Elymian area had (and still have) a clear Greek origin (e.g. Scopello and the Phoenician-Roman emporium of Cetaria, from the words ‘skopeloi’ = stacks, and ‘kētos’ = tuna ish, respectively). Segesta and Eryx continued to play an important role for both ish and cereal crop production during the Roman dominion. After Vandals invaded N Africa and during all the Byzantine period (V-IX centuries AD) both NW Sicily and Egadi islands probably were almost desert, only hosting scattered monastic communities, as testiied by the many toponyms ‘Monaco’ (= monk) spread all over this territory. Once again, toponyms (Visicari, Guidaloca, Balata di Baida, Màcari, etc.) tell us how densely this territory was inhabited between IX and XII centuries by Arab-Berber farmers and shepherds, who re-populated many ancient towns such as Segesta, Kalathamet near the thermal springs of Castellammare and the Emporium Segestanum itself, called ‘al-Madarig’ (= tuna factory). After blowing up the resistance of Arab-Berber communities in all western Sicily, the Swabian emperor Frederick II donated the whole Peninsula of San Vito to his northern Italian soldiers, who founded the village of Scopello (c. 1230 AD). Shortly after, this territory became a property of the town of San Giuliano (Erice). Between XIII and XVI all the coasts of NW Sicily a dangerous place where to live, as they were subject to the continuous raids of pirates and corsairs coming from NW Africa or belonging to the so-called marine republics of Genoa and Pisa. Hence, the few local communities were located where they could enjoy some protection from the garrisons of the coastal towers. The massive structure of local farmhouses, called ‘bagli’ (e.g. Castello di Inici, Balata di Baida, Scopello, etc.) and tuna factories, called ‘tonnare’ (e.g. Favignana, Formica, Bonagia, Cofano, Scopello, Castellammare) remind us these period of uncertainty. Between XVII and XIX centuries, after centuries of no or little human presence, Egadi were bought by the family Pallavicino who begun to populate them. Under the new owners the islands’ landscape underwent strong changes: the Genoese tradesmen restarted agriculture, causing their almost total deforestation, and intensiied 68 Itineraries stone quarrying and ishing activities. In the meanwhile, the NW part of Sicily experiences a signiicant demographic and economic increase: very wide sectors of the inland were cultivated (especially vineyards), while most of the coasts continued to be used as grazing area and hunting reserve until the end of Bourbon kingdom (1860). Only drought-resistant trees, such as Olea europaea, Amygdalus communis, Fraxinus ornus, Olea europaea and Rhus coriaria were cultivated in less suitable coastal areas and even on the slopes of the mountains. On the mountains near Custonaci and on the island of Favignana stone quarrying became more and more intense: by the end of the XIX century there were 130 stone quarries and 550 workers involved in this activity and rock extraction reached the rhythm of c. 200,000 tons per year! Between 1930s and 1970s intensive reforestation with non-native trees (mostly Pinus halepensis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis) have been carried out on Mt. Inici and Mt. Erice. As concerns nature protection, Zingaro and Mt. Cofano are nature reserves, and the coastal capes fall almost entirely within the regional Natura 2000 network and within the SCA “Monte Cofano, Capo San Vito e Monte Sparagio”, one of the widest in Sicily. Data issuing from a recent evaluation of land use patterns within this site highlight the exceptionally high rate of semi-natural landscape units. In fact, grasslands and abandoned ields cover 56% of this area, shrublands and maquis 17%, woodlands 9%, rocky and/or open areas (incl. coasts) 3%. Cultivated lands, i.e. vineyards, cereal crop ields, olive and almond groves and fruit orchards account for 8% of the whole surface, urban & industrial areas (incl. quarries) for 5%. Several co-occurring factors, i.e. the small number and size of the main towns (Castellammare del Golfo, c. 15000 inhabitants; Custonaci c. 5500; San Vito Lo Capo c. 4500; Favignana c. 3500), the rather low rate of second houses along the coasts and the general trend of land abandonment on the foothills of the Mts. of Trapani make this coastal areas one of the best preserved of Sicily. Indeed, seasonal tourism is the most important economic resource and threat factor at once, because it has a heavy direct (pollution, disturbance and fragmentation, deliberate introduction of invasive alien plants, etc.) and indirect (enhancing illegal building) impact of local habitats, especially near the main towns, which are among the most attractive and crowded places of the whole NW Sicily. 69 Itineraries Another severe threat to local environments is the intense soil erosion afecting the mountain slopes, due to overgrazing by cows and introduced boars and to increasingly frequent wildires. The top of Mt. Cofano (seen from Erice) emerging from orographic clouds arising from the sea. Moisture arising from the sea condensates very frequently on the top of the coastal mountains of NW Sicily, due to the steep thermic gradient which bufers the summer drought, promoting the growth of a luxuriant rock-dwelling vegetation (Asplenietalia glandulosi; Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae). This condensation is frequently seen at dusk and lasts up to the early morning. 70 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Barbagallo C., Brullo S., Guglielmo A., 1980. Esempi di cartograia della vegetazione di alcune aree della Sicilia. Carta della vegetazione di Monte Cofano, Sicilia. C.N.R., Programma inalizzato “Promozione della Qualità dell’Ambiente”, Roma, serie AQ/1/39: 43-52. Barbagallo C., Brullo S., Guglielmo A., 1980. Lineamenti della vegetazione di Monte Cofano (Sicilia occidentale). Pubblicazioni dell’Istituto di Botanica dell’Università di Catania, s. 2, 14 pp. + 6 tabb. f.-t. Brullo S., 1984b. Excursion to the Egadi Islands (13-14 June 1983). Webbia, 38(1): 79-82. Brullo S., Marcenò C., 1983. Osservazioni itosociologiche sull’Isola di Marettimo (Arcipelago delle Egadi). Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, 15(320)(1982): 201-228. Colomela D., Pasta S., Scarselli D., 2012. Relazione sugli aspetti agro-forestali, botanici (lora vascolare e habitat) ed idrogeologici della ZPS ITA010029 ‘Monte Cofano, Capo San Vito e Monte Sparagio’. Progetto LIFE09 NAT/IT/000099 “SICALECONS - Azioni urgenti per la conservazione della Coturnice di Sicilia, Alectoris graeca whitakeri Schiebel, 1934’, Azione A3: Stesura di una cartograia dell’habitat ed idrograica georiferita della ZPS ITA010029 “Monte Cofano, Capo San Vito e Monte Sparagio”, 54 pp. Di Martino A., Sortino M., 1970. L’ultimo lembo della macchia dei ginepri. Golfo di Castellammare (TP). Lavori dell’Istituto di Botanica e Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 24 (1968): 193-204. Di Martino A., Trapani S., 1967. Flora e vegetazione delle isole di Favignana e Levanzo nell’Arcipelago delle Egadi. I. Favignana. Lavori dell’Istituto di Botanica e Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 22 (1965): 122-228. Federico C., 1999. Guida illustrata della lora dello Zingaro. Collana “Mediterraneo” n° 9, L’Epos, Palermo, 262 pp. Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A., 2008. Contributo alla conoscenza della vegetazione e del paesaggio vegetale della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Monte Cofano” (Sicilia occidentale). Fitosociologia, 45(1, suppl. 1): 3-55. 71 Itineraries Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A., Ottonello D., Romano S., 2005. La lora vascolare della Riserva Naturale Monte Cofano (Sicilia Occidentale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 29(3-4): 107-152. Gianguzzi L., Ottonello D. (a cura di), 2000. La riserva di Monte Cofano (Sicilia nord-occidentale). Aspetti geomorfologici, naturtalistici ed etno-antropologici. Collana “Sicilia Foreste” n° 8, 257 pp. Gianguzzi L., Scuderi L., Pasta S., 2006. La lora vascolare dell’isola di Marettimo (Arcipelago delle Egadi, Sicilia occidentale): aggiornamento e analisi itogeograica. Webbia, 61(2): 359-402. Ottonello D. & Dia M.G., 1981. Contributo alla macrolora dell’isola di Favignana. Atti dell’Accademia di Scienze Lettere e Arti di Palermo, s. 4, 38(1)(1979): 137-142. Ottonello D., Catanzaro F., 1986. Contributo alla lora del Trapanese. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 9(1-4)(1985): 89-99. Pasta S., Sciberras A., Sciberras J., Scuderi L., 2014. Analysis of the vascular lora of four satellite islets of the Egadi Archipelago (W Sicily), with some notes on their vegetation and fauna. Biodiversity Journal, 5(1): 39-54. Raimondo F.M. (a cura di), Fici S., Gianguzzi L., Lentini F., Mazzola P., Miceli G., Not R., Ottonello D., Romano S., Schicchi R. (coll.), 1986. Atlante iconograico delle piante endemiche o rare della Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro (Sicilia). Palermo, Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche, A.F.D.R.S., STASS, pp. 84, 37 igg., 1 carta. Raimondo F.M., Schicchi R. (eds.), 2000. Il popolamento vegetale della Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro. Azienda Foreste Demaniali della Regione Siciliana, Collana “Sicilia Foreste”, 3 (suppl.) (1998), 205 p. Romano S., Mazzola P., Cusimano S., 1983. Monte Cofano: area di interesse biogenetico e itogeograico in provincia di Trapani. Atti dell’Accademia di Scienze Lettere e Arti di Palermo, s. 4, 40 (1)(1980): 189-209. Romano S., Tobia G., Gianguzzi L., 2006. Rassegna della lora vascolare dell’Isola di Levanzo (Arcipelago delle Egadi, Canale di Sicilia). Informatore botanico italiano, 38 (2): 481-502. 72 Itineraries Scuderi G., Ilardi V., Raimondo F.M., 1994. La sughera nella vegetazione arborea del Trapanese. Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 3 (1992): 223-233. Scuderi L., 2006. Flora e vegetazione della provincia di Trapani (Sicilia). Tesi di Dottorato in Scienze Ambientali I ‘Fitogeograia dei Territori Mediterranei’ (XIX Ciclo), Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, 541 pp. Sortino M., Giaccone G., 1970. Flora e vegetazione della fascia costiera del Golfo di Castellamare (TP). Lavori dell’Istituto di Botanica e Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 24: 62-108. 73 Itineraries Box 2.1 The Zingaro nature reserve The 1650 hectares of Zingaro reserve are bordered by rocky shores and small pebbly beaches at sea level, while its innermost limit is a mountain ridge (maximum height: 913 m a.s.l.), shaped by the karstic processes afecting the calcareous outcrops. This steep area hosts a mosaic of natural habitats (rock and sea clifs, screes) intermingled with secondary (grasslands, garrigues, open maquis) plant communities. Humans have been there since Mesolithic, as testiied by the data issuing from the excavations at Uzzo cave, and until mid XX century, cultivating cereal crops, grapevines, manna ash-, sumac-, olive- and fruit trees. Zingaro represents a ‘must’ for nature lovers: in fact, it represents one of the last few traits of coastline (approximately 7 km) which cannot be reached by car. During the Seventies, Sicilian environmentalist ONGs carried out an intense campain to raise awareness about the naturalistic value of this site. This initiative culminated on May 1980, when 3000 people took part to a paciic march to stop the construction of a paved road aiming at connecting Castellammare del Golfo to San Vito Lo Capo. Few months later, by means of the Regional Law 98/81, the Zingaro became a protected area, the irst in Sicily. References http://www.riservazingaro.it/index.php?lang=it AA. VV., 1991. Lo Zingaro. Edizioni Arbor, Palermo, 132 + i pp. Collina C. & Gallotti R., 2007. The Lithic Industry of the Early Neolithic at Uzzo Cave (Trapani, Sicily): A landscape perspective on the operational chains and the raw material availability. Pp. 359-363 in: Figueiredo A. & Leite Velho G. (eds.), Proceedings of the 33rd Conference ‘The world is in your eyes. CAA2005: Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology’ (CAA Portugal, Tomar, March 2005). 74 Itineraries Box 2.2 Pre-historic hunter-gatherers, fishermen and painters Recent studies on the submarine morphology of the coasts between Trapani and the Egadi Islands and the very good knowledge on sea level changes conirmed that Favignana and Levanzo were connected to Sicily during the Holocene. Hence, the nomadic hunthers-gatherers inhabiting north-western Sicily were able to follow the big wild herbivores (oxes, boars, donkeys and deers) feeding on this area, which represented a peninsula and probably hosted a patchwork of woodland, shrubland and grassland. Not surprisingly, the human settlements found on the two islands (e.g. caves of Genovese, Grotta dei Porci at Levanzo, Grotta d’Oriente e Grotta Uccerie at Favignana) are among the oldest of Sicily (upper Paleolithic-Mesolithic: 11,900-6,800 BC). As for the numerous caves spread along the NW coast of Sicily (Mt. Cofano, Isolidda, Uzzo, etc.), most of them have been inhabited since early Mesolithic (9,000 BC). On the main island hunting activities appear to be less important: the main food resources were plants and marine organisms (mostly molluscs but also ish). In the same period also at Favignana and Levanzo, again separated from the Sicily, a shift towards marine resources is recorded, testiied from the famous tuna depicted at the cave of Genovese. References Mannino M.A., Catalano G., Talamo S., Mannino G, Di Salvo R., Catalano G., Schimmenti V., Lalueza-Fox C, Messina A., Petruso D., Caramelli D., Richards M.P., Sineo L., 2012. Origin and diet of the prehistoric hunter-gatherers on the Mediterranean Island of Favignana (Egadi Islands, Sicily). PLoS ONE 7(11): e49802. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049802 Tusa S., Di Maida G., Pastoors A., Piezonka H., Weniger G.-C., Terberger T., 2014. The Grotta di Cala dei Genovesi: New studies on the Ice Age cave art on Sicily. Prehistorische Zeitschrift, 88(1): 1-22. 75 III Salt pans, salt marshes and lagoons of western Sicily Itinerary1 - Saline di Trapani Two short walks (approx. 2 km each) on lat terrain: both will be in the saltmarshes of western Sicily, an ecosystem domesticated and governed by man since the Phoenician colonization age. This landscape is featured by windmills, salt pans, hatched blocks, warehouses, among which the natural vegetation is still relatively well preserved (Sarcocornietalia fruticosae, Thero-Salicornietalia, Thero-Suaedetalia). Trail: Hike 1 - Length: 2.3 km one way, Hiking time: 30 min., Elevation range: 0 m; Hike 2 - Length: 2.6 km one way, Hiking time: 35 min., Elevation range: 0 m; Itineraries General Description 3.1. Physical setting The city of Trapani has been built on a complex of biocalcarenites and calcareous breccias called ‘mischio’ (= mixture), dating back to mid Miocene (16-11 Ma). The coastline between Trapani and Marsala is characterised by a succession of marine terraces carved on a layer of Pleistocenic conglomerates and calcarenites called ‘panchina’ (= bench), which in turn lays on - sometimes outcropping - calcareous rocks dating back to the upper Triassic-Eocene (228-56 Ma). The recent sandy-muddy alluvial sediments which cover wide surfaces between Trapani and Paceco and N of Marsala issue from the wandering beds of the streams Birgi and Lenzi-Bajata, respectively. The salt pans of Trapani, Paceco and Marsala were built exploiting these areas due to their impermeability. The sea bottom near Trapani is particularly dangerous due to plenty of shoals, low islets and hardly surfacing stacks. Even the ancient The saltmarshes of W-Sicily are an ecosystem domesticated and governed by man since the Phoenician age. 78 Itineraries town was founded on a bow-shaped (its ancient Greek name Drepanon means sickle) group of islets, some of them still recognizable until XVXVI centuries AD. Other islets, like Sant’Antonio, Zavorra and Ronciglio, have been incorporated in the modern harbour of Trapani, other ones have been united to the main island by the salt pans built during last two centuries (e.g. Santa Margherita and Calcara). The morphology of the coastal area of the lagoon located north of Marsala, the so-called ‘Stagnone’ (= big pond) is subject to continuous and rather fast changes, and the same occurs for the four islands forming the homonymous archipelago, i.e. San Pantaleo (= Mozia), Santa Maria, the tiny islet La Scuola and the biggest one, Isola Lunga or Isola Grande. The current form of the last one issues from the recent union of 3-4 islets which were still separated through managed canals until the XIX century. Local coastal dynamic processes are ruled by at least four factors, always interconnected and often counteracting, i.e. 1) marine currents, 2) human activities (in primis the construction and the present management and use of salt pans and canals), 3) sediment intake and water regime of the local rivers, 4) distribution of three rooted marine plants, i.e. Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa e Zoosterella noltii, whose colonies strongly afect the evolution of local shallow sea bottoms. According to USDA soil taxonomy, the plane between Paceco and Marausa hosts a combination of lithic xerorthents (lithosols with pH ≥7), typic and/or lithic rhodoxeralphs (‘terra rossa’, pH <7), the in the area of Stagnone there are the same soil typologies with the addition of typic and/or calcixerollic xerochrepts (calcic cambisols). The alluvial sediments of the Birgi stream gives origin to a mixture of typic and/or vertic xeroluvents (eutric luvisols) and typic and/or vertic xerochrepts (eutric and/or vertic cambisols) between Marausa and Birgi, while the area of the saline of Trapani and its surroundings host a soil assemblages originating from the alluvial sediments of the Bajata stream, i.e. typic and/or vertic xeroluvents (eutric luvisols) + typic chromoxererts and/ or typic pelloxererts (chromic and pellic cambisols). If we consider the available thermo-pluviometric data coming from the nearest stations of Trapani, Spagnuola and Marsala, according to Rivas-Martínez bioclimatic classiication the western coasts of Trapani Province are subject to lower Thermomediterranean thermotype and upper dry ombrotype. Yearly temperatures are of 17.5-18.5 °C, and the highest mean monthly temperatures reach 24.5-26 °C (Au79 Itineraries gust) and never go below 11 °C (January). The annual amount of rainfall ranges between 480 and 520 mm, with approximately 5 months of drought stress between April-May and September-October. As a result of the peculiar geology and geography (impermeable soils, lat plains, shallow sea, small freshwater input from local rivers and streams), local climate (strong solar radiation, low annual rainfall, frequent winds) and the millenary work of men, the coasts of western Sicily were shaped in order to produce salt. This area still is one the most important sites for marine salt production in the whole Mediterranean, and represents one of the most charming, yet vulnerable landscapes of the island. The beauty of the coast between Trapani and Marsala, with its windmills, its wide waterbodies whose colours shift along with seasons, from blue to red to dazzling white, the canals, the mounds of salt covered with terracotta tiles, is the same since centuries. 3.2. Flora and vegetation The natural and man-made coastal habitats near Trapani have been explored by botanists since XVII century, and they became one of the most frequent steps for Sicilian, Italian and European plant collectors and scholars during the XIX century. Not surprisingly, Trapani and its surroundings igure within the protologues and/ or represent the locus classicus not only for narrow endemic species such as Calendula maritima, Limonium densilorum (‘Ronciglio islet’), Limonium lojaconoi (‘Trapani near the windmills”), Limonium ponzoi (“rocky shores between Pizzolungo and Bonagia”), but also for many other taxa which have been described there as new to science and have been proved to occur in other Mediterranean countries, such as Anthemis secundiramea, Atriplex tornabenei, Beta macrocarpa, Cynomorium coccineum, Euphorbia cupanii, Galium verrucosum subsp. halophilum, Halocnemum cruciatum, Ruppia drepanensis, etc. The botanical surveys on the coastal habitats between Paceco and Marsala, on the area of the Stagnone and its islets have started much later, around 1970s and 1990s, and the available information needs to be updated and improved. The nature reserve ‘Saline di Trapani e Paceco’, managed from the NGO WWF-Italia, host approximately 500 plant taxa. As for the Stagnone area, Isola Lunga hosts ca. 430 taxa, Mozia almost 280, Santa 80 Itineraries Maria 150 and 80 plants grow on La Scuola. Plant diversity is sharply uneven, the richest sites being the islets which contributed to form Isola Lunga, where lithosols and terra rossa give hospitality to many plant assemblages, and the ecotones between the salt marshes and the abandoned salt pans. Flat but not monotonous, species-poor but rich of plants of extreme interest: this could be a good synthesis of the botanical heritage which may be encountered in the very complicated patchwork of abandoned and managed salt pans, brackish swamps, salty and muddy areas, sandy beaches, man-made canals and basins, etc., forming the landscape of this area shaped from human activities. The whole area in included in the Italian IPAs with the codes SIC 6 ‘Saline di Marsala e Isole dello Stanone’ and SIC 9 ‘Saline di Trapani’. This area hosts three narrow endemics, i.e. Calendula maritima, Limonium lilybaeum and Solenopsis mothiana, and the majority of the populations of two Drepano-Panormitan endemics, Limonium densilorum (also occurring near Petrosino along the SW Sicilian coast) and Limonium dubium (also growing on Egadi islands). Moreover, here occur plenty of plants of very high biogeographic and conservation interest, often very The saltmarshes of W-Sicily are an ecosystem domesticated and governed by man since the Phoenician age. 81 Itineraries rare in Sicily and Italy, such as Aeluropus lagopoides, Althenia iliformis, Andrachne telephioides, Andryala tenuifolia, Anemone palmata, Anthemis maritima, Biscutella maritima, Capnophyllum peregrinum, Carlina sicula subsp. sicula, Centaurea solstitialis subsp. schouwii, Cicendia iliformis, Convolvulus tricolor subsp. cupanianus, Cressa cretica, Crypsis aculeata, Damasonium bourgaei, Damasonium polyspermum, Desmazeria sicula, Dorycnium hirsutum, Eryngium dichotomum, Halopeplis amplexicaulis, Hornungia revelierei subsp. revelierei, Hyoseris taurina, Hypericum pubescens, Isolepis cernua, Jacobaea delphinifolia, Limoniastrum monopetalum, Limonium (avei, dubium, narbonense, sinuatum, virgatum), Lotus conjugatus, Myriolimon ferulaceum, Oenanthe globulosa subsp. kunzei, Pallenis maritima, Parapholis marginata, Podospermum canum, Podospermum laciniatum subsp. decumbens, Salicornia emerici, Salicornia patula, Scorpiurus vermiculatus, Scorzonera undulata subsp. deliciosa, Sphenopus divaricatus, Tetragonolobus bilorus, Trifolium isthmocarpum subsp. jaminianum, Triglochin bulbosa subsp. barrelieri, etc. The scientiic interest of this area goes far beyond species level: many local plant communities are rather common in similar habitats of S Mediterranean and Near and Middle East but turn to be very rare in Europe, especially the haloxerophilous assemblages dominated by annual and/ or perennial Amaranthaceae (Arthrocnemum, Atriplex spp., Halocnemum, Salicornia, Suaeda), Plumbaginaceae (Limonium spp., Limoniastrum) and Juncus spp. Zonal vegetation Due to its very reduced altitudinal range, its harsh edapho-climatic conditions and its history of intense land use, the area hosts no woodlands at all, and very few fragments of zonal vegetation. A single nucleus of evegreen maquis, referred to Chamaeropo humili-Quercetum calliprini (QUERCETEA ILICIS, PISTACIO-RHAMNETALIA ALATERNI) occurs at Marausa. Another association belonging to OLEO-CERATONION, the Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis, has been described from a few nuclei of low and open maquis present on Isola Lunga. The shallow soils Marausa also host some small nuclei of garrigue with Erica multilora, Thymbra capitata, Cistus salvifolius, Cistus creticus, Cachrys sicula, Dorycnium hirsutum, etc. (CISTO ERIOCEPHALI-ERICION MULTIFLORAE). Some spots of thermo-xerophilous grassland referred to Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis (HYPARRHENIETALIA HIRTAE) occur 82 Itineraries in some abandoned agricultural lands of Isola Lunga, where some nuclei of geophyte-dominated herb communities (CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI) also occur and probably derive from the overgrazing from introduced rabbits. To Euphorbietum cupanii (BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE) belong the subnitrophilous and thermoxerophilous grasslands, occurring on sandy-marly soils along the borders of roads and tracks and at the base of stonewalls in the coastal area of Birgi.The above-mentioned grassland communities are sometimes intermingled with therophytic ephemeral prairies which may be referred to STIPION RETORTAE. Several annual prairies ascribed to HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATAE occur on the sub-acid sandy and/or loamy soils of the area: the Tuberario guttatae-Anemonetum palmatae colonizes little raised surfaces around the brackish swamps of the coastal areas between Birgi and San Teodoro near the Stagnone of Marsala, while three diferent associations have been described for Isola Lunga: Bellido annuae-Solenopsidetum laurentiae is linked to the rather shaded and wet microclimatic conditions provided by the tufts of Lygeum spartum, while Herniario cinereae-Crassuletum tilleae occurs in sunny and open areas on compact soils partially covered with moss vegetation, and Bupleuro gracili-Ononidetum reclinatae is localised on sandy soils and prefers the lat and even surfaces of the inner part of the coastline. Vegetation of coastal ecosystems Locally intense and frequent anthropogenic pressure (dump, trampling, urbanisation, etc.) strongly afected the sandy beaches of the area. The short-lived nitrophilous communities of strandlines, referred to Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum paraliae (CAKILETEA MARITIMAE, EUPHORBION PEPLIS), are well represented only on the northern coast of Isola Lunga and in some sites of western Sicily (e.g. Marausa). Only few scattered nuclei of white and embryonic dunes (AGROPYRION JUNCEI) survived, with the association Sporobolo arenarii-Agropyretum juncei on the northern shores of Isola Lunga and near Marsala, and very few and small spots of the Calendulo maritimae-Elytrigetum junceae along the beaches of Trapani. The ephemeral annual communities linked to salty and nutrient-rich soils subject to temporary (autumn-winter) submersion and dry up for the rest of the year (SAGINETEA MARITIMAE) are locally 83 Itineraries represented by plant communities belonging to the alliances FRANKENION PULVERULENTAE (Parapholidetum iliformis and Polypogonetum subspathacei at Isola Lunga) and LIMONION AVEI (Spergulario rubrae-Limonietum avei, Limonio avei-Hymenolobetum procumbentis and Limonio avei-Parapholideum marginatae). Some spots of chasmo-halophitic vegetation (CRITHMO-STATICETEA) with Thymelaea hirsuta, Pallenis maritima and Lotus cytisoides occur on the rocky shores exposed to marine salt-spray along the W Sicilian coasts at San Teodoro, near the northern mouth of the Stagnone lagoon, and at San Cusumano near Trapani, as well as on the northern coast of Isola Lunga. The class THERO-SALICORNIETEA includes the thermo-haloxerophilous plant communities dominated by pioneer annual succulents which during summer-autumn cover the borders of local saltmarshes. All the associations known for Sicily occur along the W coasts of Trapani province. More in detail, Halopeplidetum amplexicaulis, Suaedo maritimae-Salicornietum patulae, Arthrocnemo glauci-Salicornietum emerici, Suaedetum maritimae occur both near Trapani and in the area of Stagnone lagoon, Salsoletum sodae and Cressetum creticae only near Trapani. The saltmarshes of W-Sicily are an ecosystem domesticated and governed by man since the Phoenician age. 84 Itineraries The hyperhalophilous scrub communities which colonise the salty soils subject to seasonal and prolonged submersion with marine waters are referred to several alliances of the class SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE, i.e. SALICORNION FRUTICOSAE (Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornietum alpinii, Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae, Cynomorio coccineae-Halimionetum portulacoidis), ARTHROCNEMION GLAUCI (Arthrocnemo glauci-Halocnemetum strobilacei and Sphenopo divaricati-Arthrocnemetum glauci both occurring only in the salt pans of Trapani and Paceco), INULION CRITHMOIDIS (Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis), and LIMONION FERULACEI (Sarcocornio fruticosae-Limonietum ferulacei, Limonio dubii-Lygetum spartii, Limoniastro monopetali-Limonietum lilybaei, the latter endemic to the Stagnone lagoon). The assemblages of THEROSALICORNIETEA and SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE are often intermingled with salt-tolerant halo-hygrophilous communities dominated by tall rushes, ascribed to JUNCION MARITIMI, like Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti and Spartino junceae-Juncetum maritima, the latter occurring only on Isola Lunga. Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes The abandoned manufacts (canals, banks, stone walls, windmills, farmhouses) of the area host chasmo-nitrophilous communities referred to Capparidetum rupestris and Hyoscyamo albi-Parietarietum judaicae (CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA DIFFUSAE, ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS-CAPPARIDION SPINOSAE). Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation The brackish waters of many abandoned salt pans of Isola Lunga and Trapani and Paceco are colonized by the rooted submerged plant Ruppia drepanensis (RUPPIETEA MARITIMAE). As concerns the dwarf vegetation of temporary ponds (ISOËTO-NANOJUNCETEA), three diferent communities have been detected on Isola Lunga. Pulicario graecae-Scirpetum savii (NANOCYPERION) and Elatinetum macropodae (ELATINO MACROPODAE-DAMASONION ALISMATIS) occur respectively on the borders and in bottom of the ephemeral rockpools of the southern part of the island, while Laurentio ?-Juncetum capitati (CICENDION) occurs in shaded microhabitats within Lygeum spartum grassland colonizing little humid depressions on sub-acid soils (terra rossa) which are inundated in winter but dry up in early spring. 85 Itineraries The inal trait of the streams Bajata and Birgi host hygrophilous communities dominated by few rhizomatous helophites (PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA). These assemblages, linked to meso- and eutrophic slow lowing waters, are ascribed to Phragmitetum communis and Typhetum latifoliae (PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS). Along the muddy and shallow river banks Helosciadetum nodilori (GLYCERIO-SPARGANION) occurs. Anthropogenic vegetation Local arable crop ields on base-rich loamy and clayey soils are characterised by Capnophyllo peregrini-Medicaginetum ciliaris (ROEMERION HYBRIDAE), the vegetation of vineyards, orchards and groves is represented by Diplotaxietum vimineo-erucoidis (FUMARION WIRTGENII-AGRARIAE), while the vegetation of the annual crop cultures irrigated during summer of Birgi and Marsala is referred to Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Kickxietum integrifoliae (DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS). The massive urbanisation of the coastal areas, and the ongoing abandonment of agricultural practices and salt production give rise to several winter-annual weedy and ruderal communities linked to man-made The saltmarshes of W-Sicily are an ecosystem domesticated and governed by man since the Phoenician age. 86 Itineraries and nutrient-rich soils in suburban and coastal areas referred to CHENOPODION MURALIS (Lavateretum cretico-arboreae), MESEMBRYATHEMION CRYSTALLINI (Mesembryanthemetum crystallino-nodilori) and HORDEION MURINI (Hordeo leporini-Sisymbrietum orientalis). The abandoned crop ields and fallows of clayey and nutrient-rich soils are covered with ruderal sub-nitrophilous herb communities belonging to FEDIO-CONVOLVULION, such as Chamaemelo fuscati-Silenetum fuscatae (Nubia, Trapani, Birgi, Marsala) and Vulpio ligusticae-Tetragonolobetum bilori (Marsala). To VALANTIO MURALIS-GALION MURALIS belongs Valantio murali-Solenopsidetum annuae, a (sub)nitrosciaphilous fringe community which occurs underneath the low maquis of Isola Lunga. The suburban area and many abandoned manufacts of Trapani and Marsala are colonized by nitrophilous pioneer assemblages referred to the NICOTIANO GLAUCAE-RICINION COMMUNIS, dominated by many fast-growing alien thermo-cosmopolitan invasive species such as Nicotiana glauca and Arundo donax. 3.3. Landscape and land use history The most ancient traces of human presence in the area date back to Upper Paleolithic and are mostly located in the caves of Mt. San Giuliano. The surrounding hills hosted several small settlement also during Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages. The city of Drepanon (now Trapani) was founded between XII and IX century BC the Elymians, which probably were an Italic group coming from N Tuscany or Liguria. At irst it was just the harbour and emporium of Eryx, but its military importance increased during the irst Punic War (250 BC). When Motya was destroyed from Syracusans (IV century BC), the survivors escaped on the adjacent coasts of western Sicily founded Lilybaeum (= facing Libya, the ancient name for all N Africa). Under Romans ‘Drepanum’ and Lilybaeum had diferent destinies: Trapani underwent decline (although many small rural communities were scattered in the inner countryside which was intensively cultivated), while Marsala became a very important centre, housing the quaestor of the Sicilian province; to underline its prominent role, during I century BC it was named splendidissima urbs. After Vandals devastated the cities and the whole territory (V century AD) the area was poorly inhabited and exposed to continuous 87 Itineraries pirate raids until IX century. In that period only monastic communities may have occurred in the territory and even on the islets of the Stagnone, as suggested by several local toponyms like Santa Maria, San Teodoro and San Pantaleo. The arrival of Arabs (IX) marks a recover of local economy and a strong increase of local human communities. Both ‘Itrabinis’ and ‘Marsa Allāh’ (= the Harbour of Allah) were important trading centres and also beneited from intense cultivation of the neighbouring fertile inland areas. Salt pan expansion started in that period and spread all over the western coasts of Sicily. Norman monarchs (XII century) donated San Pantaleo (now Mozia) and probably the entire area of the Stagnone to the church of Santa Maria della Grotta of Marsala for this purpose. Between XII and XVI centuries the city of Trapani became very wealthy thanks to the intense trade of ish, salt, corals and soda (obtained through intensive cultivation, drying out and burning of Salsola soda), and its harbour was one of the most important in the whole Mediterranean, representing an almost obligatory connection point between Europe and N Africa. During XVII century the whole territory was subject to drastic demographic and economic decrease and social disorders due to poverty, famine, e pestilences and continuous raids of N African pirates. By the end of the XVII century the Pallavicino, a Genoese family of tradesmen, took the control of the area. In the meanwhile, pirates’ incursions became rarer and rarer, and the new owners induced strong improvements on local economy and rapid changes of the landscape by intensifying agriculture (mostly vineyards) and ishing activities. In the meanwhile the English family Woodhouse started (1773) to export the local wine ‘Marsala’ as a dry variant of Madera and Porto in order to bypass the embargo of Spain and Portugal: this event signed the explosion of local economy and caused the demographic increase and the urban development of the city Marsala. After the cutting of Suez Canal (1871) the area became even more important: all the products travelling from Asia to Europe had to pass through the Strait of Sicily and usually stopped at its main harbour, Trapani. With the exception of the wetland of Chinisia near Birgi and the inal traits of both Bajata-Lenzi and Birgi streams, which have been 88 Itineraries respectively reclaimed and rectiied at the beginning of the XX century, the territory remained almost unchanged until the end of the World War II, when many salt pans were destroyed and covered to give room to the chaotic (and often illegal) urban sprawl of Trapani and to the still ongoing development of port infrastructures. Nowadays these area hosts more than 210000 people (200000 concentrated in the two main cities). As for the Stagnone lagoon, local species and habitats beneit from the reduced human disturbance on the nearly uninhabited islets, where the most important impact is linked to the intense aleunza of visitors to the archaeological heritage of the islet of Mozia. Many salt pans are still exploited along the Sicilian coast of the Stagnone and in the northern sector of Isola Lunga. The century-old patchwork of natural and artiicial habitats issuing from salt production should be maintained to preserve local plant- and community-diversity. On the other hand, any intervention in and around the salt pans should take into account the eventual presence of rare and very localized plants (i.e. Limonium densilorum and L. lilybaeum) or habitats (e.g. the partially man-made rock pools called ‘urghi’ which host interesting and rare ephemeral hygrophilous communities). While agriculture is disappearing on all the islets, greenhouses are rapidly substituting traditional practices on the main island. Current coastal dynamics are connecting both the northern and the southern edge of Isola Lunga with Sicily; for the same reasons the bottom of the Stagnone lagoon is getting more and more shallow year by year. As a consequence, the whole lagoon undergoes rapid warming, which in turn reduces oxygen availability. Hence, local marine ecosystems are expected to undergo dramatic changes within next decades, with the disappearance of marine plant beds. Due to its long-lasting role of prominent crossroad of the Mediterranean trade routes, the port of Trapani harboured not only ships and goods but also many alien plants. Some of them were able to establish for a short time (this was the case of Astragalus thermensis Valsecchi and Garidella nigellastrum L., recorded here and nowhere else at the beginning of the XIX century) or until today (e.g. Bassia lanilora, still present locally, and Heliotropium curassavicum, now almost common in the whole area and also along the coasts of SW Sicily, 89 Itineraries Egadi and Pelagie islands). The protected areas of this territory are now subject to the invasion of other alien plants, such as Carpobrotus edulis, Symphyotrichum squamatum, Oxalis pes-caprae, while may other ones (e.g. Ailanthus altissima, Arundo donax, Chasmanthe aethiopica, Erigeron bonariense, Datura wrightii, Myoporum insulare, Nicotiana glauca, Nothoscordum inodorum, Solanum linnaeanum, Tribulus terrestris, etc.) are increasingly frequent in suburban and man-made habitats (incl. cultivated lands and fallows). 90 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Aleo M., 1990. Indagini loristiche e vegetazionali nelle saline di Nubia (Paceco-Trapani). Pubblicazioni della Libera Università di Trapani, A. IX, 26: 19-61. Aleo M., Bazan G., Cordì R., 2005. Le piante vascolari del litorale trapanese: da Capo Lilibeo a Ronciglio. Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 15 (2004): 83-98. Brullo S., Di Martino A., 1974. Vegetazione dell’Isola Grande dello Stagnone (Marsala). Bollettino di Studi e Informazioni del reale Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 26: 15-62. Brullo S., Scelsi F., Siracusa G., 1994. Contributo alla conoscenza terofitica della Sicilia occidentale. Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, 27(346): 341-365. Calvo S., Fradà Orestano C., 1984. L’herbier a Posidonia oceanica des cotes siciliennes: les formations recifales du Stagnone. Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Posidonia oceanica beds, 1: 29-37. Calvo S., Drago D., Sortino M., 1980. Winter and summer submersed vegetation maps of the Stagnone. (Western coast of Sicily). Revue de Biologie-Ecologie méditerranéenne, VII (2): 89-96. Calvo S., Genchi G., Lugaro A., Di Stefano L., 1982. Le saline di Marsala. 2. Caratteristiche biologiche. Naturalista sicil., S. IV, VI (Suppl.), 2: 209-218. Calvo S., Giaccone G., Ragonese S., 1982. Tipologia della vegetazione sommersa dello Stagnone di Marsala (TP). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 6 (Suppl.): 187-196. Carratello A., 2004. Flora briologica e considerazioni briogeograiche delle Isole dello Stagnone (Sicilia occidentale). Braun-Blanquetia, 34: 189-205. Catanzaro F., 1992. Contributo alla lora dell’isola di S. Pantaleo (Mozia) nelle Egadi (Sicilia occidentale). Atti della Società toscana di Scienze naturali, Memorie, s. B, 98 (1991): 239-248. Donato G., 2013. L’isola che non c’era. L’Isola Grande dello Stagnone di Marsala dal XV secolo ai giorni nostri. Palermo, Edizioni Danaus, 127 pp. 91 Itineraries Di Martino A., Perrone C., 1970. Flora delle isole dello Stagnone (Marsala). I. Isola Grande. Lavori dell’Istituto di Botanica e Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 24: 109-166, 18 igs. and 2 tables. Di Martino A., Perrone C., 1974. Flora delle isole dello Stagnone (Marsala). II. Isole di S. Pantaleo e S. Maria. Lavori dell’Istituto di Botanica e Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 25 (1973): 71-102, 2 tables. Fradà Orestano C., Calvo S., 1985. Le itocenosi in forma ‘aegagropila’ nelle acque dello Stagnone (Trapani, Sicilia). Boll. Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat., 18 (326): 809-820. Genovese S., 1969. Données écologiques sur le ‘Stagnone’ de Marsala (Sicile occidentale). Rapports et Communications Int. Mer Méditerranée, 19 (5): 823-826. Ottonello D., Aleo M., Romano S., 1991. La macchia mediterranea a Quercus calliprinos Webb di Marausa (TP): un’area da conservare. Giornale botanico italiano, 125(3): 435. Pasta S., 2004. La conservazione delle emergenze botaniche nell’area costiera siciliana: il caso della R.N.O. “Isole dello Stagnone di Marsala” (Trapani, Sicilia occidentale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 28(1): 243-263. Pasta S., Marcenò C., Garfì G., Carimi F., 2017. Human disturbance, habitat degradation and niche shift: the case of the endangered endemic Calendula maritima Guss. (W Sicily, Italy). Rendiconti dell’Accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Classe di Scienze isiche e naturali, in press. Ponzo A., 1900. La lora trapanese. Tipograia Puccio, Palermo, 140 pp. Riggio S., Chemello R., 1992. The role of coastal lagoons in the emerging and segregation of new marine taxa: evidence from the Stagnone di Marsala Sound (Sicily). Bulletin de l’Institut Océanographique de Monaco, 23: 1-18. Scuderi L., Pasta S., Lo Cascio P., 2007. Indagini sulla lora e sulla vegetazione delle isole minori dello Stagnone di Marsala. 102° Congr. Soc. Bot. Ital. (Palermo, 26-29.09.2007), riassunti: 312. Troìa A. (a cura di), 2008. Guida naturalistica alle saline di Trapani e Paceco. Fotograf, Palermo, 200 pp. 92 Itineraries Box 3.1: Salt from sea, wind, sun and human care During the 1st millennium BC Phoenicians probably colonized western Sicily to produce salt. Between XV-XX century Trapani played a major role in the international export of this precious resource. The top of this golden period occurred shortly after the opening of the Suez Canal (1869). After the two world wars, the decline of the harbour and the urbanization caused the abandonment, the oblivion and the destruction and of many salt pans and windmills. Nowadays an increasing attention is paid on these manufacts because they represent a unique cultural heritage and they provide an example of sustainable exploitation of renewable resources. Salt production requires time and skill: the sea water is repeatedly carried into basins with diferent width and depth, where it evaporates thanks to the combined efect of wind and heat, so that salt accumulates forming a thick crystal layer on the bottom of the pans. Each of the ive diferent typologies of pans, interconnected by channels and accurately managed to obtain an increasingly saturated water, plays a speciic role in the process and has its own name, from the largest one near the sea, called ‘fridda’ (= cold), to the ones where salt precipitation occurs, called ‘caura’ (= hot). References http://www.museodelsale.it/storia.php Bufalino G., 1988. Saline di Sicilia. Sellerio, Palermo, 201 pp. Ingardia G., 2012. Dalla macchina del sale al museo en plein air: percorsi di valorizzazione. Tesi di Laurea specialistica, Corso di laurea in Architettura per il Restauro e Valorizzazione del Patrimonio, Facoltà di architettura, Politecnico di Torino 2, 171 pp. Manuguerra M., 1990. Saline e salinai. La Medusa, Marsala, 135 pp. Mondini G., 1999. Le saline della provincia di Trapani. Nuova Radio Litotipograia, Trapani. 93 Itineraries Box 3.2 Mothia Although some traces of human presence date back to 2500 B.C, the irst settlement on the islet of Mozia (also called San Pantaleo) was founded during XV-XIII centuries BC, when local people and E Mediterranean partners shared an emporion (= market). At the end of VIII century the Carthaginians settled Motye (= textile manifactury), which in very short time became a big fortiied city covering the whole surface of the islet. Mozia was one of the most important Punic colonies of Sicily until 397 BC, when Dionysius the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse, ordered its destruction after a victorious siege. Hereinafter, the islet never recovered its importance, and only few people lived there under Roman dominion and during Middle Age. Between XI and XVI centuries AD the islet belongs to the monks of Marsala, who built and exploited a salt pan there. At the beginning of the XX century Joseph Whitaker, an English entrepreneur of Marsala, started the excavations. Once he correctly identiied the site, he decided to acquire the whole islet to go on with his investigations (1906-1927). New ield surveys, started on 1955 and still going on, shed light on the urban structure and the daily life of Mothia. References De Vincenzo S., 2013. Tra Cartagine e Roma. I centri urbani dell’eparchia punica di Sicilia tra VI e I sec. a.C. Topoi, Berlin Studies of the Ancient World 8, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin-Boston, 409 pp. Du Plat Taylor J.O.A.N., 1964. Motya: A Phoenician trading settlement in Sicily. Archaeology, 17(2): 91-100. Falsone G., 1988. The Bronze Age occupation and Phoenician Foundation at Motya. Institute of Archaeology Bulletin, 25: 31-49. Toti M.P. (a cura di), 2004. Mozia: Dalle origini alla riscoperta dell’antica città. Fondazione ‘Giuseppe Whitaker’, Trapani, 112 pp. Trevelyan R., 1988. La storia dei Whitaker. Palermo, 255 pp. 94 IV The south-western corner Itinerary1 - Gorghi Tondi the wildlife reserve “Gorghi Tondi and Preola Lake” includes dozens of eddies (“gorghi”): little karstic lakes originated from the erosion of a calcarenitic crust up to the chalky underground bank, which, when the structural support of the crust above is lost, collapses downward leaving small, but relatively deep (up to 80 m) depressions at the surface. The lakes are surrounded by Phragmitetalia vegetation, which abruptely shifts into a Quercus calliprinos maquis (Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni) and allied degradation units. The upper ground level around the lakes is extensively cultivated (vineyards), with a very nice and colourful early-spring commensal vegetation (Fedio-Convolvulion cupaniani), of which we will observe perhaps the very late remnants. Trail: Length: 3.5 km round trip, Hiking time: 1 hour, Elevation range: 30 m Itineraries General Description 4.1. Physical setting The vernacular term ‘sciara’ seems to derive from the Arab ‘sha’ra’. This word has been used with several meanings. As for the southern part of Trapani and the western part of Agrigento provinces, it indicates the local karst latlands characterized by a mosaic of outcropping calcareous rocks, sandy-loamy shallow lithosols, perennial and annual dry grasslands, garrigues and low maquis, while it means ‘hedge, shrubland’ (see the Spanish terms ‘jara’, ‘jaral’) in NE Sicily, and ‘volcanic ash/lava ield or slope’ on Etna Mt. and Aeolian islands. All these nuances lead to the same concept, as they all are ‘sterile and uncultivated areas’, either because agricultural activities have been abandoned or are reduced and diicult due to poor soil availability. The whole area is characterised by lower Pleistocene (1.8-0.8 Ma) marine sediments (the so-called ‘Calcareniti di Marsala’), which cover the so-called ‘Formazione Marnoso-Arenacea della Valle del Belice’ (= Marly-Sandstones formation of the Belice Valley), made of sandstones Vegetation belts of Gorghi Tondi: Soncho-Cladietum marisci; Phragmitetum communis; Chamaeropo-Quercetum calliprini. 96 Itineraries with interbedded clay layers which illed this sector of the Sicilian foredeep during mid-upper Pliocene (3.6-1.8 Ma). Below are the pelagic deposits of the lower Pliocene (ca. 5.3-3.6 Ma) (the so-called ‘Trubi’, marly calcilutites), followed by the limestones and gypsums belonging to the Messinian evaporitic series, which in turn lay on the conglomeratic and/ or sandy or clayey-marly deposits of the so-called ‘Cozzo Terravecchia formation’ dating back to Tortonian (11.6-7.2 Ma). All these lithological units are carved by Pleistocene marine quaternary terraces, sometimes covered with sandy or gravelly deposits up to 10 m thick, ranging from 0 to 170 m a.s.l. Near the coasts palustrine or dune deposits occur, whilst along the main water courses, terraced alluvial sediments may outcrop. From west to east, the main rivers of the area are the Màzaro (30 km), the Grande-Delia-Arena (47 km), the Modione (27 km), the Belìce, the ‘Ypsas’ of ancient Greeks (107 km), and the Tardàra-Carboj (30 km). All these water courses are now subject to important seasonal changes in water regime, but in historical times must have been much richer in water; for example, the river Modione hosted 14 watermills. Many of them have been transformed to make artiicial water reservoirs (Lago di Piana degli Albanesi e Lago Gàrcia on Belìce river, Lago Trinità on Delia river, Lago Arancio on Carboj river). As for wetlands, Capo Feto and the saltmarshes near Petrosino may be interpreted as retrodunal swamps, while the inner system of the permanent ponds of Lago Murana, Lago Preola and Gorghi Tondi occupies natural depressions issuing from to the collapse of calcareous sandstone layers due to the chemical dissolution of the underlying gypsum layers. The coastline between Marsala and Petrosino and between Mazara del Vallo and Torretta Granitola is characterized by low rocky clifs; the rest of the coastline is mainly occupied by sand beaches and more or less continuous dune systems. According to USDA soil taxonomy, most of the coastal plain and low hills between Marsala and Meni hosts diferent combinations of lithic xerorthents (lithosols with pH ≥7), typical and/or lithic rhodoxeralphs (‘terra rossa’, pH <7). Additionally, in the area of Torretta Granitola there are also typical haploxeralphs (orthic luvisols) and near Meni also calcixerollic xerochrepts (calcic cambisols). The alluvial sediments of the river Grande-Delia-Arena give origin to a mixture of typical and/or vertic xeroluvents (eutric luvisols) and typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (eutric and/or vertic cambisols) near Mazara del Vallo. 97 Itineraries The soils association near Torretta Granitola, Tre Fontane and Partanna is made of typical xerorthents (regosols), typical xerochrepts (eutric cambisols) and typical haploxeralfs (orthic luvisols). Near Selinunte and Porto Palo di Meni also calcixerollic xerochrepts (calcic cambisols) and typical and/or lithic xerorthents (regosols and/ or lithosols) occur, while the surrondings of Tre Fontane and W of Sciacca (Capo S. Marco) host a combination of typical xerochrepts (eutric cambisols), typical haploxeralfs (orthic luvisols) and typical and/ or lithic xerorthents (regosols and/or lithosols). The soils associations change near the main rivers: near Mazara and Sciacca we ind typical xerorthents (regosols) + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (eutric and/ or vertic cambisols) + typical and/or vertic xeroluvents (eutric luvisols) and/or typical chromoxererts and/or typical pelloxerets (chromic and pellic cambisols). Moreover, the coastal plain beneath Meni, also known as Lido Fiori, is characterized by typical xerorthents (regosols), typical and/or vertic xeroluvents (eutric luvisols) and/or typical chromoxerets (chromic cambisols). The basin of Delia-Arena river is characterised by typical chromoxerets and/or typical pelloxerets (chromic and pellic cambisols), while the wetlands near Selinunte and Porto Palo di Meni host the association typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (eutric and/or vertic cambisols) + typical chromoxerets and/or typical pelloxerets (chromic and pellic cambisols). The salt marshes near Petrosino and Capo Feto are characterized by typical psammaquents (gleyic arenosols), while the dune ields (typic xeropsamments) experienced a strong reduction during last decades. If we consider the available thermo-pluviometric data coming from the stations of Castelvetrano. Mazara del Vallo and Sciacca, according to Rivas-Martínez bioclimatic classiication the area at issue is subject to lower Thermomediterranean thermotype and upper dry ombrotype. Yearly temperatures range between 17.5 and 18.0 °C, and the highest mean monthly temperatures reach 25.5-26 °C (July-August) and never go below 11 °C (January-February). The annual amount of rainfall ranges between 540 and 610 mm, with approximately 4-5 months of drought stress between April and September. 4.2. Flora and vegetation The available botanical knowledge on the territory at issue appears still incomplete and needs further updating and improvement. 98 Itineraries Arundini-Convolvuletum sepium (foreground); Soncho-Cladietum marisci; Phragmitetum communis. Scanty information on the coasts between Marsala and Sciacca and on the inner part of this territory (Castelvetrano, Partanna, etc.) dates back to the beginnings of the XIX century, when the area was explored by G. Gussone, V. Tineo, R. A. Philippi, and by Sicilian scholars such as M. Lojacono-Pojero, F. Fanales and A. Palumbo around the end of 1890s. Systematic botanical surveys, mostly concentrated on the coastal sites, started around 1970s. According to Brullo et al. (1995), this area belongs to the Drepano-Panormitan district. It hosts as much has nine narrow endemics, i.e. Centaurea saccensis, Galium litorale, Helichrysum preslianum, Isoetes todaroana, Limonium furnarii, Limonium halophilum, Limonium mazarae, Limonium melancholicum and Limonium selinuntinum, and many vascular plants which occur only or mostly within the Drepano-Panormitan district, like Cardopatum corymbosum, Erodium gruinum, Gagea granatellii, Hypericum tetrapterum, Ipomoea sagittata, Pycnocomon rutaefolia, Ranunculus isthmicus, Spergularia tunetana subsp. appendiculata, Stipa barbata and Trifolium physodes. Morevoer, the territory hosts many species of high biogeographic interest, such as Astragalus caprinus subsp. huetii, Crocus longilorus, Crucianella rupestris, Desmazeria sicula, Eryngium bocconei, Euphorbia cupanii, Limonium densilorum, Linaria multicaulis, Polygala preslii, Retama raetam subsp. gussonei, Romu- 99 Itineraries lea linaresii subsp. linaresii, Tragopogon porrifolius subsp. cupanii, and many plants that are extremely rare and endangered in Italy and Sicily, like Ambrosina bassii, Cachrys sicula, Ceratophyllum demersum, Coris monspeliensis, Cressa cretica, Cyperus laevigatus subsp. distachyus, Dorycnium hirsutum, Galium elongatum, Globularia alypum, Hormuzakia aggregata, Hypericum pubescens, Leucojum autumnale, Limonium avei, Lonas annua, Lotus bilorus, Lotus conjugatus, Micromeria microphylla, Micromeria nervosa, Ononis pendula, Ophioglossum lusitanicum, Ophrys apulica, Quercus calliprinos, Rhamnus oleoides, Scilla obtusifolia, Silene fruticosa, etc. Due to its noteworthy botanical heritage, part of this area has been included into the Italian IPA SIC 27 ‘Litorale Petrosino-Selinunte, Laghetti di Preola e Gorghi Tondi’. Zonal vegetation The most mature woody communities which occur in this territory are ascribed to QUERCETALIA ILICIS. On base-rich and subacid soils we can ind some isolated remnant spots of forest communities belonging to QUERCION ILICIS, enjoying the more favourable microclimatic conditions of karst depressions and canyon bottoms, i.e. thermophilous woodlands, dominated by pubescent oaks (Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum virgilianae near Meni) or evergreen forest-maquis dominated by holm-oaks (Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis, Bosco del Cantaro near Gorghi Tondi). Some particularly shady and humid places near Meni, Sciacca, Partanna and Sambuca di Sicilia host peculiar species-poor evergreen forest assemblages dominated by Laurus nobilis, ascribed to Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis. In the past acidophilous maquis-forest (ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS) occurred on local enclaves of terra rossa, as testiied by ancient documents and by the scattered presence of many small nuclei or single big trees of Quercus suber in the countrysides of Castelvetrano, Partanna, Meni and Sciacca. Many nuclei of evegreen low sclerophyllous maquis, referred to Chamaeropo humili-Quercetum calliprini (PISTACIO-RHAMNETALIA ALATERNI and OLEO-CERATONION SILIQUAE) occur near Petrosino, Mazara del Vallo and Campobello di Mazara. Scattered nuclei of Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis, Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci, and Rhamno oleoidis-Pistacietum lentisci occur in the area. The steep, rocky and wind-exposed areas are characterised by Euphorbie- 100 Itineraries Cave di Cusa: the place where the columns of the Temples of Selinunte were quarried. tum dendroidis, an open thermophilous scrub ascribed to the alliance OLEO-CERATONION. Few small nuclei of the thermo-xerophilous summer-deciduous maquis ascribed to Asparago acutifolii-Zizyphetum loti are found in sunny and extremely arid sites near Mazara del Vallo. The shallow calcareous soils are mostly covered with low-growing garrigues dominated by several subshrubs such as Erica multilora, Thymbra capitata, Cistus spp., Fumana spp., Dorycnium hirsutum, etc., referred to the alliance CISTO ERIOCEPHALI-ERICION MULTIFLORAE. Thermo-xerophilous grasslands referred to Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis (HYPARRHENIETALIA HIRTAE) are rather common on old ields, while geophyte-dominated herb communities such as Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis, Thapsio garganicae-Feruletum communis and Ferulo communis-Hyparrhenietum hirtae (CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI) prevail in the areas subject to frequent wildires and overgrazing. The marly hills of the innermost part of this area are characterized by perennial grasslands ascribed to the association Astragalo huetii-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici (AVENULO-AMPELODESMION MAURITANICI). As for annual dry grasslands (STIPO-TRACHYNIETEA DISTACHYAE), Thero-Sedetum caerulei is frequent on the shallow lithosols of rocky 101 Itineraries calcareous latlands, while the most common therophytic communities may be referred to STIPION CAPENSIS (Reichardio picroidis-Stipetum capensis and Ononido brevilorae-Stipetum capensis). Leaching afecting the calcareous sandstones leads to the accumulation of sub-acid sandyloamy soils which host many species (i.e. Linaria multicaulis, Euphorbia terracina and Alkanna tinctoria) typical to HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATAE. The coastal areas inluenced by salt-spray host subhalophilous annual grasslands (STIPO-BUPLEURETALIA SEMICOMPOSITI and PLANTAGINI-CATAPODION MARINI) ascribed to the association Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae. Vegetation of coastal ecosystems The dynamic evolution of sandy shores not only depends on the complex interaction between rivers, which provide ine-grained sediments, and marine currents, which shape and erode the coastline. Indeed, the extension and functioning of all the pioneer psammophilous communities which colonise beaches and regulate dune ecosystems is strongly connected with Posidonia oceanica sea-beds, which represent an ‘underwater barrier’ able to moderate and modulate both marine erosion and river sedimentation regimes. Not surprisingly, two local toponyms underline the paramount Cave di Cusa: the place where the columns of the Temples of Selinunte were quarried. 102 Itineraries importance of Posidonia for local coastal ecosystems. For instance, the coast near Selinunte is named ‘Triscina’, a Sicilian term of probable Arab origin referring to the stranded ribbon-like leaves of Posidonia, while the toponym Capo ‘Feto’ reminds the bad smell (from the Latin ‘faetor’) due to the huge brown mounds of rotting leaves accumulated along the coast. The rocky coasts inluenced by salt-spray host several chasmo-halophilous chamaephytic communities ascribed to CRITHMO-LIMONIETEA, like Limonietum selinuntini (exclusive to Selinunte), Limonietum melancholici (only occurring near Capo San Marco W of Sciacca) and Limonietum mazarae between Mazara del Vallo and Torretta Granitola. Additionally, the garrigue-like dense and low growing shrubberies occurring along the sunny and almost lat rocky calcareous coasts near Petrosino and between Mazara and Torretta Granitola are referred to the association Thymelaeo hirsutae-Helichrysetum conglobati (ANTHYLLIDION BARBAE-JOVIS). The local halo-nitrophilous annual communities occurring on sandy-loamy salted soils (SAGINETEA MARITIMAE and FRANKENION PULVERULENTAE) are ascribed to the Frankenio pulverulentae-Spergularietum bocconei. Some fragments of halo-nitrophilous scrub (class PEGANO HARMALAE-SALSOLETEA VERMICULATAE, alliance ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS), referred to Atriplici halimi-Artemisietum arborescentis, occur not only near the coast, but also on the salty marls of the innermost sector of this area, e.g. in the canyon of Castello della Pietra between Partanna and Castelvetrano. The salt marshes of Capo Feto host a mosaic of halo-hygrophilous rushand/or sedge-dominated assemblages framed into the alliance JUNCION MARITIMI. More in detail, Juncetum maritimi forms dense ad often wide helophytic communities on saline and permanently humid soils, while Scirpetum compacti occurs on clayey-loamy soils along the raised edges of swamps, and are able to stand long-lasting water stress due to the seasonal lowering of groundwater level. Sporobolo pumili-Juncetum maritimi is common on sandy and sandy-loamy soils and is often located between the coastal salt-marshes and the dune ecosystems. The halo-xerophilous shrubby vegetation ascribed to Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis, typical to areas subject to no or rare submersion events, occurs at Capo Feto, where it is linked to saltmarsh edges and canal banks. PLANTAGINION CRASSIFOLIAE includes the halo-psammophilous perennial communities linked to sandy, sandy-loamy nutrient-rich soils of 103 Itineraries the raised areas located between dunes and brackish swamps, humid in winter, dry in summer. This alliance is locally represented by Holoschoenetum globiferi, Schoeno nigricantis-Plantaginetum crassifoliae (Capo Feto) and Imperato cilyndricae-Juncetum littoralis (between Capo Granitola e Selinunte). The halo-hygrophilous chenopod scrub communities referred to SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE are well represented in the salt marshes of Petrosino and Capo Feto. The association Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornietum alpinii prevails on rather hypoxic soils submerged by marine water during winter season. Junco subulati-Arthrocnemetum glauci is more common in the areas prone to short submersion periods and prefers well-drained and raised sites (e.g. edges of abandoned salt pans), on sandy-clayey salty and humid soils, forming a continuous belt surrounding the coastal salt marshes. Several summer halo-nitrophilous pioneer communities dominated by annual succulent halophytes like Cressetum creticae and Suaedo maritimae-Salicornietum patulae (THEROSALICORNIETEA), occur in the tidal mud lats and edges of the coastal depressions seasonally looded with saline waters at Capo Feto. As for sand beaches, two species-poor pioneer psammo-nitrophilous summer annual communities (CAKILETEA MARITIMAE and euPhoRBion PePliS) occur in the area: Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum paraliae between Capo Granitola and Selinunte, Atriplicetum hastato-tornabenii along the shores of Capo Feto. Perennial dune vegetation (AMMOPHILETEA and ammoPhilion), once common and well-developed also at Meni and Sciacca, is still well represented by Cypero mucronati-Agropyretum juncei and Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum australis near Selinunte. The annual psammo-halophilous association Scabiosetum rutifoliae (ALKANNO-MARESION NANAE, HELIANTHEMETEA Guttati) co-occurs there. The stabilized coastal grey hind dunes between C. Granitola e Selinunte are covered by dwarf shrubby vegetation ascribed to Centaureo sphaerocephalae-Ononidetum ramosissimae (HELICHRYSO ITALICI-CRUCIANELLETEA MARITIMAE and CRUCIANELLION MARITIMAE). Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes The abandoned manufacts (stone walls, farmhouses) and quarries of the area host chasmo-nitrophilous communities referred to Capparidetum rupestris and Hyoscyamo albi-Parietarietum judaicae 104 Itineraries (CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA DIFFUSAE, ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS-CAPPARIDION SPINOSAE), Oxalido corniculatae-Parietarietum judaicae (PARIETARION JUDAICAE) and Sedo dasyphylli-Ceterachetum oicinarum (CYMBALARIO-ASPLENION). On the shady ledges and rock clifs occur several moss- and fernrich assemblages referred to ANOMODONTO-POLYPODIETEA and POLYPODION SERRATI. Steep and high rock clifs are not common in the area. The local impoverished nuclei of undisturbed chasmophytic vegetation, mostly found on calcareous rock faces and crevices, may be ascribed to DIANTHION RUPICOLAE. The rock clifs of the canyon of Tardara, corresponding to the higher trait of the river Carboj, host the endemic association Brassico rupestris-Centauretum saccensis. Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation Where calcareous rocks meet marls the rich groundwater network gives rise to springs, home of several chomophytic and chasmophytic moss- and fern dominated communities (ADIANTETEA and ADIANTION) typical to shaded and water-splashed sites. Not surprisingly, both the toponyms ‘Selinunte’ and ‘Petrosino’ probably issue from the ancient Greek term ‘selinon’ which in tern refers to Apium spp. growing wild in such moist habitats. The area is still rich in natural wetlands (salt marshes, permanent brackish ponds, etc.). Several written documents and maps testify that local wetlands were even wider and more common until the XVIII-XIX centuries. Also the artiicial, disturbed, polluted and eutrophic lake of Pantano Leone near Campobello di Mazara has been made in a site previously occupied by a natural wetland. The water bodies which totally dry up during summer season are called ‘margi’, from the Arab word ‘marğ’ (= temporary pond), which in turn has probably a very ancient Indo-European origin (see the Latin terms ‘mare’ and ‘mergere’ and the Anglo-Saxon ‘marsh’), while the permanent ponds originating from karst processes are called ‘urghi’ (from the late Latin ‘gurgum’ = gorge, hollow). The lat landscape of the Sciare also hosts several small temporary ponds and rock pools rich in hygrophilous and aquatic communities linked to freshwaters. The distribution of the hygrophilous vegetation surrounding the slightly brackish and eutrophic permanent ponds located between 105 Itineraries Mazara del Vallo and Torretta Granitola, i.e. Lago Murana, Lago Preola, Gorgo Tondo and Gorgo Basso, clearly mirrors the diferent water requirements of the dominating plants, giving rise to concentric vegetation belts. If we trace an ideal transect from the water to the outer borders of the wetlands, the 0.5- to 2 m-deep bottoms of the waterbodies are characterised by a rooting submerged plant, Potamogeton pectinatus, forming a monophytic aquatic assemblage (Potametum pectinati, POTAMOGETONION and POTAMOGETONETEA), while the clayey-loamy alluvial soils at the borders of the ponds host several hygrophilous communities able to stand short drying periods during summer, dominated by big rhizomatous helophytes (PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA and PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS), like Scirpo lacustri-Phragmitetum australis, Typhetum angustifoliae and Iridetum pseudacori. The rocky and steep raised banks of the karstic ponds host discontinuous nuclei of the thermo-hygrophilous association Soncho maritimi-Cladietum marisci, while Caricetum hispidae (MAGNOCARICION ELATAE) prevails on less steep outer banks. Near the Gorghi Tondi the hygrophilous vegetation and the fringes of evergreen sclerophyllous maquis are interconnected by Cirsio cretici-Dorycnietum recti (DORYCNIO RECTI-RUMICION CONGLOMERATI, EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII), a dense tall-herb community exploiting the nutrient-rich soils around the ponds. Between late autumn and early spring the small depressions on terra rossa and the small rock pools interspersed in the territory (e.g. Partanna, Castelvetrano, Sambuca di Sicilia and Mazara del Vallo) host temporary ponds whose bottom is covered with rooted vegetation ascribed to RANUNCULION AQUATILIS (POTAMOGETONETEA), while their borders are colonized by several ephemeral dwarf annual swards ascribed to ISOETION and ELATINION MACROPODAE (ISOETO-NANOJUNCETEA). Lemnetum minoris is a pioneer monophytic free-loating duckweed community belonging to LEMNETEA MINORIS, found in the still and eutrophic shallow freshwaters of Pantano Leone. During summer the slightly sloping and sunny shores of this artiicial lake are covered with the ephemeral pioneer dwarf amphibious vegetation ascribed to Glino mollis-Verbenetum supini (VERBENION SUPINAE), typical to periodically submerged loamy and nutrient-rich soils of the water bodies subject to signiicant changes of water level. 106 Itineraries As for local rivers and streams, fragments of open riparian woodland (SALICETEA PURPUREAE and SALICION PEDICELLATAE) still occur near the mouth of the Belice river (Salicetum albo-pedicellatae), while the mid course embankments of the main local rivers (Belice and Arena-Grande-Delia) host some nuclei of the hygrophilous association Ulmo canescentis-Salicetum pedicillatae, sometimes intermingled with thermo-hygrophilous pioneer thickets which may be referred to the class NERIO-TAMARICETEA. Nowadays, the most common plant communities bordering the local luvial network are some helophytic assemblages belonging to PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA, such as Helosciadetum nodilori (GLYCERIO-SPARGANION), growing in the thalweg of local streams, and Cypero longi-Caricetum otrubae (MAGNOCARICION ELATAE), adapted to stand seasonal drying periods. The brackish waters of Arena river mouth, east of Mazara del Vallo, host an almost intact nucleus of Scirpetum compacto-littoralis (SCIRPION MARITIMI). The seasonally looded nutrient-rich banks of Pantano Leone are covered with Polygono lapathifolii-Xanthietum italici (BIDENTETEA TRIPARTITAE and CHENOPODION RUBRI), while local riverbeds subject to intense mechanical disturbance host other summer-annual pioneer assemblages ascribed to PASPALO-AGROSTION VERTICILLATI, rich in thermo-hygrophilous species such as Panicum repens, Paspalum paspaloides, Echinochloa crus-galli and Polypogon viridis. Anthropogenic vegetation To Diplotaxio tenuifoliae-Oryzopsietum miliaceae (BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE) belong the subnitrophilous and thermoxerophilous grasslands occurring on nutrient-rich soils along the borders of roads and tracks, at the base of stonewalls and in the fallows of the coastal area between Marsala and Mazara del Vallo. Local crop cultures are characterized by Capnophyllo peregrini-Medicaginetum ciliaris (PAPAVERETEA RHOEADIS and RIDOLFION SEGETI), rather common on the clayey soils of W Sicily. Viticulture is the most widespread (and often the only rentable) agricultural activity on the almost lat and sunny surfaces on this area. Local vineyards on terra rossa are characterized by Diplotaxietum vimineo-erucoidis (FUMARION WIRTGENII-AGRARIAE). Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Kickxietum integrifoliae is a summer annual herb-rich heliophilous and nitrophilous association (DIPLOTAXION 107 Itineraries ERUCOIDIS) linked to base-rich soils subject to regular seasonal agricultural practices. It is found on annual crop ields, vineyards, olive groves and almond orchards near Selinunte. Other nitrophilous and ruderal communities linked to man-made habitats and suburban areas are ascribed to CHENOPODION MURALIS, like Amarantho muricati-Chenopodietum ambrosiodis, observed along the banks of Pantano Leone, rich in thermophilous alien plants such as Mirabilis jalapa e Amaranthus blitoides, and Amarantho viridis-Chenopodietum muralis, common around Mazara del Vallo. HORDEION LEPORINI is locally represented by Hordeo leporini-Sisymbrietum orientalis, ruderal assemblage occurring long arid stony and suburban roadsides in the coastal areas (e.g. (Mazara del Vallo), whilst Centauretum napifoliae (Selinunte, Partanna, Partanna-Castelvetrano, Triscina, Campobello di Mazara), characterized by a high of liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, is linked to the clayey and clayey-loamy soils of alluvial origin of the coastal plains, and is relatively frequent along roadsides, paths, tracks and canals. The abandoned ields and fallowland is characterised by herb-rich communities ascribed to Centauretum schouwii (ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE), substituted by Vulpio ligusticae-Tetragonolobe- Cave di Cusa: Huge pieces of future columns are lying scattered in the ields all along the way from Cusa to Selinunte. 108 Itineraries tum bilori and Chamaemelo fuscati-Silenetum fuscatae (FEDIO GRACILIFLORAE-CONVOLVULION CUPANIANI) on the subacid and sandy soils of Mazzara and Castelvetrano. Local Citrus orchards host nitro-sciaphilous assemblages which may be ascribed to GERANIO PURPUREI-CARDAMINETALIA HIRSUTAE. The hygrophilous and nitro-sciaphilous megaphorb vegetation which forms tall hedges around several permanent ponds, such as the lakes Murana and Preola, is referred to EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII and, more precisely, to the association Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis (CYNANCHO-CONVOLVULION SEPIUM). The nitrophilous dwarf annual assemblages of trampled areas (POLYGONO-POËTEA ANNUAE and POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI) is locally represented by Polycarpo tetraphylli-Spergularietum rubrae. The suburban areas and the numerous abandoned stone quarries of the Sciare of Petrosino, Mazara del Vallo and Campobello di Mazara are colonized by nitrophilous pioneer assemblages referred to the NICOTIANO GLAUCAE-RICINION COMMUNIS, dominated by many fast-growing alien thermo-cosmopolitan invasive species such as Nicotiana glauca. 4.3. Landscape and land use history Several indings testify the continuous human presence in this territory since upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic (Castelvetrano, Roccazzo and Gorghi Tondi near Mazara del Vallo, Tardara canyon, etc.), throughout Neolithic (Mt. Kronio near Sciacca, Castello della Pietra near Castelvetrano, Contrada Stretto near Partanna, etc.) and Bronze Age, when local communities started to build up villages (e.g. along the rivers Màzaro ad Arena near Mazara, near Partanna, Castelvetrano, Meni, etc.). During Iron Age local communities (e.g. Partanna, Erbe Bianche near Campobello di Mazara, Montagnoli di Belice near Meni) had intense trade relationships with East Mediterranean people. During the XI century BC Elymians settled there, and a signiicant increase of agro-pastoral activities occurred. In the same period Phoenicians used Mazara irst as seaport to stop during their travels to or from their Iberian colonies and then as true emporium, as testiied by many manufacts found between the mouth of the river Mazaro and Capo Feto. Later on, falling under Greek inluence, Mazara continued to play the same role as emporium of Selinunte. After the destruction 109 Itineraries of Selinunte (409 BC), it was alternatively under Syracuse or Carthage inluence until Romans conquered Sicily (241 BC) and populated the whole area (e.g. Meni, Thermae Selinuntinae = Sciacca, etc.). After the devastations caused by Vandals and Goths the whole area experienced a long-lasting period of socio-economic and demographic crisis. Local human community gradually increased under Byzantines, but the complete recover of the area coincided with the arrival of Tunisian Muslims (Capo Granitola, 827 AD). With approximately 30000 people Mazara became the second most important city of W Sicily after Palermo, and it played an important role also under Norman rule. In the meanwhile, plenty of rural villages were founded by Berbers who inhabited the inner part of W Sicily between X and XII centuries, like Partanna and Burgiomilluso (now Meni). Also Castelvetrano, whose name seems to issue from the Latin Castrum Veteranum, perhaps a fortress or a watch tower built to defend and ancient crossroad, was probably founded around 1130 AD. The whole area experienced strong depopulation between 1240 and 1280, i.e. after the persecution and the deportation of the whole Berber community carried out by the Swabian king Frederick II and during the short period of Anjou dominion. Under Aragon crown local human community experienced a new increase, and the Sciare were cultivated once again. Wide surfaces were still covered with trees, as suggested by the permission (1318) given by the kings to exploit and cut down the ‘forests’ of Berrybaida and Castelvetrano. Throughout the XV and XVI centuries Mazara del Vallo and Castelvetrano were wealthy centres, while the coastal areas remained almost desert and mostly exploited for quarrying, probably due to the high risk of contracting malaria near the coastal brackish swamps and because of the frequent incursions of north African pirates. Between XVII and XVIII centuries the Spanish government granted plots of land to farmers, promoted the construction of rural houses to support and host them during seasonal seeding and harvesting activities; in that period rural villages such as ‘Menfrici’ (now Meni), Petrosino and Campobello di Mazara were founded, but real urbanisation of the territory started during the XVIII century, with the explosion of viticulture and olive culture, which changed forever local natural and rural landscape. Between the end of the XIX and the irst decades of the XX century a long-lasting period of economic depression induced many people to emigrate to USA, Australia and S America. 110 Itineraries Until the 1950s the most rentable activities still were extensive grapevine and olive cultures and tuna ishing using millenary techniques (see the ilm of Rossellini ‘contadini del mare’, 1955). At that time the SW Sicilian coasts appeared one of the best preserved oasis of wilderness left in the whole island. Very drastic changes have been shaping local landscape and land use during last half century. Mazara del Vallo became the biggest ishing port of the whole Mediterranean; in the meanwhile, the sand beaches and dune ecosystems, once widespread along the shores of all this area, underwent degradation, fragmentation and even total destruction due to touristic pressure and urban sprawl: previously uninhabited areas are now covered with thousands of private (and often illegal) houses forming ugly and chaotic ‘summer villages’ like those of Tre Fontane, Marinella di Selinunte, Torretta Granitola between Mazara del Vallo and Campobello di Mazara or those of Porto Palo and Lido Fiori near Meni. The last well preserved sectors of the coast are the protected dune system near Selinunte, at the mouth of Belice river and the coastal saltmarshes within the nature reserve of ‘Capo Feto’, both managed from the Province of Trapani, and the nature reserve ‘Gorghi Tondi and Lago Preola’, managed by the NGO WWF-Italia. These remnant wetlands and coastal ecosystems still have a high naturalistic value, as they host many rare plants and plant communities and attract a very high number of migrating or nesting birds. Also coastal wetlands underwent important changes: land reclamation carried out during the 1920-1930s in order to favour agricultural activities led to the drying up of a wide portion of them, and the water balance of the remnant coastal retrodunal lagoons, brackish swamps and saltmarshes (e.g. Margi di Milo near Petrosino and Capo Feto near Mazara del Vallo) was regulated through artiicial canals and engines until the 1960s. At the same time, the difuse and intense capture and manumission of freshwater resources heavily haltered the regime and the chemical properties of local waterbodies, e.g. by facilitating the ingression of marine water and causing pollution. At the same time the intense and widespread anthropogenic disturbance linked with intensive agriculture, quarrying, urban sprawl, etc., facilitated the invasion of many ruderal and salt-tolerant plants. On January 1968 ‘Belice earthquake’ (Magnitudo 6.4) almost completely destroyed most of the towns of this area, and strongly afected local rural economy. 111 Itineraries Today the area hosts approximately 170000 inhabitants (Mazara: 52000, Sciacca: 41000, Castelvetrano: 32000, Meni: 13000, Campobello di Mazara: 12000, Partanna: 11000, Petrosino: 8000). Most of its hilly inland is currently covered with intensive, monotonous groves or vineyards, while carob trees and almonds have almost disappeared; on deeper soils and where water was available, Citrus orchards (mainly oranges) were made at the expense of the remnant nuclei of cork oak-dominated forests. Vineyards also covered wide surfaces of the coastal sector, but during last decades intensive green-house monocultures (tomatoes, strawberries, melons, etc.) are becoming the most widespread (and nature-unfriendly) land use. 112 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Bazan G., Ilardi V., Raimondo F.M., 2006. La vegetazione della Gola della Tardara (Sicilia sud-occidentale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 30(3-4): 379-392. Bernhardt K.-G., 1988. Die Chamaerops humilis-Garigue im westlichen Sizilien. Tuexenia, 8: 271-280. Bernhardt K.-G., 1989. Die Euphorbia dendroides Gesellschaft der Gipsfelsen im südwestlichen Sizilien. Webbia, 43(2): 291-300. Brullo S., 1978. La vegetazione palustre di Capo Feto. Un ambiente umido da salvare. Pp. 41-45 in: Ente Fauna Siciliana (a cura di), Atti II Convegno siciliano di Ecologia (Noto-Augusta, 23-25 ottobre 1977). Brullo S., Di Martino A., Marcenò C., 1974. Osservazioni sulla vegetazione psammoila tra Capo Granitola e Selinunte (Sicilia occidentale). Bollettino di Studi e Informazioni del reale Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 26: 103-110. Brullo S., Ronsisvalle G. A., 1975. La vegetazione dei Gorghi Tondi e del Lago Preola presso Mazara del Vallo (Sicilia occidentale). Notiziario itosociologico, 10: 45-67. Brullo S., Scelsi F., Siracusa G., 1994. Contributo alla conoscenza della vegetazione teroitica della Sicilia occidentale. Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 27 (346): 341-365. Fanales F., 1899. Contributo alla conoscenza della lora delle sciare di Marsala. Bollettino del Reale Orto botanico e Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 3(1-2): 1-65. La Rosa A., Gianguzzi L., Ottonello D., 2007. Primi dati sulla lora vascolare del SIC ‘Sistema dunale Capo Granitola, Porto Palo e Foce del Belice’ (Sicilia sud-occidentale). 102° Congresso Nazionale della Società Botanica Italiana (Palermo, 26-29 settembre 2007), riassunti: 302. Marcenò C., Gristina A.S., Scuderi L., 2007. Nuovi dati distributivi relativi a specie di particolare interesse rinvenute lungo il Bacino del Belice e in aree limitrofe. 102° Congresso Nazionale della Società Botanica Italiana (Palermo, 26-29 settembre 2007), riassunti: 304. 113 Itineraries Ottonello D., Catanzaro F., 1986. Contributo alla lora del trapanese. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 9(1-4): 89-99. Ottonello D., La Mantia A., 2004. Studio loristico, vegetazionale e cartograico dell’area della Riserva Naturale Integrale Lago Preola e Gorghi Tondi (Mazara del Vallo, Trapani. Convenzione fra Riserva Naturale Integrale Lago Preola e Gorghi Tondi e Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche Università degli Studi di Palermo. Pasta S., Bambina A., Colonna Romano L., Giancontieri G., Messana G., La Mantia T., Ottonello D., Scuderi L., 2008. Il sito di Castello della Pietra e Riserva Zangara (Castelvetrano, Sicilia sud-occidentale: Indagine multidisciplinare e proposte di tutela. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 32 (1-2): 3-60. Raimondo F.M., Castiglia G., Schicchi R., 1991. La macchia insediata sulle rovine dell’antica città di Selinunte (Trapani). Giornale botanico italiano, 125(3): 413 (abstract). Speranza M., Tibiletti E., Catizzone P., 1993. Basic study for vegetation management on archaeological sites: Selinunte experience. Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage, 2: 87-98. 114 Itineraries Box 4.1 The Greek colony of Selinunte and the ‘Cave di Cusa’ Founded about 630 BC on a hill besides the sea surrounded by the rivers Modione (the ancient Σελινοῦς, Selinous) and Cottone, Selinunte was one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily, expanding its inluence to Halycus (= Platani) river to the east, to Mazarus river to the west. Around 420 BC the city walls enclosed an area of approximately 100 hectares and hosted more than 15,000 people. Being the westernmost Greek colony in Sicily, Selinunte soon came into contact with the Phoenicians and with Elymi, against whom disputes began as early as 580 BC, and culminated in 416 BC, when Selinunte and Segesta called Syracuse and Athens, respectively, as allies. Few years later (409 BC), when Segestans asked assistance from Carthage, a huge army of at least 100,000 Punic soldiers conquered Selinunte and wiped out most of its inhabitants. The stone quarry of Cave di Cusa, located 13 km SW of Selinunte, exploited for almost 150 years to construct the temples of the city, was suddenly abandoned after the defeat. Hereinafter Selinunte was under Punic control until the end of the First Punic War (250 BC): before pulling back, the Carthaginians removed all the inhabitants and destroyed the city. References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_di_Cusa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selinunte Danner P., 1997. Megara, Megara Hyblaea and Selinus: the relationship between the town planning of a mother city, a colony and a sub-colony in the Archaic Period. In: “Urbanization in the Mediterranean in the Ninth to Sixth Centuries B.C.”, Acta Hyperborea, 7. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 151 pp. Guido M., Tusa V., 1978. Guida archeologica della Sicilia. Palermo, Sellerio, pp. 68-80. Spawforth T., 2006. The Complete Greek Temples 2006. London, Thames & Hudson, 240 pp. 115 V Evaporitic memories Itinerary1 - Siculiana The central part of the southern coast of Sicily is a classic ground for Messinian studies. Mio-Pliocene strata are folded and capped by only weakly deformed Pleistocene shallow-marine deposits. The Siculiana fold includes a 100 m thick massive-bedded selenitic gypsum (the ‘Gessi di Cattolica Eraclea’ Stratigraphic Unit), with synclines of commercially exploited halite deposits. The gypsum unit is underlain Itineraries by kilometre-thick mudstone-dominated successions, which include the Miocene Licata Formation and older claystones, and overlain by an upper Messinian succession chiely comprising mudstones, with thin sandstone and sparse 1–4m thick gypsum beds, which pass abruptly up into chalks (Trubi Formation) and marls (Narbone Formation) of Pliocene–Pleistocene age. These soft, unstable and often salty substrata are colonized by a patchwork of scrublands (Salsolo vermiculatae-Peganetalia harmalae, Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni) perennial (Lygeo-Stipetalia) and annual grasslands (Thero-Brometalia, Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi) which shift into the psammophilous vegetation complexes of coastal sand dunes (Ammophiletalia australis, Helichryso stoechadis-Crucianelletalia maritimae, Malcolmietalia) towards the shoreline. Trail: Length: 5 km round trip, Hiking time: 2 hours, Elevation range: 200 m General Description 5.1. The physical setting Nowadays this hilly landscape of inner Sicily is mostly characterised by steep marly, calcareous or gypsous hills, badlands and sunny braided streams, or gently sloping clayey slopes covered with cereal crop ields, vineyards or overgrazed pasturelands, while during Miocene this area was a marine basin. Up to date the most ancient rocks outcropping in this area belong to the ‘Cozzo Terravecchia Formation’ (upper Tortonian-lower Messinian, i.e. 7.5-6 Ma), which form a very thick layer of clays, marly clays interbedded with thin lenses of sands and conglomerates and are interpreted as a post-orogenic terrigenous sediment (i.e. issuing from the erosion of a close emerged continental area) which accumulated before the temporary closure of the Mediterranean basin. Nowadays this area is mainly characterised by the outcropping lithological units of the so-called ‘Gessoso-Solifera Evaporitic Series’. Within this series a irst and a second sedimentary cycle have been recognized, interrupted by a phase of tectonic uplift. The diferent steps of the whole sedimentary process gave rise to the following lithological succession: 1) ‘Tripoli’: lightweight, porous, slightly laminated diatomites (= diatom shells) and snowwhite marls, rich in plant and ish fossils, strongly bituminous at the base. This lithotype represents a ‘prelude’ of the Mediterranean salin118 Itineraries The marly white coast of Siculiana (Suaedo-Salsoletum oppositifoliae; Asparago-Limoniastretum monopetali), with a sandy beach in the foreground (Medicagini marinae-Ammophyletum australis). ity crisis, testifying the oingoing process of closure of the basin and the gradual shift to ‘euxinic’ (= oxygen poor water) environments; 2) ‘Calcare di base’: vacuolar, massive or stratiied calcareous banks, interbedded with tiny pelitic intercalations; 3) ‘Gypsums of the First Cycle’ or ‘Gessi di Cattolica’: thick banks of selenitic (= macrocrystalline) gypsum, interbedded with laminated layers of microcrystalline gypsum (‘balatino’) and lenses of evaporitic limestones. The units 2 and 3 issue from the direct evaporation of Mediterranean sea waters; 4) Salts: the acme of the evaporitic process coincides with the precipitation of salts, which concludes the irst sedimentary cycle; 5) ‘Torbiditi gessose’ (= gypseous turbidites): ine and coarse-grained gypseous sands interbedded with clays and bituminous diatomites, issuing from the dismantling of the outcropping evaporitic depositis due to inframessinian orogenesis; 6) ‘Gypsums of the Second Cycle’ or ‘Gessi di Pasquasia’: alternated selenitic, alabastrine (= saccaroid, i.e. sugar-grained) and microcrystalline (‘balatino’) gypsum layers interbedded with clays incorporating coarse blocks and fragments of gypsum crystals (gypsous clays). This formation issues from continental sedimentation processes; 7) ‘Arenazzolo’: arkosic sandstones. 119 Itineraries This discontinuous terrigenous sediment closes the evaporitic series. The formations 2 to 7 date back to upper Messinian (5.96-5.33 Ma). The revival of the connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea during the lower Pliocene (5.3 Ma) is testiied by another formation, the so-called ‘Trubi’, made of whitish stratiied marly limestones and marls, rich in plankton foraminifers, with thick but irregular intercalations of clayey breccias. Later on the area was covered with a diferent type of pelagic sediments, the so-called ‘Blue-grey clayey marls’ (mid-upper Pliocene, 3.6-2.6 Ma), an extensive and well stratiied pelitic sequence, somehwere showing a high sandy content and rich in fossils invertebrates (lamellibranches and gasteropodes). Due its large size and its wide altitudinal range (from 0 to more than 900 m a.s.l.) the whole area is subject to a wide spectrum of bioclimates, ranging from lower thermomediterranean lower arid (Simeto river plain), to upper thermomediterranean on the inner hilly areas (lower and upper subhumid, Trapani and Agrigento provinces), to mesomediterranean on the highest hilly areas (upper arid and lower subhmid in Trapani, Agrigento and Caltanissetta provinces and on the southern slopes of Madonie Mts., upper subhumid in Enna province). Selenitic gypsum colonized by the Rosmarino-Coridothymetum capitati and, in the background, perennial (Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis) and annual (Ononido brevilorae-Stipetum capensis) dry grasslands. 120 Itineraries Average annual rainfalls range between <550 mm (Riesi and Centuripe: 477, Adrano: 508, Vicari 539), 550-650 (Caltanissetta, Canicatti, Ciminna, Lercara Friddi, Mineo), >700 (Nicosia, Piazza Armerina and Racalmuto), and >800 (Bivona, Platani, Enna and Piano Leone). According to altitude, distance from sea or waterbodies and aspect the average values of mean yearly temperures range between 13.4 (Enna and Piano Leone), 16.5 (Riesi) and 16.8 °C (Bivona). The same trend is observed with the average minimum yearly temperatures (January), which range between 5 (Enna) and 9.0 °C (Riesi), and average maximum yearly temperatures (July and/or August) range between 22 (Piano Leone) and 26.6 °C (Mineo). In the whole area the water stress season last 4 to 5 months. As concerns the more common soil associations occurring in this territory, the steep and almost bare top of the hills are classiied as lithosols, the remaining part of gypsum-rich hills are characterised by an association of typical xerorthents and typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= eutric regosols, eutric and/or vertic cambisols), while the valleys host a mixture of typical xerorthents, lithic xerorthents, typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= calcareous regosols, lithosols, eutric and/or vertic cambisols) and somewhere also typical and/or vertic xeroluvents and/or typical chromoxerets and/or typical pelloxerets (= eutric luvisols and/or chromic and/or pellic vertisols). Scattered spots of an association with typical xerorthents, typical and/or vertic xeroluvents and/or typical chromoxerets and/or typical pelloxerets (= eutric regosols and eutric luvisols and/or chromic and/or pellic vertisols) occur near Sommatino, Barrafranca, Racalmuto, Calascibetta, Valguarnera Caropepe and Leonforte). The alluvial areas corresponding to local hydrographic network and to some scattered wetlands (e.g. Canicattì, Riesi, Resuttano, Serradifalco and San Cataldo) are characterised by a mixture of typical and/or vertic xeroluvents (eutric luvisols), typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (eutric and/or vertic cambisols) and typical chromoxererts and/or typical pelloxerets (chromic and/or pellic vertisols). An association of typical and vertic xerochrepts, typical chromoxererts and typical pelloxererts (= eutric and vertic cambisols, chromic and/or pellic vertisols) occur near Vicari, Aragona, Joppolo Giancaxio and Campobello di Licata. 121 Itineraries On the southern slopes of Madonie Mts. and near Resuttano and San Cataldo occurs a combination of typical xerochrepts, typical haploxeralfs and typical and/or lithic xerorthents (= eutric cambisols, orthic luvisols and eutric regosols and/or lithosols). Despite its often desertic landscape, this area hosts the endoreic brackish lake of Pergusa near Enna (1.2 km2 the biggest natural lake of Sicily) and several permanent ponds like Lago Soprano near Serradifalco and Lago Sfondato near San Cataldo. The twin water pools of Palagonia, also known as Lago Naftia for their intense smell, issuing from the secondary activity of the Plio-Pleistocenic volcans of the Iblei Mts., have been destroyed during 1950s, when his site, sacred to Sicilian inhabitants for millennia, has been converted in an industrial site for the exploitation of carbon dioxide. Moreover, central Sicily is crossed by all the main rivers of the island, i.e. Imera meridionale or Salso (144 km), Simeto (113 km), Belìce (107 km), Platani (103 km), and many other important ones, like Disueri-Gela (c. 70 km), Sosio-Verdura (59 km), Imera settentrionale or Fiume Grande (35 km) and Naro (31 km). Another geological highlight of this area are mud volcanoes. They occur in seven diferent sites of central-southern Sicily and at the base of Mt. Etna. All these localities are characterized by the co-occurrence of rapid sedimentation and intense neotectonic processes. The luids and gases (mainly salty water, methane and carbon dioxide) incorporated in the pores of the clayey sediments are subject to extremely high pressure. Such pressure makes this mixture behave like a semi-liquid force it up through issures in the crust, producing an outlowing mass of mud on the surface. Already known and described by ancient scholars like Pliny the Elder, the Macalube di Aragona is the biggest mud volcanism site in Sicily. It covers an area of about 1.4 km2 and hosts two c. 3 m-wide salsa lakes with water and gurgling gases and many cone-shaped structures called ‘gryphons’. Local mud volcanoes alternate an almost continuous degassing activity and episodes with expulsion of large quantities of mud, blast and burning of gases. The onomatopeic Arab name ‘Maglub’ means ‘overturned soil’ and probably refer to the latter irregular, paroxysmal and dangerous events. The Terrapelata site near Caltanissetta occupies an area of about 1.2 km2 and is characterized by smaller gryphons emitting mud and gases. The morphology and the luid emissions of other mud volca122 Itineraries Saltmarsh colonized by the Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpini (reddish colour in the foreground) and by Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis (green meadow in the background). noes, the so-called Salinelle of S. Biagio and Paternò, are prone to anthropogenic disturbance and are strongly afected by seismic events and any chemical change afecting the degassing activity of Mt. Etna. 5.2. Flora and vegetation The available botanical knowledge on the territory at issue appears still incomplete and needs further updating and improvement. Scanty information on the innermost part of Sicily dates back to the beginnings of the XIX century, when the area was explored by G. Gussone, and by Sicilian scholars such as M. Lojacono-Pojero around the end of 1890s. Several botanical surveys, mostly concentrated on the humid areas, have been carried out around 1970s, while some recent investigations have ben focused on nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites. It worths to be underlined that currently uncultivated areas were almost certainly uncultivated also in pre- and proto-historical times; hence, this ‘unexplored archipelago’ of semi-natural surfaces scattered throughout the area (mostly rocky hills) may host many botanical treasures, such as neglected populations of rare and endemic species or even unknown species! 123 Itineraries According to Brullo et al. (1995), this area belongs to the Agrigentine district, which on our opinion should include the very poorly distinct Catanese district, coinciding with the mid-low basin of Simeto river. It hosts as much as 13 narrow endemics, i.e. Allium agrigentinum, Allium castellanense, Anthemis muricata (also near Caltagirone), Astragalus raphaelis, Lavatera agrigentina (also badlands of Catania province), Limonium calcarae, Limonium catanzaroi, Limonium optimae, Puccinellia gussonei (probably extinct), Salsola agrigentina (also near Comiso), Scabiosa parvilora (also badlands of Catania province), Senecio leucanthemifolius subsp. pectinatus, Tripolium sorrentinoi, and many vascular plants which occur only or mostly within this district, such as Avena insularis, Brassica villosa subsp. tinei, Cardopatium corymbosum, Chaenorrhinum rupestre, Cucubalus baccifer (probably extinct), Diplotaxis crassifolia, Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. tenuifolia, Erysimum metlesicsii, Gypsophila arrostii, Jacobaea lycopifolia, Klasea cichoracea, Nepeta apuleii, Ophrys mirabilis, Scorzoneroides muelleri subp. muelleri (also badlands of Catania province), Sedum gypsicola, Sedum ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum, Trifolium congestum, Zannichellia peltata, etc. As paradigmatic example of the strong underestimation of the botanical heritage of central Sicily we point out the fact that one single IPA, ‘SIC 29 Rupi di Marianopoli’, belongs to this area. Zonal vegetation Most of this area was probably exploited by farmers already during Neolithic times, and pristine shrublands and woodlands have been replaced by crop cultures many thousands of years ago. Not surprisingly, very small and extremely simpliied examples of forest and pre-forest communities currently occur in this area, and assessing what local ‘climax’ looked like appears quite a hard task. Nowadays we can distinguish at least two main vegetation series linked to the soils issuing from the diferent chemical properties of the Sicilian evaporitic outcropping rocks: one series typical to baserich soils deriving from crystalline gypsum, gypsum sandstones and calcareous and marly-calcareous substrates and one series linked heavy and often nutrient-rich soils issuing from salty clays. As for the series of the base-rich soils, the remnant forest assemblages (QUERCETEA ILICIS and FRAXINO ORNI-QUERCION ILICIS) are represented by few small nuclei of evegreen maquis on 124 Itineraries steep slopes which may be referred to Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis (e.g. Sant’Angelo Muxaro, Gibliscemi) and from some spots of thermophilous oak woodland which may be ascribed to Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum virgilianae (Milena, Sutera, Marianopoli, etc.). Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis (ARBUTO UNEDONIS-LAURION NOBILIS) occurs along the thalweg of Santa Ninfa (Trapani province). Owing to the efective long-distance ornithochorous dispersal performed by laurels, the anthropogenic origin of this community cannot be discarded. Dynamically and topographically connected with broadleaved woodlands are several shrubland ‘mantle’ communities dominated by brooms and spiny Rosaceae, like Euphorbio characiae-Prunetum spinosae (CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA and PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII). On the steep and bare rocky hills of this area some summer-deciduous open maquis assemblages (OLEO-CERATONION SILIQUAE) occur, such as Euphorbietum dendroidis and Euphorbio characiae-Anagyridetum foetidae (e.g. near Lago Sfondato). The most common, yet poorly studied, woody communities occurring in such environmental conditions are the garrigues, dominated by low-growing subshrubs adapted to alkaline soils and to long-lasting drough periods (ONONIDO-ROSMARINETEA and CISTO ERIOCEPHALI-ERICION MULTIFLORAE). As for perennial grasslands (LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE), the areas subject to meso-mediterranean climate host several communites belonging to AVENULO-AMPELODESMION MAURITANICI, like Astragalo huetii-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici (Trapani, Agrigento and Enna provinces), Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici (Milena), Avenulo cincinnatae-Stipetum barbatae (Serre di Ciminna), Avenulo cincinnatae-Stipetum siculae (Enna and Caltanissetta provinces, e.g. Leonforte and Serre di Marianopoli) and Seselio tortuosi-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici (mostly Enna province, southern Madonie, but also Racalmuto, Canicattì, Serradifalco, etc.). The S-facing slopes of the hilly areas with base-rich lithosols located under thermo- and meso-mediterranean bioclimate are mostly covered with assemblages ascribed to HYPARRHENION HIRTAE (Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis: widespread; Dichanthio annulati-Hyparrhenietum hirtae and Imperato cylindricae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae). Under severe overgrazing these perennial grasslands are often substituted by perennial assemblages such as Thapsio garganicae-Fer125 Itineraries uletum communis, Ferulo communis-Hyparrhenietum hirtae, Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis, and Cachryo siculae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae, all dominated by poisonous geophytes (ASPHODELETALIA RAMOSI and CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI). All the above-mentioned perennial herb- and grass-dominated communities are intermingled with annual dry grasslands typical to alkaline substrates; more in detail, the therophytic swards occurring on alkaline loamy and clayey substrates are referred to STIPION RETORTAE, those linked to gypsum-rich substrates are framed into the alliance SEDO-CTENOPSION GYPSOPHILAE (currently Filagini eriocephalae-Chaenorhinetum rubrifolii is the only described association), those found on shallow skeletal base-rich soils (e.g. Thero-Sedetum caerulei) belong to TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE, while the xerophilous and subhalophilous swards like Echinarietum todaroanae (Santa Ninfa, Marianopoli, etc.) are framed into PLANTAGINI-CATAPODION BALEARICI). Even if clayey soils probably were once covered with downy oak forests, most of the badlands are nowadays completely devoid of woody vegetation and are characterised by patchy and discontinuous annual and perennial grasslands. The most complex and ‘mature’ Clayish outcrops colonized by the Phagnalo annotici-Lygeetum sparti.. 126 Itineraries communities of Sicilian badlands is currently represented by halo-nitrophilous scrub (PEGANO HARMALAE-SALSOLETEA VERMICULATAE and SALSOLO OPPOSITIFOLIAE-SUAEDION FRUTICOSAE) dominated by few species adapted to tolerate the hyperarid conditions of the inland, such as the Salsoletum agrigentinae (steep and eroded badlands of Macalube, Adrano, Enna and Caltanissetta provinces, southern side of Madonie and high basin of Simeto river), Limonio calcarae-Suaedetum verae (Agrigento and Caltanissetta provinces: Sant’Angelo Muxaro, Terrapilata, etc.). Four subnitrophilous plant communities framed into the alliance ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS occur in more humid areas subject to mesomediterranean bioclimate, i.e. Coronillo valentinae-Artemisietum arborescentis (Imera settentrionale river basin near Caltavuturo), Limonio optimae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae (Salso river basin near Resuttano), Lycio europaei-Artemisietum arborescentis (Alia along Imera settentrionale basin, Agira and elsewhere in Enna province), Atriplici halimi-Artemisietum arborescentis (coastal and inner badlands of Catania province). Badlands host both xerophilous or hygrophilous grasslands which are adapted to cope with diferent edaphic stress factors (e.g. soil water eccess, soil water and oxygen shortage, soil summer cracking, etc.) with represent a severe bias for plant life. As for the xerophilous perennial grasslands, they may be framed into LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE and MORICANDIO-LYGEION SPARTI, an alliance dominated by stress-tolerant hemicryptophytes endemic to Sicily and southern Calabria, locally represented by three associations, i.e. Eryngio dichotomi-Lygeetum sparti (badlands of Agrigento, Caltanissetta and Catania subject to thermo-medietrranena climate), Asteretum sorrentinii (slightly mesophilous and nitrophilous, endemic to central-western Sicilian badlands) and Lavatero agrigentinae-Lygeetum sparti (species-rich assemblages occurring under mesomediterranean bioclimate between 350 and 550(800) m a.s.l. in Enna, Caltanissetta and Agrigento provinces). The tufs of Lygeum spartum play a key role for the whole grassland ecosystem by providing a humid and shady microhabitat for plenty of terophytes and geophytes and preventing them from being grazed before lowering. Additionally this perennial rhizomatous grass actually represents the last defence against desertiication, being able to colonize even 30-50° steep slopes, to promptly re-sprout after burning. On clayey or 127 Itineraries loamy compact soils, seasonally wet, then dry for long periods, Lygeum-dominated grasslands are often intermingled with halo-subnitrophilous discontinuous ephemeral swards framed into SAGINETEA MARITIMAE, such as Polypogonetum subspathacei (FRANKENION PULVERULENTAE), occurring on the slightly sloping margins of several temporary ponds, while the bare ridges and the steepiest and intensely eroded slopes of badlands are characterised by the uneven cover of annual dry grasslands such as Podospermo cani-Parapholidetum pycnanthae, Chamaemelo fuscati-Leontodontetum muelleri and Sphenopo divaricati-Spergularietum diandrae; all these communities are framed into GAUDINIO FRAGILIS-PODOSPERMION CANI, an alliance endemic to Sicily and southern Calabria. On particurly nutrient-rich clays (e.g. Macalube of Aragona) also subnitrophilous assemblages ascribed to MESEMBRYANTHEMION CRYSTALLINI may occur. Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes Chomophytic and chasmophytic moss- and fern dominated vegetation in shaded and water-splashed habitats (ADIANTETEA and ADIANTION) are represented by several associations like Eucladio verticillati-Adiantetum capilli-veneris, Eucladio verticillati-Didymodontetum tophacei, Adianto capilli-veneris-Cratoneuretum commutati. The thermophilous fern-rich epilithic communities of shaded sites (POLYPODIETEA and POLYPODION SERRATI) are locally represented by several associations like Anogrammo leptophyllae-Selaginelletum denticulatae, Polypodietum cambrici and Selaginello denticulatae-Cymbalarietum pubescentis. The sunny calcareous, marly or gypsum undisturbed clifs and ledges of inner and southern Sicily (Agrigento, Caltanissetta and Enna provinces) are covered by chasmophilous communities ascribed to Brassico tinei-Diplotaxietum crassifoliae (ASPLENIETEA TRICHOMANIS and DIANTHION RUPICOLAE), while the stone walls and the disturbed clifs host several thermophilous chasmo-nitrophilous assemblages framed into both CYMBALARIO-ASPLENION and PARIETARION JUDAICAE (CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA DIFFUSAE). Some spots of pioneer vegetation (DRYPIDETEA SPINOSAE and EUPHORBION RIGIDAE) occur on the calcareous and gypsum screes of this area; the former may be framed into Sedo sediformis-Centranthetum rubri, while the latter are still poorly studied. As for the 128 Itineraries Landscape view of the cultivated ields behind the coast of Siculiana and, in the foreground, an outcrop of selenitic gypsum with therophytic vegetation (Atractylido-Neatostemetum apuli). vegetation colonising the incoherent pebbly and sandy warps of local streams ad braided streams, it should be referred to Ononido ramosissimae-Helichrysetum italici (central Sicily: basins of the rivers Imera meridionale and Salso). Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation According to historical documents, many local rivers had a permanent water regime, and some of them were even navigable until Roman dominion, like, like Platani river. Both its name and that of one of its tributaries, called ‘Turvoli’ (from ‘durbu’, the Sicilian vernacular word for Platanus) unambiguously indicate the past presence of Platanus orientalis, never recorded by the botanists who have explored the area during last two centuries. Nowadays the entire area hosts only few, simpliied nuclei of riparian gallery forests (ALNO GLUTINOSAE-POPULETEA ALBAE and POPULION ALBAE). The scattered distribution of these communities depends not only on stress factors, such as the high salinity and the strong seasonality of the water regime of local rivers and streams, but also on the intense disturbance caused by seasonal agricultural practices (e.g. ploughing and stubble burning). Additionally, most 129 Itineraries of local main rivers underwent strong manumissions for drinking or agricultural purposes: their springs have been captured, their courses were deviated and canalized, crossbars have been created to slow them down and dams to ill artiicial water reservoirs, etc. More common are the assemblages framed into SALICION PEDICELLATAE (SALICETEA PURPUREAE), a SW Mediterranean alliance including the riparian alluvial willow scrubs colonizing the alluvia of mineral-poor rivers, streams and braided-streams, locally represented by Salicetum albo-pedicellatae (rivers of central and southwestern Sicily: Verdura, Platani, Disueri, Gornalunga, etc.) and Ulmo canescentis-Salicetum pedicillatae (e.g. streams near Salemi and Santa Ninfa). Additionally, the beds and the banks of local braided-streams (the so-called ‘iumare’) are frequently covered with thermo-hygrophilous pioneer thickets ascribed to Tamaricetum gallicae (NERIO-TAMARICETEA and TAMARICION AFRICANAE). These communities are adapted to widstand intense mechanical disturbance during the rainy season, when the water courses are full with mud and large stone blocks, and a very long-lasting period of water shortage, intense solar radiation and extremely high temperatures (during summer the surface of pebbly streambeds may reach 80 °C!). The borders of permanent water bodies, riversides and streamsides are covered with three diferent types of perennial herbaceous vegetation, whose prevalence mostly depends on the level of salinity. The nutrient-rich deep soils of seasonally looded enbankments of freshwater bodies are dominated by the perennial meso-hygrophilous pastures and meadows referred to MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA and MENTHO LONGIFOLIAE-JUNCION INFLEXI, locally represented by Phalarido coerulescentis-Agropyretum repentis, salt-tolerant and summer drought-tolerant community common on the loamy-clayey lat and seasonally wet soils of inner Sicily (e.g. Salso river near Caltanissetta). Slowly lowing fresh and brackish waterbodies and slow lowing streams are dominated by big rhizomatous helophytes (mostly reeds or sedges) framed into several alliances belonging to PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA. More in detail, PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS is represented by Scirpo lacustri-Phragmitetum australis (e.g. at Lago Soprano and Lago Bosco between Serradifalco and San Cataldo, Caltanissetta province), Phragmitetum communis and Typhetum 130 Itineraries angustifoliae (widespread), and Typho angustifoliae-Schoenoplectetum glauci (e.g. within Platani river basin), GLYCERIO-SPARGANION by the associations Helosciadetum nodilori (widespread) and Apio nodilori-Glycerietum plicatae (Salso river near Pietraperzia), MAGNOCARICION ELATAE by Caricetum hispidae (Platani river basin) and SCIRPION MARITIMI by Scirpetum compacti (wetlands and badlans of Enna and Caltanissetta provinces). Under even higher salt concetrations the above mentioned plant communities are substituted by halo-hygrophilous hemicryptophitic sedge- and rush-dominated pastures which normally occur in coastal saltmarshes, like Juncetum maritimi (JUNCETEA MARITIMI and JUNCION MARITIMI) along the banks of the Lake of Pergusa. The associations Puccinellietum gussonei (Aragona, Racalmuto and Adrano), Festuco arundinaceae-Juncetum subulati (Adrano, Aragona, Pietraperzia, etc.) and Festuco arundinaceae-Caricetum divisae (Adrano) occur on the depressions at the base of the local badlands and are framed into AGROSTIO-ELYTRIGION ATHERICAE, an alliance including the central Mediterranean halo-nitrophilous grasslands of salty clayey-loamy coastal slopes and inland badlands. During summer part of the humid shores of the lake of Pergusa is covered with Suaedo maritimae-Salicornietum patulae, a pioneer community of annual succulent halophytes (THEROSALICORNIETEA and THEROSALICORNION) which commonly occurs on the salty and sandy-clayey soils of abandoned salt pans and tidal mud lats but may occur on the raised edges of the irregularly looded saline inland waters. The hygrophilous ephemeral microphytic pioneer vegetation of temporary ponds (ISOETO-NANOJUNCETEA) is locally represented by the subnitrophilous association Glino mollis-Verbenetum supinae (VERBENION SUPINAE), quite common on the slightly sloping shores of many artiicial water reservoirs prone to intense seasonal water level changes (e.g. Pozzillo, Ancipa, Fanaco, etc.). As for aquatic vegetation, still and relatively nutrient-rich freshwater bodies host some free-loating duckweed assemblages (LEMNETEA and LEMNION MINORIS) like Lemnetum gibbae (Lago Soprano), while the sandy and slighty sloping banks of deep and clean running waters (Platani river, Morello stream, etc.) host submerged assemblages referred to Ceratophylletum demersi (STRATIOTION). 131 Itineraries Local stagnant mesotrophic, eutrophic and brackish freshwater bodies are home of rooted loating or submerged macrophytic communities (POTAMOGETONETEA and POTAMOGETONION) like Potametum pectinati (e.g. Laghetto Bosco). Assemblages of rooted macrophytes typical to shallow stagnant freshwaters, probably belonging to RANUNCULION AQUATILIS, have been recorded ca. 40 years ago in some little ponds near Butera and need to be conirmed and better described. To ZANNICHELLION PEDICELLATAE belong the associations Najadetum marinae, recently recorded in some artiicial basins of Caltanissetta province, and Zannichellietum obtusifoliae, widespread all over the area (e.g. Macalube di Aragona, Platani river, Morello stream, etc.). Anthropogenic vegetation Annual weed segetal communities (PAPAVERETEA RHOEADIS) represent the most widespread vegetation cover of the area. Local arable crop ields on neutral sandy-loamy soils are characterised by Capnophyllo peregrini-Medicaginetum ciliaris (RIDOLFION SEGETI). This association is common in the coastal and inland areas of central and southern Sicily subject to thermomediterranean climate; on base-rich soils it is replaced by two communities framed into ROEMERION HYBRIDAE, i.e. Legousio hybridae-Biforetum testiculatae (inner Sicily: Palermo, Agrigento and Caltanissetta provinces) and Valerianello dentatae-Medicaginetum scutellatae (Enna province). The vegetation of local vineyards, orchards and groves is represented by Diplotaxietum vimineo-erucoidis (FUMARION WIRTGENII-AGRARIAE), very common throughout southern Sicily. The disturbed places of many towns and cities of the considered territory host ruderal communities typical to man-made habitats (CHENOPODIETEA and CHENOPODION MURALIS). Malvo parvilorae-Chrysanthemetum coronarii (HORDEION MURINI) is a wintergreen annual weedy and ruderal assemblage which occurs in the suburban areas subject to mesomediterranean climatic conditions of all southern and south-eastern Sicily. The vegetation of abandoned crop ields and frequently burnt fallows occurring on the calcareous nutrient-rich soils is referred to the associations Hedysaro coronarii-Lavateretum trimestris (mid and lower plain of Simeto river), Centauretum schouwii (inner north-western and central Sicily: e.g. Fiuzza, Madonie Mts., Enna and Caltanis- 132 Itineraries Folded layers of the Trubi formation. setta provinces) and Convolvuletum tricoloris (mid and low basin of Simeto river). These tall-herb ruderal communities are framed into ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE and are substituted by Ononido alopecuroidi-Vicietum siculae (FEDIO GRACILIFLORAE-CONVOLVULION CUPANIANI) on the subacid and sandy soils of inner north-western and central Sicily (e.g. Ficuzza, Caltanissetta province). The sciaphilous subnitrophilous geophyte-rich fringe vegetation typical to dense groves and orchards is framed into ALLION TRIQUETRI and is locally represented by Delphinio staphisagriae-Stellarietum cupanianae (e.g. abandoned olive groves of Mt. Mimiani). The thermophilous grass-rich anthropogenic vegetation rich in summer-annual C4 species (DIGITARIO SANGUINALIS-ERAGROSTIETEA) which occurs in the annual crop cultures irrigated during summer may be ascribed to Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Kickxietum integrifoliae (DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS). The nitrophilous annual assemblages of local trampled areas (POLYGONO-POËTEA ANNUAE and POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI) are ascribed to Crassulo tillaeae-Saginetum apetalae (e.g. Adrano and Bronte) and Trisetario aureae-Crepidetum bursifoliae (e.g. Centuripe). The thistle-dominated ruderal xerophilous communities of local overgrazed areas (ARTEMISIETEA VULGARIS, ONOPORDION IL133 Itineraries LYRICI) are represented by Onopordo illyrici-Cirsietum scabri (Caltanissetta) and Phlomido herba-venti-Nepetetum apuleii; this latter community, previously reported only for the base-rich soils of the Sicani Mts., also occurs on the gypsum-rich soils of the hilly areas of Trapani province. Two ruderal herb- and grass-dominated associations framed into Artemisietea vulgaris, i.e. Centrantho rubri-Euphorbietum ceratocarpae (BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE) and Euphorbio ceratocarpae-Arundinetum plinii (ARUNDION PLINII), often replace the thickets of NERIO-TAMARICETA along the riversides and the riverbeds of the streams subject to intense and frequent natural and anthropogenic disturbance. The tall-herb semi-natural perennial vegetation typical to nutrient-rich riparian fringes (EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII and CYNANCHO-CONVOLVULION SEPIUM) is locally represented by Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis, frequently occurring on the disturbed banks of local rivers and water reservoirs under thermomediterranean bioclimatic conditions. The seasonally looded nutrient-rich and disturbed riverbeds and lacustrine banks host summer-annual pioneer communities ascribed to BIDENTETEA TRIPARTITAE and CHENOPODION RUBRI and, more in detail, to Polygono lapathifolii-Xanthietum italici (widespread, e.g. Platani, Verdura and Salso rivers) and Polygono orientalis-Chenopodietum rubri (artiicial reservoirs of Caltanissetta province). 5.3. Landscape and land use history The area has been densely inhabited at least since Neolithic, and even more during Bronze and Iron ages, as testiied by of woody (and even grassland) cover and the spread of badlands are a consequence of the intense erosion afecting the clayey salty soils since millennia or viceversa. The current size of badland surfaces may be an issue of the intense deforestation which took place in this area since Neolithic times. Nowadays completely bare surfaces and wide landslips are very frequent, not only due to the hostile chemical and physical properties of the substrate, but also as the unavoidable consequence of too frequent wildires of wheat ields and pasturelands, overgrazing, unsustainable ploughing techniques, etc. The destruction of local vegetation triggers a negative chain reaction: no plant cover means more water runof, linear erosion and landslips; the less the soil, the less the available water for plant roots, the more erosion unearths plant roots and destroys local plant communities. 134 Itineraries In order to mitigate soil erosion and to stop desertiication approximately 35000 ha of Eucalyptus forests (mostly E. camaldulensis and E. occidentalis) have been planted throughout central Sicily between the 1950s and the 1980s. Indeed the results of this activity in terms of soil protection were often far below expectation; moreover, E. camaldulensis is starting to invade the banks and the beds of local river and streams, which represent its primary habitat in Australia. Between the 1950s and the 1980s many dams have been built on the rivers and the tributary streams of this territory; as a result, the hydrological and sedimentological regime of the whole area appears strongly compromised. The resulting articial lakes are used for various purposes, such as water supply for agriculture, drinking water (e.g. Naro, Ancipa, Pozzillo, Morello, Nicoletti, Olivo, Disueri, Comunelli, etc.) but also for industrial purposes (e.g. production of hydro-electric energy, cooling waters for industrial sites). Seen as areas of no value, in recent times not only exhausted and abandones mines, but also many badlands have been heavily manumitted and even transformed in illegal waste dumps or tracks for ‘sport’ activities such as go-kart and motocross competitions, so that some rare endemics whose ancestors colonised Sicily during Messinian salinity crisis and had million years to evolve on the island, like Puccinellia gussonei and Tripolium sorrentinoi, are now threatened with rapid extinction due to another crisis, the crisis of legality, respect of nature, intelligence. 135 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Bazan G., Ilardi V., Minissale P., Sciandrello S., 2006. La biodiversità vegetale di Monte Gibliscemi (Mazzarino, Sicilia). Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 17(2): 121-140. Brullo S., Giusso del Galdo G., Guarino R., Minissale P., Sciandrello S., Spampinato G., 2012. Syntaxonomic survey of the class Pegano harmalae-Salsoletea vermiculatae Br.-Bl. & O. Bolòs 1958 in Italy. Plant Biosystems, 147(2): 472-492. Brullo S., Guglielmo A., Pavone P., 1986. La classe Pegano-Salsoletea in Sicilia. Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 18 (325)(1985): 247-254. Brullo S., Siracusa G., 2000. Indagine itosociologica su di un’area umida del versante sud-occidentale dell’Etna di notevole interesse naturalistico. Archivio geobotanico, 4(1)(1998): 71-90. Brullo S., Fagotto F., Lo Cicero G., Piccione V., 1980. Carta della vegetazione di Pietraperzia (scala 1:25.000). Collana Programma Finalizzato “Promozione della Qualità dell’Ambiente”, C.N.R., AQ/1/37: 9-24. Roma. Callea Q.G., Pasta S., 1994. Osservazioni sulla vegetazione della piana alluvionale del iume Imera Settentrionale (Sicilia settentrionale). Giornale botanico italiano, 128(1): 482 (abstract). Calvo S., Marcenò C., Ottonello D., Fradà Orestano C., Romano S., Longo A., 1995. Osservazioni naturalistiche ed ecologiche intorno al Lago Pergusa. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 19(1-2): 63-84. Cimino V., Vicari G.L., 1991. Guida alle riserve della Provincia di Caltanissetta. Rotaract Club, WWF, Caltanissetta, 52 pp. Cirino E., Termine R., Longhitano N., 1995. Aspetti di vegetazione naturale dell’area Sambuco-Giacchino (Piazza Armerina, Enna). Giornale botanico italiano, 129(2): 267 (abstract). Costanzo E., Pavone P., Spampinato G., Tomaselli V., 2005. Analisi loristico-vegetazionale della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Vallone Piano della Corte” (Agira, Sicilia) inalizzata alla pianiicazione ambientale. Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 16: 127-158. 136 Itineraries De Santis C., Ronsisvalle G.A., 1982. Recupero delle aree degradate a “calanchi” nel nisseno e nell’ennese. Pp. 237-2400 in: AA. VV. (a cura di), “La problematica delle terre marginali vol. 3”, Atti del Convegno “Problemi tecnici dela valorizzazione della terre marginali cion particolare riguardo al Mezzogiorno (Cosenza, 26/XI/1979)”. C.N.R., Collana Promozione Qualità dell’Ambiente, AQ/4/87-106. Di Martino A., Marcenò C., Raimondo F.M., 1977. Nota preliminare sulla vegetazione gipsoila della Sicilia centro-meridionale. Giornale botanico italiano, 111(6): 369-370 (abstract). Ferro G., 1980. La vegetazione di Butera (Sicilia meridionale). Atti dell’Istituto Botanico e Laboratorio crittogamico dell’Università di Pavia, s. 6, 13 (1978-79): 51-118 + 14 tabb. f.-t. Ferro G., Coniglione P., Oliveri S., 1979. I praticelli eimeri su gesso nel territorio di Caltanissetta (Sicilia). Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 13(9): 137-141. Gentile S., 1962. Notizie preliminari su alcune praterie di Lygeum spartum L. nel bacino del Simeto (Sicilia orientale). Nuovo Giornale botanico italiano, n. s., 68 (3-4)(1961): 352-355. Gentile S., Di Benedetto L., 1962. Su alcune praterie a Lygeum spartum L. e su alcuni aspetti di vegetazione di terreni argillosi della Sicilia orientale e Calabria meridionale. Delpinoa, n. s., 3 (1961): 67-151. Gianguzzi L., D’Amico A., Caldarella O., 2010. Habitat e specie vegetali d’interesse prioritario nel SIC Rocche di Entella (Sicilia occidentale). Fitosociologia, 44(2, suppl. 1): 201-205. Gianguzzi L., D’Amico A., Caldarella O., Cusimano D., 2013. Vegetation and habitats of Community interest of an isolated biotope of the “Gessoso-Solifera” Formation (inland of Sicly): the Site of Community Importance “Monte Conca” (ITA050006). Book of Abstracts of the 2nd FIP International Conference (Rome, april 11-13, 2013): 32-33. Gianguzzi L., D’Amico A., Caldarella O., Romano S., 2011. La lora vascolare delle Rocche di Entella (entroterra della Sicilia occidentale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 35(3-4): 363-405. La Scala G., Pasta S., 1994. Un iume in Sicilia. Verde Ambiente, 1994 (5): 63-67. 137 Itineraries Lombardo M., Marcenò C., 2001. Lineamenti botanici di Monte Capodarso e Monte Sabbucina. Pp. 207-214 in: Bartolotta E., Janni L. A. (a cura di), Atti del Convegno regionale di Italia Nostra (Caltanissetta, 20-21 novembre 1999) “Patrimonio rurale siciliano. Una cultura da rinvenire e valorizzare”, Graiche Paruzzo Vaccaro, Caltanissetta. Marcenò C., Colombo P., Princiotta R., 1978. Nuovo contributo della vegetazione lacustre in Sicilia. Atti dell’Accademia di Scienze Lettere e Arti di Palermo, s. 4, 36(1)(1976-77): 55-66. Marcenò C., Falci A., Pasta S., 2011. Su alcuni lembi di vegetazione pre-forestale e forestale della provincia di Enna (Sicilia centrale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 35 (2): 295-312. Marcenò C., Raimondo F.M., 1977. Osservazioni su alcuni aspetti di vegetazione lacustre nella Sicilia centrale. Giornale botanico italiano, 111(1-2): 13-26. Pasta S., 2001a. Recenti acquisizioni loristico-vegetazionali sull’area delle Macalube di Aragona. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 25(suppl.): 155-196. Pasta S., 2001b. Lineamenti della lora e della vegetazione del Lago Sfondato. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 25(suppl.): 401-421. Pasta S., La Mantia T., 2001. Lineamenti della lora e della vegetazione dell’area della Riserva Naturale “Grotta di Santa Ninfa”. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 25(suppl.): 271-297. Salvo G., 1998. Guida alla natura della provincia di Agrigento. Edizioni Arbor, Palermo, 143 pp. Schicchi R., Borruso S., Marino P., 2008. Contributo alla conoscenza della biodiversità e del paesaggio vegetale della Riserva naturale orientata “Serre di Ciminna” (Sicilia centro-occidentale). 103° Congresso nazionale della Società Botanica Italiana (Reggio Calabria, settembre 2008), riassunti: 238. Sciandrello S., 2009. La vegetazione igroila dei bacini artiiciali della Provincia di Caltanissetta (Sicilia centro-meridionale). Informatore botanico italiano, 41(1): 53-62. 138 Itineraries Scuderi L., Pasta S., 2009a. Contributi alla conoscenza della lora vascolare della provincia di Trapani (Sicilia occidentale). I. Taxa autoctoni inediti. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 33(3-4): 97-112. Sortino M., Marcenò C., Maggio F., Gianguzza A., 1974. Tipologia e distribuzione della vegetazione riparia e lotica di due corsi d’acqua del versante nord del iume Platani (Sicilia centro-meridionale). Bollettino di Studi e Informazioni del reale Giardino coloniale di Palermo, 26: 72-102. Termine R., Pasta S., La Mantia T., 2014. Some remarks on the vascular lora and vegetation of the archaeological site of “Vallone Canalotto” (Calascibetta municipality, Enna province, central Sicily). 109° Congresso nazionale della Società botanica italiana (Firenze, 3-5.09.2014), abstracts: 62. Troìa A., Ilardi V., 2002. Segnalazioni loristiche per la provincia di Agrigento. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 26(3-4): 147-153. Venturella G., Ottonello D., Raimondo F.M., 1986. La vegetazione ad Aster sorrentinii (Tod.) Lojac. nelle argille del Miocene Superiore in Sicilia. Notiziario itosociologico, 21: 1-22. 139 Itineraries Box 5.1 Heraclea Minoa Heraclea Minoa (from the ancient Greek Ἡράκλεια Μινῴα = Hêrakleia Minôia) is located on the southern coast of Sicily, 25 km west of Akragas (= Agrigento). It was founded during 6th century BC as an outpost of the Greek colony of Selinus on the top of Capo Bianco, a steep marl clif dominating the mouth of the river Halycus (= Platani). After the treaty of 405 BC between Greeks and Carthaginians, it represented a border town of Akragas, mostly under Punic control until 202 BC. Heraclea Minoa probably was one of the main naval stations of the Carthaginians in Sicily during the irst two Punic wars; we hear but little of the city under Roman dominion, and it was abandoned by the beginning of the 1st century AD. The location of Heraclea Minoa was irst identiied in the 16th century from the Sicilian historian Tommaso Fazello, when the foundations of the walls could be distinctly traced, and the whole site still abounded with remains of pottery and brickwork. In the early 20th century, a VI-V century BC necropolis was discovered. A large-scale excavation led by Ernesto de Miro, begun in 1950, uncovered IV-I century BC dwellings and a IV century BC theatre. References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclea_Minoa Wilson R.J.A., Leonard A. Jr., 1980. Field survey at Heraclea Minoa (Agrigento), Sicily. Journal of Field Archaeology, 7(2): 219-239. 140 Itineraries Box 5.2 Do gypsophilous species really exist? Since 2016 an international research project led by the universities of Reggio Calabria (Italy) and Almería (Spain) is aimed at detecting plants linked to gypsum substrates. According to a preliminary list already available, only three species occurring in Sicily, i.e. Chaenorhinum exile, Sedum gypsicola and S. ochroleucum subsp. mediterraneum appear to be exclusive of gypsum outcrops, while eight more (e.g. Astragalus caprinus subsp. huetii, Brassica villosa subsp. tinei, Diplotaxis crassifolia, Echinaria capitata var. todaroana, Erysimum metlesicsii, Gypsophila arrostii subsp. arrostii, Scabiosa parvilora, Sternbergia lutea) clearly prefer it. Many other species frequently found on gypsum (e.g. Andropogon distachyos, Athamanta sicula, Elaeoselinum asclepium subsp. asclepium, Erica multilora subsp. multilora, Hippomarathrum siculum, Ranunculus bullatus, Silene fruticosa, Teucrium polium, Thymbra capitata, etc.) probably are totally indiferent to substrate chemistry: to colonize other bedrocks of the Gessoso-Solifera Formation outcropping in the nearbies, such as limestones and marls, they only need to be calcium-tolerant, just as strict gypsophilous species are. Moreover, many species seem to have developed edaphic stress-tolerance to avoid competition on ‘easier’ substrates; interestingly, they belong to genera which occur not only on gypsum but also on other ‘hostile’ substrates such as serpetinites or dolomias (e.g. Alyssum, Erysimum, Fumana, Helianthemum, Matthiola, Micromeria, etc.). References Di Martino A., Marcenò C., Raimondo F.M., 1977. Nota preliminare sulla vegetazione gipsoila della Sicilia centro-meridionale. Giornale botanico italiano, 111: 369-370. Brullo S., Marcenò C., Minissale P., Spampinato G., 1989. Su una nuova associazione del Sedo-Ctenopsion gypsophilae rinvenuta in Sicilia. Archivio botanico e biogeograico italiano, 65(1-2): 100-108. Spampinato G., Musarella C.M., Mendoza-Fernández A.J., Mota J.F., Alessandrini A., Brullo S., Caldarella O., Ciaschetti G., Conti F., Di Martino L., Falci A., Gianguzzi L., Guarino R., Manzi A., 141 Itineraries Minissale P., Montanari S., Pasta S., Peruzzi L., Sciandrello S., Scuderi L., Troìa A., 2016. Towards a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous vascular lora. Book of abstracts of the 111th national Congress of the Italian Botanical Society - III international Plant Science Conference (Rome, 21-23.09.2014). Troìa A., 2002. La lora gipsicola. Aspetti biologici ed ecologici delle piante che vivono sul gesso. Quaderni didattici delle Riserve del CAI-Sicilia n° 2, Regione Siciliana, Club Alpino Italiano sezione Sicilia, NAT Ambiente & Informazione, Palermo, 62 pp. 142 VI Sandy hills Itinerary1 - Sughereta di Niscemi, Monte San Nicola, Manfria Itineraries Three short walks (approx. 2 km each) on lat or gently sloping terrain, in the surroundings of Gela: The site includes traits of sandy beaches and sandy hills, formed by quarzarenitic sands, interrupted by steep slopes, up to 80 m high, formed by Plio-Pleistocenic eveporitic outcrops, constituted by gypsum, clay and calcareous to calcarenitic conglomeratic rocks. The area is featured, as well, by some still preserved sand dunes, up to 120 m high, escaped by chance from being lattened when, in a recent past, the development of tourism, intensive agriculture and greenhouses for early fruit cultivations modiied the landscape in most of southern Sicily. The occurrence of bronze age necropolises (culture of Castelluccio), scattered Greek, Roman and Bizantine farmhouses and villages and a fortiication system built in the XVI Century contribute to the local archaeological heritage. The site is one of the driest of Sicily, the mean annual temperature being 18,3 °C, with an annual cumulative precipitation amounting to 409 mm. The coexistence of several lithological substrata, as well as the particular climatic conditions of this area, gives rise to a noteworthy loristic and vegetational biodiversity. As matter of fact, a set of N. African species are here localized, taking part to peculiar vegetation types, sometimes exclusive of this sicilian coast-stretch. The local vegetation includes psammophilous units (Cakiletalia maritimae, Ammophiletalia 144 Itineraries australis, Helichryso stoechadis-Crucianelletalia maritimae, Malcolmietalia), salt-marshes (Sarcocornietea, Phragmito-Magnocericetea), petro-halophilous scrubs (Crithmo-Limonietea, Pegano-Salsoletea), spares woods (Quercetalia ilicis), diferent maquis-types (Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni), garrigues (Cisto-Ericetalia), perennial dry grasslands (Lygeo-Stipetea), annual dry grasslands (Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi, Trachynietalia distachyae, Tuberarietalia). Trail: Hike 1 - Length: 2,5 km, Hiking time: 40 min., Elevation range: 80 m Hike 2 - Length: 2 km, Hiking time: 30 min., Elevation range: 60 m; Hike 3 - Length: 2 km, Hiking time: 40 min., Elevation range: 60 m. General description 6.1. The physical setting The study area is located in SE Sicily, representing the south-western border of the Hyblaean Plateau, and includes almost lat or gently sloping areas from sea-level up to 400 m a.s.l. From a geological point of view, these area hosts a succession of sediments which illed the so-called Caltanissetta Basin, a Late Miocene-Quaternary foredeep basin located between the southern part of the Maghrebian-Apennine Chain and the western part of the Hyblaean Foreland, which has evolved in time and space following the advancing chain front, i.e. moving south-eastwards. The hills of the area are made of ‘Caltagirone sands’ (Selinuntian, i.e. 1.8-1.6 Ma), littoral yellow silty sands with arenaceous lenses, passing in the upper parts to sands, gravels and red conglomerates, probably of continental origin, interbedded with travertine levels. At lower altitudes, in stratigraphical continuity with the above-mentioned sands, Mt. San Giorgio clays outcrop from Mt. S. Giorgio near Caltagirone to Licata. Going south-west towards Gela, along the valley of the stream Maroglio and up to present-day coastline, these clays are connected through a 50-200 cm-thick sandy-silty level with the clayey marls ascribed to Geracello Unit (Piacenzian to Selinuntian, i.e. 2.8-1.6 Ma). The lowlands correspond to marine terraces and present-day marine and continental (luvial) deposits dating back to mid Pleistocene-Holocene, like the medium to coarse-grained limestones called ‘Biocalcareniti e calciruditi di Vittoria’, semi-coherent riparian-lacus145 Itineraries trine deposits (travertine-like calcarenites and marly limestones), and several Pleistocene marine terraces made of calcareous sandstones and conglomerates. Three are the main water courses of this area are the rivers Dirillo (the ancient ‘Achates’ of Greeks, 54 km) and Ippari (‘Hipparis’, 28 km), and the stream Maroglio (26 km), a tributary of Gela river. The coastline is almost entirely made of sandy beaches which give rise to complex dune systems particularly well developed near Scoglitti. The most common and important pedological associations occurring in the area are 1) ‘typical xerochrepts + haploxererts + typical and/ or lithic xerorthents (eutric cambisols + orthic luvisols + eutric regosols and/or lithosols), characterising most of the hills of Niscemi and Caltagirone, and 2) ‘typical haploxeralfs + typical and/or lithic rhodoxeralfs (orthic luvisols + chromic luvisols)’ corresponding to the plain of Vittoria and the area of Santo Pietro near Caltagirone. Moreover, the pedological association ‘typical xerorthents + typical xerochrepts + typical haploxeralfs (eutric regosols, eutric cambisols and orthic luvisols)’ occurs in the foothills of the area of Niscemi just above Biviere di Gela coastal lagoon. Additionally, two main alluvial soil associations occur along local watersheds, i.e. ‘typical and/or vertic xeroluvents + typ- Coastal sand dunes of Manfria (Asparago stipularis-Retametum gussonei), currently heavily invaded by the W-Australian neophyte Acacia saligna (bottom-right corner). 146 Itineraries ical and/or vertic xerochrepts (eutric luvisols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols)’ and ‘typical xeroluvents + typical chromoxererts and/or typical pelloxererts (eutric luvisols + chromic and/or pellic vertisols). Considering the available data recorded in the nearest thermo-pluviometric stations, the mean annual temperatures of the area range between 16 °C (Caltagirone and Mazzarino), 17.5 °C (Vittoria) and 18 °C (Dissueri), while mean annual rainfalls range between 380 mm (Dissueri) and 630 mm (Mazzarino) mm, with 4.5-5 months of drought stress. The plain of Vittoria is characterized by upper thermo-mediterranean upper arid bioclimate, while the hilly areas of Niscemi and Caltagirone are subject to upper dry meso-mediterranean conditions. 6.2. Flora and vegetation The irst botanical investigations on this territory were carried out during the XIX century by V. Tineo, G. Gussone and two local naturalists, E. Taranto Rosso and X. Gerbino and by N. Citarda and M. Lojacono-Pojero few decades later. Many papers published between the 1960s and present day, mostly focused on local annual dry and perennial grasslands and woody communities (garrigues, maquis and forest assemblages) signiicantly improved the knowledge on local lora and vegetation. According to Brullo et al. (1995) this area shall be included in the Kamarino-Pachynense district and hosts 10 narrow endemics. Among them, four are exclusive, i.e. Astragalus kamarinensis, Limonium pachynense, Limonium pavonianum and Linaria multicaulis subsp. humilis, while 8 more ones also occur in one or more other districts of S, SE and central Sicily, like Avena insularis (also Agrigentine district), Helichrysum hyblaeum (also Iblei Mts.), Limonium hyblaeum (also Favignana on Egadi islands), Muscari gussonei (also Agrigentine district), Senecio glaucus subsp. hyblaeus (also Iblei Mts.), Serapias orientalis subsp. siciliensis (also Gela and SW Sicily), Stipa gussonei (also SW Sicily), Tuberaria villosissima subsp. sicula (also Gela and SW Sicily). The local vascular lora counts at least 90 endemic, rare or endangered taxa: in this district grow approximately 40 diferent orchid taxa, i.e. nearly half of those occurring in the whole Sicilian territory, many Sicilian endemics, such as Allium lehmannii subsp. lehmannii, Astragalus caprinus subsp. huetii, Bellevalia dubia subsp. dubia, Odontites rigidifolius, Ophrys archimedea, Ophrys caesiella (also Iblei Mts. and Malta), 147 Itineraries Ophrys calliantha, Ophrys discors, Ophrys explanata, Ophrys lammeola, Ophrys lunulata, Ophrys obaesa, Ophrys oxyrrhynchos, Ophrys panormitana, Salsola agrigentina, and many species which are rare or absent in the other Sicilian districts, like Anthemis abrotanifolia (also Licata), Cistus clusii (also Gela), Cyperus alopecuroides, Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. tenuifolia (also Agrigentine district at Leonforte), Filago asteriscilora (also Butera and Agira), Gagea trinervia (also Marina di Noto and surroundings of Gela), Helianthemum aegyptiacum, Helianthemum sanguineum, Helianthemum sessililorum, Hippocrepis ciliata, Klasea cichoracea (also Agrigentine district), Leptochloa fusca subsp. uninervia, Linum maritimum, Lobularia libyca, Loelingia hispanica, Malcolmia africana, Nonea vesicaria (also SW Sicily), Retama raetam subsp. gussonei (also SW Sicily and Licata), Rhus pentaphylla (once occurring along the coasts of NW and SW Sicily), Rhus tripartita (also Linosa), Romulea melitensis, Seseli tortuosum, Stachys arenaria (also Gela), etc. Due to high concentration of species of biogeographical and conservation interest part of the area has been included within two nature reserves ‘Sugherete di Niscemi’ and ‘Bosco di Santo Pietro’, managed by the Regional Forest Department and within the regional Natura 2000 network. Moreover, the area overlaps with the Italian IPA ‘SIC 19 Boschi di Niscemi e costa di Gela’. Zonal vegetation On the sandy soils between 50 and 250 m a.s.l. the most mature evergreen oak forest is represented by Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum suberis (ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS), an open acidophilous thermo-xerophilous assemblage dominated by cork oak - sometimes together with Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex - and characterised by an often dense broom undergrowth, whose fragments (Niscemi, Caltagirone at Santo Pietro and Granieri, Mazzarino, etc.), appear quite poor and degraded from both a structural and a loristic point of view. Even if thermophilous oak woodland (Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum virgilianae), which probably represented the inal stage of succession on calcareous and marly substrates, has disappeared in the whole territory, many small spots occur in the nearby areas (Mazzarino, Piazza Armerina, Mazzarrone, Chiaramonte Guli, Monterosso Almo, etc.). Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis (FRAXINO-QUERCION ILICIS), also known for W Sicily (Marettimo Island, Gorghi Tondi near Maz- 148 Itineraries Coastal badlands of Manfria (Suaedo-Salsoletum oppositifoliae). zara del Vallo), S Sicily and Iblei Mts., also occurs on the marls at Santo Pietro, exploiting the particularly humid microclimatic conditions provided by some canyons. The area hosts a complex patchwork of evergreen sclerophyllous communities (OLEO-CERATONION SILIQUAE) issuing from the chaotic combination of both progressive and regressive succession processes issuing from land abandonment and ire disturbance: pure stands of Chamaerops humilis occur in the territory of Niscemi, while nuclei dominated by Pistacia lentiscus, Phillyrea latifolia and Olea europea var. sylvestris are a common feature in the whole area, especially within abandoned groves and aforestations. Two peculiar associations of thermophilous maquis have been recently described in the surroundings, i.e. Cytiso infesti-Quercetum calliprini near Acate and Rhamno oleoidis-Pistacietum lentisci at Poggio Racineci near Caltagirone, while at Cava Randello Teucrio fruticantis-Rhamnetum alaterni colonizes the steep rocky N-facing calcareous slopes and Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci occurs where the water table is very shallow. Ephedro fragili-Lycietum europaei is a peculiar halo-nitrophilous assemblage which only occurs between 200 and 300 m a.s.l. It represents the inal community on the steep marly slopes near Caltagirone, where it is often intermingled - and dynamically connected 149 Itineraries - with the chenopod scrubs of SALSOLO OPPOSITIFOLIAE-SUAEDION FRUTICOSAE and the halo-xerophilous perennial grasslands of MORICANDIO-LYGEION SPARTI. Thymbro capitatae-Pinetum halepensis (PISTACIO LENTISCI-PINION HALEPENSIS), a xerophilous pinewood typical to base-rich and shallow soils, has been detected in many localities of the plain of Vittoria, and it occurs between 80 and 300 m a.s.l. within Ippari river basin. Scattered spots of Aleppo pinewoods still also occurred until 1900s within the Dirillo river basin (Caltagirone, Licodia Eubea, Vizzini) and are still present in Tellaro river basin. The native status of these assemblages remains uncertain, as local Greek colonies may have introduced these conifers to satisfy their needs of timber for ship construction. On lower part of this area, subject to thermo-mediterranean bioclimate, it is possible to observe several psammo-xerophilous maquis assemblages; once common on the consolidated dunes of S and SE Sicily from sea level up to 200 m a.s.l., these communities have been almost completely wiped out as a consequence of greenhouse cultivation. One of them, Asparago horridi-Retametum gussonei, framed to PERIPLOCION ANGUSTIFOLIAE, occurs between Licata and Gela, near Comiso and between Scoglitti and Punta Braccetto, while the other assemblages are referred to JUNIPERION TURBINATAE: Junipero turbinatae-Quercetum calliprini occurs at Santo Pietro, Passo Marinaro near Scoglitti and in the nature reserve ‘Pineta di Vittoria’, Cytiso infesti-Juniperetum turbinatae characterises the rocky slopes of the calcareous or calcareous marly hills of Cava Randello and occurs elsewhere in Sicily (Alcamo in NW Sicily, Torre Salsa and Capo Bianco in S Sicily), whilst Piptathero coerulescentis-Juniperetum turbinatae has been recently detected on extremely arid stands on sandy slopes near Dirillo river (Acate). As a result of the high fragmentation and intense disturbance affecting forest, pre-forest and riparian communities, mantle communities are rather widespread. Among them, the most common may be ascribed to Cytiso infesti-Pyretum spinosae (CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA and PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII). Small pure stands of Ulmus minor and/or Rubus ulmifolius occur along local streamsides, too. Local outcropping clayey marls give rise to steep and intensely eroded slopes which host halo-nitrophilous chenopod scrubs ascribed to Salsoletum agrigentinae (PEGANO-SALSOLETEA and SALSOLO 150 Itineraries VERMICULATAE-PEGANION HARMALAE). This assemblage has been detected in the territory of Vittoria and Caltagirone and is rather common throughout the Agrigentine district (Biancavilla, Capodarso, Macalube di Aragona, Villarosa, Centuripe, etc.). The coastal marly clifs of Punta Braccetto host Suaedo verae-Limoniastretum monopetali. First described for Lampedusa island, this assemblage has also occurs along the S Sicilian coast (Realmonte and Porto Empedocle) and near Catania. On the areas subject to frequent wildires, cork oak woods are substituted by garrigues (ONONIDO-ROSMARINETEA and CISTO ERIOCEPHALI-ERICION MULTIFLORAE) ascribed to Rosmarino oficinalis-Thymbretum capitatae. This association, irst described at Santo Pietro near Caltagirone, also occurs elsewhere in SE Sicily (Scoglitti, near Capo Passero, Pachino), on Pantelleria island and on several gypsum-rich sites of S Sicily, while Thymbro capitatae-Helichrysetum barrelieri only occurs in SE Sicily (Caltagirone, Niscemi, Eloro, Marina di Noto and Vendicari). These assemblages often represent the edaphic climax wind-exposed ridges and are quite common in crop ieds abandoned since long time, too. On the consolidated dunes of Ippari basin and Santo Pietro occurs Hyparrhenio pubescenti-Helianthemetum sessililori, a psammophilous garrigue issuing from the degradation of Rosmarino oicinali-Coridothymetum capitati and Junipero turbinatae-Quercetum calliprini. The perennial grasslands occurring on the steep, rocky and frequently disturbed slopes on the marls of Granieri near Caltagirone are ascribed to Seselio tortuosi-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici, widespread under mesomediterranean climatic conditions on the substrates of ‘Gessoso-Solifera’ formation of the Agrigentine district and near Messina. Local impoverished examples of Astragalo huetii-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici occur under thermo-mediterranean bioclimate; this community obvious in S Sicily, mostly occurring on lithosols issuing from calcareous, marly and gypseous outcropping rocks and dynamically connected with both Thymbro capitatae-Pinetum halepensis and Rhamno oleoidis-Pistacietum lentisci. The garrigues ascribed to Cistetum salvifolio-clusii often represent the edapho-xerophilous climax on the well-drained soils deriving from sandy limestones colonising the sunny and mostly S-facing slopes of the lower part of Ippari river basin. 151 Itineraries Evaporitic hills with Moricandio-Lygeion sparti and Echio-Galactition vegetation. Under thermomediterranean climate the perennial grasslands of AMPELODESMION MAURITANICI give room to HYPARRHENION HIRTAE, locally represented by the widespread association Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis and by Stipo gussonei-Hyparrhenietum hirtae a community endemic to this area and to few localities of SW Sicily. Eryngio dichotomi-Lygeetum sparti (MORICANDIO-LYGEION SPARTI) is localised on marly clayeys slopes under thermo-mediterranean bioclimatic conditions. The above-mentioned perennial grasslands are often intermingled with therophytic ephemeral subnitrophilous prairies which may be referred to STIPION RETORTAE, reported for Cava Randello. Under thermo-mediterranean bioclimatic conditions, overgrazing favours the prevalence of assemblages dominated by perennial Apiaceae and Poaceae and framed into ASPHODELETALIA RAMOSI and CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI, such as Thapsio garganicae-Feruletum communis (Vittoria and Caltagirone) common on the marly-clayey soils of southern, central-eastern and south-eastern Sicily, and Cachryo pungentis-Hyparrhenietum hirtae, on sandy soils between 100 and 400 m a.s.l. As for annual dry psammophilous grasslands (HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATAE), the ephemeral assemblages linked to consolidated fossil dunes sheltered from salt-spray are framed into the alliance 152 Itineraries FILAGINI ASTERISCIFLORAE-LINARION HUMILIS, here represented by two associations. Evaco asteriscilorae-Tuberarietum siculae, which occurs in the gaps of Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum suberis (Piazza Armerina, Niscemi and Caltagirone), while Alkanno tinctoriae-Nonetum vesicariae has been observed at Vittoria, where it colonises the nutrient-rich and moderately disturbed lat gaps within Junipero turbinatae-Quercetum calliprini. The therophytic vegetation occurring on coastal dunes under saltspray inluence (ALKANNO-MARESION NANAE) is referred to Vulpio membranaceae-Leopoldietum gussonei, strongly reduced due to the destruction of its habitat, now almost totally occupied by greenhouses, and it occurs (perhaps we should better say it used to occur) in the gaps of Hyparrhenio pubescenti-Helianthemetum sessililori (Macconi di Gela, basin of Ippari river, Scoglitti, Cava Randello, Marina di Ragusa, Donnalucata and Capo Passero). On shallow skeletal base-rich soils (limestones and marly limestones) Thero-Sedetum caerulei (TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE) may be observed, often intermingles with HYPARRHENION HIRTAE xerophilous perennial grasslands. On marly substrates, the gaps of Vittoria pinewood stands are frequently colonised by subhalophilous therophytic swards referred to Onobrychido caput-galli-Psiluretum incurvi (PLANTAGINI-CATAPODION BALEARICI). Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes Neither published relevés nor any general information is available on the local plant communities occurring in those habitats. Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation The water quality, the morphology and the regular lux of the rivers and streams of the area are prone to huge human pressure. Most of the disturbance factors are connected with local agriculture (e.g. high input of fertilisers, pesticides, intense water pumping), and many illegal activities, such as waste dumping and land illing along the streamsides, sediment withdrawal and burning of the plastic materials of disused greenhouses in the streambeds, etc. The riverbeds and the riverbanks of local water courses must have hosted riparian gallery forests (ALNO GLUTINOSAE-POPULETEA 153 Itineraries ALBAE). Some remnant examples of such vegetation occur on the higher part of Dirillo river basin, not far from the considered area, and may be ascribed to two diferent associations, i.e. Roso sempervirentis-Populetum nigrae (POPULION ALBAE) and Platano orientalis-Salicetum pedicellatae (PLATANION ORIENTALIS). Alluvial willow-dominated scrub communities, ascribed to Salicetum albo-pedicellatae (SALICETEA PURPUREAE and SALICION PEDICELLATAE) have been recorded within Cava Randello and along Torrente Caltagirone. Additionally, some fragments of pioneer open thermo-hygrophilous thickets ascribed to Tamaricetum gallicae (NERIO-TAMARICETEA and TAMARICION AFRICANAE), very common along the muddy streamsides and gravelly streambeds of central and southern Sicily, have been recorded in locality Zotte near Santo Pietro and along the Dirillo river. Due to the strong mechanical disturbance and frequent wildires afecting local streams, the above-mentioned woody riparian communities are often substituted by ruderal communities characterised by the dominance of Dittrichia viscosa, Hypericum triquetrifolium and Ononis natrix subsp. ramosissima (BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE), or by species-poor reed-dominated communities referred to Phragmitetum communis (PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA and PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS) or to Mt. San Nicola badlands, a very important stratigraphic reference (Global Stratotype Section and Point -GSSP- of the Gelasian Stage/Age), colonized by the Phagnalo annotici-Lygeetum sparti. 154 Itineraries Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis (EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII and CYNANCHO-CONVOLVULION SEPIUM). Another helophytic species-poor community occurring at cava Randello, to be referred to PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS, is dominated by Sonchus maritimus. Although this area hosts several species commonly linked to temporary ponds, such as Centaurium pulchellum, Juncus articulatus, Mentha pulegium, Ophioglossum lusitanicum, etc., no vegetation data are so far available on the eventual presence of communities belonging to ISOETO-NANOJUNCETEA and ISOETION. Anthropogenic vegetation Raphano raphanistri-Erucetum sativae (FUMARION WIRTGENII-AGRARIAE) represents the most common weed assemblage of horticultural crop ields (mostly legumes), between 150 and 250 m a.s.l., while Amarantho lividi-Eragrostietum barrelieri (DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS) characterises the sandy soils of the vineyards of Santo Pietro near Caltagirone. As for the ruderal assemblages ascribed to HORDEION MURINI, Hordeo leporini-Erodietum acaulis, observed at Santo Pietro, occurs on clayey acid soils under meso-mediterranean bioclimatic conditions and it has been observed up to 1.000 m a.s.l. on Nebrodi and Iblei Mts., while Hordeo leporini-Carduetum argyroae prefers nutrient-rich soils at lower altitudes and has been observed at Gela and Niscemi, were it colonises arid and wind-exposed disturbed places such as roadsides or stone/rubble heaps. Malvo parvilorae-Chrysanthemetum coronarii, common on clayey soils between 50 and 350 m a.s.l., prefers the abandoned sunny areas previously subject to intense disturbance or overgrazing, has been observed at Santo Pietro and it also occurs on Lampedusa island and elsewhere in SE Sicily. ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE is locally represented by two diferent associations. Linario humilis-Euphorbietum terracinae is a thermophilous community occurring on the sandy soils of the fossil dunes of Santo Pietro, Niscemi and Piazza Armerina; rich in ruderal and xero-nitrophilous herbs, it mostly occurs in fallows or undisturbed ield margins. Convolvulo pentapetaloidi-Carduetum corymbosi, observed at Santo Pietro near Caltagirone and elsewhere on Iblei Mts., occurs on base-rich deep soils (between 100 and 550(700) m a.s.l., mostly on cereal crop ields subject to seasonal grazing. 155 Itineraries Acantho mollis-Smyrnietum olusatri (ALLION TRIQUETRI) is linked to nutrient-rich soils and shady places, preferring particularly dense tree canopies. It frequently occurs in SE Sicilian carob groves and was found under dense, yet disturbed cork woodland at Niscemi. Local sheepfolds and manure heaps are characterised by Silybo mariani-Urticetum piluliferae (SILYBO MARIANI-URTICION PILULIFERAE), a (sub)xerophilous and hypernitrophilous ruderal community recorded in the plain of Vittoria. 6.1. Landscape and land use history The most ancient traces of human presence in this territory date back to upper Palaeolithic-early Mesolithic (locality Terrana near Caltagirone). Numerous indings testify the difuse human presence in the whole area (Niscemi, Caltagirone, Comiso, Vittoria, Acate, Santa Croce Camerina, Pozzallo, etc.) during Bronze Age and during the so-called culture of Castelluccio (2200-1450 BC). Those people may be identiied with Sicanians, who settled small villages made of straw huts and lived with hunting and agriculture. Around XIII BC they gradually turned their villages into fortiied settlements, probably to protect themselves against Siculi, who pulled them back towards inner and higher areas. Near Caltagirone the site of Sant’Ippolito seems to have been continuously inhabited from Neolithic times until the arrival of Greeks, whilst another pre-existing settlement, located at Monte San Mauro, was not abandoned and became a ‘Siculo-Hellenic’ village. Many coastal sites of this area, like Pozzallo, may have played an important role as emporia both for Phoenicians traders and the irst Greek settlers. During VIII-V centuries BC, under the inluence of the mighty Rhodian-Cretan colony of Gela, the countryside of Niscemi was densely inhabited and cultivated, hosting many farms and rural villages. In the meanwhile (598 BC), Syracuse founded Kamarina on the hills close to the mouth of Hipparis (now Ippari) river, and transformed the pre-existing coastal swamp into a large canal port. Kamarina became soon an autonomous city, experiencing alternate phases of inluence from Siracusa or Gela. Since 424 BC it received and exported to the whole Greek world the abundant products (barley, wheat, oil, wine, etc.) of the Siculo-Hellenic city of Morgantia. 156 Itineraries Conlicts between Gela and Syracusa and between Greeks and Carthaginians lasted almost 250 years, and inally caused a signiicant decrease of human presence at Niscemi, were most of the farms were abandoned, and at Kamarina, weakened and frequently plundered and almost completely destroyed by Romans on 258 BC to punish its idelity to Carthage. There still was a little village there during III-I centuries BC, but soon after the construction of the new port at Kaukana (Punta Secca) during Empire period, its inhabitants settled there or migrated towards the close inland areas. A thermal bath close to the source of Diana near Comiso (II century BC) suggests the presence of a village in the surroundings, perhaps populated by people survived to the destruction of the Siculo-Hellenic town of Kasmenai, near Buscemi, in 212 BC, punished for its alliance with Carthage. Roman presence if documented also near Caltagirone, Vittoria (II century AD) and Cava d’Ispica, whose ancient name, Spaccaforno, probably issued from a Roman farm called Hyspicae fundus. Recent archaeological surveys suggest that the territory of Niscemi was continuously inhabited between III to IX centuries AD, as testiied by the rural village of Plaga Calvisiana and by the indings of locality Pitrusa, hosting a ‘mansio’ (= horse-change station with resting rooms), a thermal complex and several food provisions stores (II-VII AD). Notwithstanding the difuse presence of rural farms on the plains and buildings along the coast all over this territory, by the end of Roman dominion the hilly inland must have still appeared as a wide and almost continuous forested area, the so-called ‘Saltus Kamarinesis’, covering most of the western slopes of Erei and Iblei Mts. and the Ippari river basin. Under Byzantines local people preferred to move away from the coastal areas, so that many abandoned Siculo-Hellenic villages and necropolis were ‘re-cycled’ becoming troglodytic towns. The few remnant villages, like the rural settlement of Comicio (= Comiso) and the small coastal town of Kamarina, were besieged, destroyed and rebuilt by Arabs. Although the conquerors encountered a stronger opposition than in Vallis Mazarae (central-western Sicily), they founded many new rural villages like Odicrillo (near Acate), and fortresses, like Fat al-Nascim (= elm pass), now Niscemi, and Qal’at al Jarún (= the fortress of the jars), Caltagirone, and, above all, they achieved a 157 Itineraries profound revolution of both land property and cultivation practices: immense latifundia were divided into little lots, cereal crop cultivation and breeding were carried out only on suitable areas, oil production was enhanced, new tree cultures such as carob trees, mulberries, pistachios and hazelnuts were introduced, dry stonewall terraces were built in order to cultivate along slopes avoiding soil erosion, wide public areas were left untouched for wood regeneration, etc. Between XI and XIII centuries, perhaps due to the earthquake of 1169 of Catania (Magnitudo 6.6), more probably as a consequence of increasingly humid climatic conditions, many villages near the coast and the rivers are abandoned, like Niscemi, Odicrillo near Acate, Kamarina and another one near Pozzallo. In the meanwhile, Caltagirone became more and more powerful, owning fertile and intensively cultivated lands and very large forested areas, donated by Norman kings as a reward for helping during the siege of the Arab fortress of Judica. After more than a century of civil wars, conlicts and uncertainty, most of the area was included in the county of Modica, whose lords (Chiaramonte family: 1296-1392; Enriquez Cabrera family: 1392-1816) turned small rural villages, like Comiso and Casale di Biscari (now Acate), into towns, and the small port of Pozzallo into a ‘caricatore’, i.e. a commercial port provided with warehouses to store huge quantities of merchandise, with ditches able to contain hundreds of tons of wheat, with piers and slipways to ship all these products. Since 1550 the Enriquez Cabrera family undertakes the massive colonisation of the western part of the county: Vittoria is founded on 1607 in the locality Bosco Plano (‘lat wood’). In that period Caltagirone reaches its economic and cultural acme: between XV-XVII it counted 20.000 inhabitants, 10% of them devoted to pottery production. In the meanwhile the Branciforte, lords of Niscemi and Mazzarino, promoted the resettlement of the site of Niscemi, whose town was oicially founded on 1599 and populated during XVII century. In the following centuries the close woodlands represented an important (if not the only) resource for many towns of this territory, namely Niscemi, Mazzarino and Caltagirone, and any use of forest goods (e.g. gathering of wood, mushrooms, wild vegetables and berries; coppice turns; cork bark harvesting timing and turn; game hunting season; amount of browsing domestic herbivores, etc.) was inspired to criteria of sustainability. 158 Itineraries Views from Niscemi Cork-oakwoods (Sughereta di Niscemi), on Quaternary inland dunes: Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum suberis and Cisto-Ericion garrigues. 159 Itineraries The period between XVI and XVII centuries was very hard for local people due to impressive series of fatalities such as recurrent outbreaks of black plague, famine events, grasshopper invasions, loods, culminated on 1693 with the terrifying earthquake (Magnitudo 7.4) which shook the entire island destroying all the towns of SE Sicily. Vittoria, born to produce wine, fulilled for almost three centuries its vocation: its diferent qualities of ‘black wine’ are soon appreciated and exported, and Scoglitti becomes a commercial port from where wine an other agricultural products are sent to Malta. As a result of the suppression of feudalism (1816) the county of Modica is abolished, and Vittoria and Pozzallo experience an even faster economic and demographic explosion. The permission to cultivate previously demanial lands, divided into small lots and assigned to privates, attracts lots of persons from the surrounding area. After centuries of complying with strict rules aimed at the sustainable use of forest resources, people felt free to ind the most rentable way to use their own piece of land. As a result, local woodlands underwent rapid and severe reduction and fragmentation: within few decades large areas of Quercus suber or Pinus halepensis woodland were completely wiped out. As for the territory of Caltagirone, at the beginning of 1900s only 5000 ha of cork-oak woods remain. At the end of XIX century viticulture experiences a deep crisis due to phylloxera and to the unfavourable international economic scenario. Local farmers are obliges to make diicult choices to survive: within a few decades they replaced vineyards with gardens, and by the end of 1950s they grew vegetables into greenhouses. With ups und downs, intensive and specialized agriculture (mostly tomatoes) opened a new phase of economic development, deeply modiied the social structure and the welfare of the local community, and changed forever the natural and natural landscape of the area. The whole area is currently populated by nearly 190000 people (Vittoria: 60000, Caltagirone: 38000, Niscemi: 28000, Pozzallo: 19000, Mazzarino: 12000, Acate and Santa Croce Camerina: 11000). During last decades we record the recover of vineyards with the production of the famous red wine ‘Cerasuolo di Vittoria’, issuing from the mixture of two local vine races, Nero d’Avola (or ‘Calaurisi’) and Frappato. Due to the deep crisis of Italian cork market, overwhelmed by Portuguese, Spanish and Moroccan production, by the end of 1950s 160 Itineraries cork oak woods deinitely lost their economical importance. No more considered as a precious renewable resource and far less rentable than greenhouses, artichoke ields and vineyards, most of the remnant woods and shrub communities were converted into cultivated lands. The few nuclei left are currently fragmented, degraded and self-renovation impossible due to frequent arsons and overbrowsing, altered by Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations, menaced with the spread of illegal activities (waste dumping, abusive building) even within oicially strict protected areas. The highest attention should be paid to preserve last spots of woodland, shrubland, perennial and the annual dry grassland, which are not only important for their noteworthy biological heritage, but for the ecological services they provide (air quality, carbon storage, regulation of hydro-geological cycles and food chains, mitigation of geo-morphological processes, etc.), signiicantly improving the quality of life of local people and preventing them from environmental disasters such as recent loods. 161 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES AA. VV., 1986. Aspetti storico-archeologici e geograico-naturalistici del territorio dei comuni di Butera, Gela, Mazzarino e Niscemi. W.W.F., Sezione di Niscemi, Centro Promozione Culturale Niscemi, 104 pp. AA. VV., 1998. Guida alla natura della provincia di Caltanissetta. Fondo Siciliano per la Natura (a cura di), Sezione di Niscemi, 96 pp. + errata corrige f.-t. AA. VV., 1999. Aspetti naturalistici ed economici della Sughereta di Niscemi. Centro di Educazione Ambientale, Niscemi, 120 pp. Barbagallo C., 1983. Vegetazione di alcuni boschi di sughera (Quercus suber L.) della Sicilia Meridionale-Orientale. Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 16 (321): 289-296. Barbagallo C., Furnari F., 1967. Flora oicinale del territorio di Caltagirone (CT). Atti dell’Istituto di Botanica e del Laboratorio crittogamico della regia Università di Pavia, s. 6, 3: 45-165. Bartolo G., Brullo S., Lo Cicero E., Marcenò C., Piccione V., 1978. Osservazioni itosociologiche sulla pineta a Pinus halepensis di Vittoria (Sicilia meridionale). Archivio botanico e biogeograico italiano, 54(3-4): 137-153. Bartolo G., Giardina G., Minissale P., Spampinato G., 1989. Considerazioni itosociologiche sulle garighe a Cistus clusii della Sicilia meridionale. Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 20 (330)(1987): 141-148. Brullo S., Giardina G., Minissale P., Spampinato G., 1989. Osservazioni itosociologiche e ruolo dinamico delle cenosi a Helianthemum sessililorum della Sicilia meridionale. Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 20 (330)(1987): 133-140. Costanzo E., Furnari F., Tomaselli V., 1995. La sughereta di Niscemi con carta della vegetazione (1:25.000) (Sicilia Sud-Orientale). Atti 6° Workshop Progetto strategico “Clima, Ambiente e Territorio nel Mezzogiorno” (Taormina, 13-15 dicembre 1995): 563-586. 162 Itineraries De Marco G., Furnari F., 1976. Lineamenti della vegetazione di S. Pietro (Caltagirone) a commento della carta in scala 1:25000. Atti dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 7, 8: 3-15. Di Benedetto G., Maugeri G., Poli Marchese E., 1985. Principali tappe del dinamismo della vegetazione nelle sugherete della Sicilia Sud-Orientale. Notiziario itosociologico, 19(1)(1984): 5-12. Furnari F., 1967. Boschi di Quercus suber L. e di Quercus ilex L. e garighe del Rosmarino-Ericion in territorio di Santo Pietro (Sicilia meridionale). Bollettino dell’Istituto di Botanica dell’Università di Catania, s. 3, 5 (1965): 1-31 + 3 tabb. e 3 tavv. f.-t. Giardina G., Raimondo F.M. (eds.), 2002. Cava Randello (Ragusa, Sicilia Meridionale): un biotopo meritevole di conservazione. Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 12 (2001): 103-166. Giardina G., Spadaro V., Raimondo F.M., 2002. La flora vascolare di Cava Randello. Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 12 (2001): 131-146. La Mela Veca D.S., Maetzke F., Pasta S. (a cura di), 2007. La Gestione Forestale Sostenibile nelle Aree Protette: il caso di studio della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Sugherete di Niscemi” (CL). Dipartimento di Colture Arboree dell’Università degli Studi di Palermo, Azienda Foreste Demaniali della Regione Siciliana, Collana ‘Sicilia Foreste’ n° 31, 213 pp. + 1 carta. Mazzola P., Mineo C., 2000. Lettere botaniche a Emanuele Taranto Rosso (1842-1866). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 24(Suppl.): 147-194. Minissale P., Musumarra G., Sciandrello S., 2006. La vegetazione di Poggio Racineci (Caltagirone, Sicilia centro-meridionale) un biotopo da proporre come sito di Interesse Comunitario. Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 39 (366): 21-41 o 105-125. Minissale P., Sciandrello S., 2012. A relic wood of Juniperus turbinata Guss. (Cupressaceae) in Sicily: structural and ecological features, conservation perspectives. Plant Biosystems, 147(1): 145-157. Poli Marchese E., Maugeri G., Bevilacqua G., Carfì M., Galesi R., 1989. Il restauro del bosco a Quercus calliprinos della zona archeologica di Kamarina. Giornale botanico italiano, 123(1-2): 44 (abstract). 163 Itineraries Ronsisvalle G.A., Cosentino F., Meli F., Ronsisvalle F.B.F., 2003. Proposte per la riqualiicazione naturalistica della R.N.O. “Bosco di Santo Pietro” (Caltagirone, Catania). 98° Congresso nazionale della Società botanica italiana (Catania, 24-26 settembre 2003), riassunti: 181. Rühl J., Chiavetta U., La Mantia T., La Mela Veca D.S., Pasta S., 2005. Land cover change in the Nature Reserve “Sughereta di Niscemi” (SE Sicily) in the 20th century. In: Erasmi S., Cyfka B., Kappas M. (eds.), “Remote Sensing & GIS for Environmental Studies: Applications in Geography”, Proceedings of the 1st GGRS (Göttingen GIS & Remote Sensing Days), Environmental Studies (Göttingen, Germany, 7-8 October 2004), Göttinger Geographische Abhandlungen, 113: 54-62. Taranto Rosso E., Gerbino S., 1845. Catalogus plantarum in agro Calato-hieronensis collectarum ab E. Taranto et X. Gerbino. Fasc. I, Catinae, 50 (+ 1 “Errata Corrige”) pp. Tomaselli V., Furnari F., Costanzo E., Silluzio G., 2005. Contributo alla conoscenza della vegetazione del bacino del Fiume Dirillo (Sicilia meridionale-orientale). Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 15 (2004): 99-118. Turrisi R.E., Galletti I., Ilardi V., 2002. Contributo alla conoscenza della vegetazione di Cava Randello. Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 12 (2001): 117-130. Zafarana S., Liardo V., Interliggi A., 1999. Aspetti naturalistici ed economici della Sughereta di Niscemi. CEA (Centro di Educazione e formazione Ambientale), Niscemi, ? pp. 164 Itineraries Box 6.1 Sicilian geology: a ‘muse’ for the interpretation of Neogene global changes Sicily represents a key site to understand what happened on the global scale during the Neogene, whose ages between 7.246 and 1.806 million years ago (Ma) are more or less intimately linked with island’s geography. The Messinian (after Messina, whose evaporites are of the same age) is the last age of the Miocene. Around 6 Ma, the Messinian salinity crisis brought about repeated desiccations of the Mediterranean Sea. The Zanclean (after Zancle, the ancient Greek name for Messina) is the earliest age on the Pliocene. The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Zanclean is located near the ruins of Heraclea Minoa in S Sicily. The Piacenzian is the latest age of the Pliocene. The GSSP for the Piacenzian stage is at Punta Piccola in S Sicily. The Gelasian is the earliest age of the Pleistocene. It is named after Gela: its GSSP is located at Monte Sant Nicola near the city. Here are recorded some key changes in Earth’s climate, oceans, and biota: during the Gelasian the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets began to grow, glacations started and the last remnant populations of the warm temperate broadleaved mixed forests disappapeared (Carya, Cathaya, Engelhardtia, Liquidambar, Pterocarya, Tsuga, Zelkova, etc.). References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelasian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messinian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piacenzian Bertini A., 2010. Pliocene to Pleistocene palynolora and vegetation in Italy: State of art. Quaternary International, 225(1): 5-24. Cita M.B., Pillans B., 2010. Global stages, regional stages or no stages in the Plio/Pleistocene? Quaternary International, 219(12): 6-15. Gibbard P.L., Head M.J., Walker M.J.C. & the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, 2010. Formal ratiication of the Quaternary System/Period and the Pleistocene Series/Epoch with a base at 2.58 Ma. Journal of Quaternary Science, 25(2): 96-102 165 Itineraries Box 6.2 The end of cork exploitation and manufacturing in Sicily and its ecological consequences Probably Quercus suber, the cork oak, once formed mixed woodlands with Q. pubescens and became dominant only where it was favoured by men interested on cork production and on cork oak ecosystem services (fuelwood, grazing areas, mushrooms, game, etc.). During last decades the global crisis of cork market induced the abandonment of most of the productive areas of the island (Nebrodi and Madonie Mts., Niscemi and Caltagirone in SE Sicily) after centuries of exploitation; along with the use, also speciic know-how fades, and nowadays cork extraction is mostly done by Moroccan workers. The yearly amount of cork production depends on both the natural rythms of the plant (the irst extraction should be done when the trees are 16-20 years old, the following ones every 9-12 years) and on periodical human interventions on cork wood structure (coppices and stands with dense undergrowth produce less cork than periodically regularly managed high forest). Hence, the survival of Sicilian cork forests depends on more adequate marketing strategies for cork products and on the re-adoption of sustainable management practices: during last decades too frequent cork gathering and wildires severely compromised cork quality and exposed the trees to parasytic attacks and to extreme climatic events. References Marsiano A., 1984. Gli usi civici e i boschi del comune di Niscemi. L’Epos, Palermo, 596 pp. Fardella G.G., Oieni S., 1992. Aspetti economici e selvicolturali della coltura della quercia da Sughero in Sicilia. Dipartimento di Economia, Ingegneria e Tecnologie Agrarie (Settore Economia). Università degli Studi di Palermo, Facoltà di Agraria, Palermo: 75 pp. Saporito L., 1999. Aspetti ecologici e selvicolturali della quercia da sughero in Sicilia. Sherwood, 51: 5-11. 166 VII Nebrodi Mts. Itinerary1 - Monte Soro The Nebrodi mountains consist of a series of reliefs, on average 1500 m high, aligned from east to west, with steep lanks and rounded peaks. Monte Soro (1847 m) is the highest elevation of Nebrodi Mts. and it is formed by Cretaceous lyschoid outcrops, subdivided into two members: a clayey-calcareous lower member and a clayey-arenaceous upper member. The elevation favours the condensation of moisture and the smooth morphology, along with the abundance of clay deposits, favours the development of luxuriant beechwoods and small wetlands, masking the “Mediterraneaneity” of the context and conferring to the landscape a temperate nuance. We will walk in a patchwork of beechwoods (Geranio striati-Fagion), mountain pasturelands (Cirsietalia vallis-demonis, Holoschoenetalia and Poetalia bulbosae) and small lakes (some of which artiicially enlarged) colonized by helophytic and aquatic vegetation. Traces of traditional land uses are still very evident (“Hudelandschaft”, inluenced by large herbivores) and, every now and then, we will also enjoy scenic views on Mt. Etna and on the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the Aeolian Islands. Trail: Length: 15 km round trip, Hiking time: 7 hours, Elevation range: 400 m. Itineraries General description 7.1. The physical setting The Nebrodi Mts., also called Caronie, represent the central part of the northern Sicilian chain are located between the crystalline massif of Peloritani Mts., corresponding to the NE edge of the island, and the Madonie Mts. to the west. Geographers classically identify the river Pollina as the limit with Madonie, while to the east the limit with Peloritani Mts. il marked by two streams named Timeto and Roccella, the latter being a tributary of the Alcantara River (Picone et al. 2003). They form a sinuous and almost regular and continuous and rather steep ridge facing the Tyrrhenian sea, with many peaks going beyond 1500 m a.s.l., like Serra di Baratta near Floresta (1395), Pojummoru or Monte del Moro (1433), Serra del Re (1754), Mt. Soro (1847), Poggio Tornitore (1571), Mt. Pelato (1567), Mt. Pomiere (1544), and Mt. Castelli (1566) near Mistretta. Many other peaks lay outside the above-mentioned ridge, such as Pizzo Fau (1686 m.), Serra Pignataro (1661), Mt. Treàrie (1609), Monte Sambuchetti (1558), Rocche del Crasto (1315) and Mt. Cuculo (1301). Lago Maulazzo in early spring, surrounded by the Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum cerridis (Geranio striati-Fagion). 168 Itineraries Nebrodi Mts. have a more gentle silhouette if compared with the harsh, roughed forms of the Peloritani Mts. In fact, they form a large, massive mountain range whose peaks are more rounded and reach higher elevations probably because they are more resistent to erosion. Another remarkable feature of local landscape is given by the almost regular occurrence of furrows separating into apparently regular sectors its northern slopes and giving origin to short streams lowing northwards down to Tyrrhenian Sea. From a geologic point of view, Nebrodi Mts. are mostly made of acidic rocks belonging both to the Kabilian-Peloritan-Calabrian and the Apenninic-Maghrebian belts. The former belt includes imbricate sheets of Palaeozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks (Aspromonte and Mandanici Units) and Mesozoic sedimentary covers, which can be observed in the NE sector of the Nebrodi Mts., in the area between Capo d’Orlando and Patti. The Apenninic-Maghrebian belt formed during Miocene and is made up of imbricate sheets of Mesozoic-Tertiary rocks. Its structurally highest units are derived from the deformation of the distal pre-orogenic domain, the so-called ‘Sicilide Unit’, including the following geological formations: 1) ‘Monte Soro’ (early to late Cretaceous, 100-66 Ma) mostly made of marly clays, marls, argillites, slightly metamorphic sandstones and conglomerates, it is by far the most represented rock outcropping all over the highest part of the massif (e.g. Portella Femmina Morta, Portella Miraglia, Mt. Soro, Pizzo Antenna, Serra del Re, Poggio Tornitore, etc.); 2) ‘Argille Scagliose Superiori’ (early Cretaceous, 146-100 Ma): mainly consisting of marly clays and dark grey marls, also common on the top of the Nebrodi Mts.; 3) ‘Troina’ (late Cretaceous-early Miocene, 70-20 Ma), made of red or green varicoulour clays with intercalations of metamorphic pebbles, sands and marls, mostly occurring on the southern slopes of the massif. During late Oligocene-early Miocene (30-20 Ma), the Kabilian-Peloritan-Calabrian belt started to trust over the underlying Apenninic-Maghrebian belt, as testiied by the presence of Trubi and evaporitic sediments near Sambughetti. From this process issue other frequent outcropping rocks, which have been interpreted as early foredeep deposits, such as the following units: 4) ‘Nicosia’ (early Miocene, 23-16 Ma), mostly made of dark grey varicolour clays with coarse quartz blocks or stones, widespread on the southern part of the chain, 5) ‘Numidian Flysch’ (early Miocene, 23-16 Ma) and 6) ‘Maragone’ (late Oli169 Itineraries gocene-early Miocene, 30-20 Ma): siltites, argillites, quartz sandstones and, cropping out in NW Nebrodi, or as early thrust-top basin deposits, such as the following units: 7) ‘Flysch of Reitano’ (Langhian-Serravallian, 16-11.6): sandstones, shales and conglomerates, marls interpreted as turbidites; 8) ‘Calcarenites of Floresta’ (late Burdigalian-Langhian, 18-14 Ma) and 9) ‘Stilo-Capo d’Orlando’ (late Oligocene-early Burdigalian, 30-20 Ma): mixture of mostly acidic metamorphic rocks characterising wide surfaces of the NE and E part of the chain. As concerns the water courses lowing on the northern slopes of Nebrodi Mts. (from west to east: Tusa, Santo Stefano, Caronia, Furiano, Inganno, Rosmarino - the longest, 30 km - Zappulla, Naso and Timeto), they all are streams subject to strong seasonality, while the majority of those which low down from the southern slopes, like the rivers Simeto (113 km), Alcantara (53 km) and its main tributary Flascio, have an almost regular water lux. Plenty of springs, rivulets, montane lakes, permanent (called ‘urii’) and temporary (called ‘margi’) ponds, like Biviere di Cesarò, Treàrie, Pisciotto or Batessa, Quattrocchi, Campanito, Cartolari or Piperni, Zilio, Minchionzo (!) etc., positively afect local species- and habitat-richness. In the area also two artiicial lakes occur: Maulazzo and Ancipa. The most common soil association on the Tyrrhenian part of the chain is the following ‘typical xerochrepts + typical haploxeralfs + typical and/or lithic xerorthents (= eutric cambisols + orthic luvisols + eutric regosols and/or lithosols)’, while the mixture ‘typical xerumbrepts + typical xerochrepts + typical haploxeralfs (= eutric cambisols + orthic luvisols)’ is the most represented on the top of the massif. Moreover, The association ‘typical xerorthents + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= eutric regosols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols)’ is typical to lysch outcrops, while a soil assemblage with ‘lithic xerorthents + typical and/or mollic haploxeralfs + typical xerochrepts (= lithosols + orthic luvisols + eutric cambisols)’ characterises wide areas near Capizzi, Mistretta, Pettineo and Reitano. A complex of ‘typical xerorthents + typical and/or vertic xerochrept + typical and/or vertic xeroluvents and/or typical chrmomoxererts and /or typical pelloxererts (= eutric regosols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols + eutric luvisols and/or chromic and/or pellic vertisols)’ dominates the slopes located at the SW-S limit of the massif near Nicosia,, while ‘typical xerochrepts + vertic xerochrepts + 170 Itineraries Small lake colonized by the Ranunculo saniculifolii-Callitrichetum brutiae (Ranunculion aquatilis). typical chromoxererts and/or typical pelloxererts (= eutric cambisols + vertic cambisols + chromic and/or pellic vertisols)’ prevail at the S-SE limit of Nebrodi Mts. Three soils assemblages occur on few scattered areas characterised by calcareous outcropping rocks, i.e. ‘rock outcrop + xerorthents (= rock outcrop + lithosols)’ near Alcara Li Fusi and San Fratello, ‘lithic xerothents + rock outcrop + lithic haploxerolls (= lithosols + rock outcrop + eutric regosols)’ at Cerami and ‘lithic xerorthents + rock outcrop + typical and/or lithic xerochrepts (= lithosols + rock outcrop + eutric cambisols)’ near Floresta. The association ‘typical xerorthents + andic xerochrepts + ultic haploxeralfs (= eutric regosols + eutric cambisols + orthic luvisols)’ only occurs along the Flascio watershed, while a miaxture of ‘typical and /or vertic xeroluvents + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= eutric luvisols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols)’ issues from alluvial sediments along the coast and in the bottom of some inner valleys. Depending on altitude, the localities included in this area are subject to 3 to 5 months of drought stress. The southern sector appears less rainy (at Troina, Nicosia and Cesarò the mean values of annual rainfall amount are 633, 741 and 785 mm respectively vs. 948 mm at San 171 Itineraries Fratello and 1273 mm at Floresta). Based on locally available climatic data, San Fratello is the warmest and Floresta the coldest recording station: the mean annual temperatures range between 10.0 and 15.0 °C, the mean values of the coldest month (January) between 2.0 and 7.5 °C, that of the warmest month (July or August) between 19.0 and 23.6. The coastal sector of NE Sicily is subject to upper thermomediterranean lower to upper sub-humid bioclimate, while the Tyrrhenian slopes of Nebrodi Mts. are characterised by a steep gradient of humidity conditions, ranging from upper subhumid to lower humid mesomediterranean (300-750 m a.s.l.), to lower and upper subhumid supramediterranean (750-1100 m a.s.l.), to lower humid supramediterranean conditions on the top of the range. The southern slopes of the massif are drier and mostly exhibit an upper dry and lower subhumid mesomediterranean bioclimate. 7.2. Flora and vegetation According to the phytogeographic subdivision proposed by Brullo et al. (1995), this area corresponds to Nebrodense District, and is home of several narrow endemics, such as Carduus rugulosus (probably extinct), Fraxinus excelsior subsp. siciliensis, Malus crescimannoi, Petagnaea gussonei, Pyrus ciancioi, Pyrus vallis-demonis and Salix nebrodensis. With the only outstanding exception of Petagnaea, belonging to a genus of probably ancient origin, all the other species should be considered as neo-endemics, conirming the common biogeographic pattern of low endemism-rate on siliceous substrates. On the other hand, the combination of high water input due to local rainfall regime and the prevalence clayey soils makes this area a cradle for many species which do not occur or are very rare elsewhere in Sicily, aquatic plants such as Callitriche hamulata, Callitriche lenisulca, Persicaria amphibia, Potamogeton iliformis, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Spirodela polyrrhiza, Utricularia australis, Wolia arrhiza, or hygrophilous herbs and grasses taking part to the perennial communities colonizing the borders of local numerous permanent ponds, like Alopecurus aequalis, Carex digitata, Carex intricata, Cerastium dubium (probably extinct), Epipactis palustris, Equisetum palustre, Sparganium emersum, etc.. Also local forest communities host many exclusive or rare plants, such as Arabis pseudoturritis, Aristolochia clematitis, Circaea lutetiana, Gagea lutea, Glechoma hirsuta, Polygonatum gussonei, Rhynchocorys elephas, Stachys sylvatica, Taxus baccata, etc. More- 172 Itineraries Biviere di Cesarò: The muddy borders of the montane lakes are colonized by the Eleocharido palustris-Sparganietum neglecti (Glycerio-Sparganion). over, local meso-xerophilous pasturelands host the only known Sicilian populations of Bupleurum rollii, Dianthus deltoides subsp. deltoides and Picnomon acarna, while the last regional population of Anthyllis barba-jovis is located on the coastal clifs near Tusa. Zonal vegetation In the following paragraphs, the main vegetation units of Nebrodi Mts. are presented starting from the highest peaks and going down to the seaside. The chamaephytic orophilous assemblages referred to the endemic alliance CERASTIO-ASTRAGALION NEBRODENSIS and are locally represented by Carduncello pinnati-Thymetum spinulosi, dwelling the eroded soils deriving from argillites (= laky clays), lysch, limestones. It characterises the wind-exposed gently sloping summits of the meso- and supra-mediterranean belt between 1100 and 1400 m a.s.l. on the Quacella rigdes and also occurs on Sicani and Nebrodi Mts., where it appears loristically impoverished. All the mesic (and meso-hygrophilous) summergreen deciduous forests of the meso- to supra-mediterranean belts of the massif are framed into CARPINO-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE and GERANIO STRIATI-FAGION. 173 Itineraries Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum austrotyrrhenicae occurs on acid soils issuing from Numidian Flysch outcropping rocks, in areas subject to humid supra-mediterranean bioclimate between 1250 and 1600 m a.s.l. The most representative examples of this forest community, linked to extremely cool and humid slopes enjoying an almost continuous supply of air humidity coming from N-NW, are found at Mt. Soro. To Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae belong most of the acidophilous beech forests ot Nebrodi Mts. subject to supra-mediterranean bioclimate between 1400 and 1800 m a.s.l., like those of Sambughetti (Nicosia), Bosco Medda and Mascellino (Mistretta), Fontana Mucciata and Bosco Bussonita (Cesarò), Bosco Collana and Bosco Muto (San Fratello), Solazzo Verde (Mt. Soro), Bosco Mangalaviti (Longi), Bosco Dugo (Capizzi), Bosco Tassita (Caronia), Mt. Scai. Arrhenathero nebrodensi-Quercetum cerridis mostly occurs on schistose substrates, in the supramediterranean subhumid-humid belt between 1.100 and 1.300(1.400) m a.s.l., above the downy oak- and below the beech-dominated forests on Nebrodi Mts. near Longi at Pizzo Mueli, San Fratello in Contrada dell’Occhio, Caronia at Pizzo Nido, and near Capizzi at Piano dei Daini, and at Malabotta, near Montalbano Elicona, on Peloritani Mts. Biviere di Cesarò: Fringe communities with Paeonia mascula and Conopodio capillifolii-Quercetum congestae (Geranio striati-Fagion). 174 Itineraries Another acidophilous forest assemblage, Ilici aquifolii-Taxetum baccatae, substitutes Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae under particularly cool microclimatic conditions at 1400-1450 m a.s.l., subject to almost perennial water supply due to frequent fog. Its is located at Mt. Pomiere and in the woods of Lavanghi and Tassita near Caronia on siliceous substrates such as granites, gneiss and schists. Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum cerridis occurs on acidic soils at 800-1300 m a.s.l. over the N-facing slopes of Nebrodi Mts. at Pizzo Luminaria within the watershed of Torrente Inganno between Poggio della Cattiva, north of Lago Maulazzo and the localities Pileci, Faitella, Laceroni and Cidara, and on N-facing slopes of Mt. Sambughetti (Bosco della Giumenta). A montane holm-oakwood, the Geranio versicoloris-Quercetum ilicis, occurs on acid and well-humiied soils issuing from lysch outcrops under lower supra-mediterranean humid bioclimate, between 900 and 1200 m a.s.l., as it happens in the surroundings of Monte Soro (Maniscalco & Raimondo 2003). Local basiphilous thermophilous oak woods are referred to QUERCETEA ILICIS and FRAXINO ORNI-QUERCION ILICIS. The canyon named ‘Stretta di Longi’ hosts a fragments of Ostryo carpinifoliae-Quercetum ilicis, a forest assemblage linked to shaded and cool-humid microclimates on steep and stony slopes on calcareous substrates. The co-occurrence of Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris and Laurus nobilis conirms local high humidity. The acidophilous forest and maquis communities are framed into ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS. As for the submontane mixed oakwoods, Quercetum gussonei only occurs in the wood of Cappelliere and on Nebrodi Mts. (Caronia and San Fratello) at (700)750-950(1.000) m a.s.l. and enjoys exceptionally high amounts of rainfall (probably 800-1110 mm), Quercetum leptobalani has been observed in some N-facing submontane areas of Madonie Mts. (Collesano and Piano Zucchi) at (700)750-900(1.400) and Ficuzza, where annual rainfall amount is approximately 800 mm, while Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis is a mixed (mostly evergreen) oakwood linked to cool-humid montane microhabitats, shady slopes and valley bottoms, which occurs at (450)850-1200(1300) m a.s.l. It locally occurs at San Fratello. Festuco heterophyllae-Quercetum congestae and Vicio elegantis-Quercetum congestae are mixed oak woods with Q. congesta, Q. dalechampii and Q. ilex, rich in nemoral species of the Carpino-Fagetea. They colonize the siliceous soils (mostly deriving from schists) of the montane areas of SW 175 Itineraries Nebrodi Mts. (Cerami and Capizzi) between 800 and 1300 m a.s.l. under meso-mediterranean upper subhumid bioclimate, and are substituted by Arrhenathero nebrodensis-Quercetum cerridis at higher elevations (Brullo & Marcenò 1985). The degradation of the above-mentioned mixed forest communities leads to thorny shrublands (Crataegetum laciniatae) and - under intense overgrazing - to PLANTAGINION CUPANII. Doronico orientali-Quercetum suberis enjoys the humid microclimatic conditions (e.g. bottom of valleys) of the watersheds of Caronia and San Fratello streams between 600 and 850 a.s.l., intermingled with Quercetum gussonei on less compact soils and substituted by Arrhenathero nebrodensi-Quercetum cerridis at higher altitudes. To Genisto aristatae-Quercetum suberis are ascribed the cork-oak woods occurring on gently sloping areas between 500 and 800 m a.s.l. (San Fratello and Caronia), whilst Erico arboreae-Quercetum virgilianae mostly occurs in the southern part of the massif (e.g. Nicosia, Sperlinga, etc.), but also near Sant’Agata di Militello at (250)350-600(800) m a.s.l. Dense species-poor spots of acidophilous tall shrubland ascribed to Erico arboreae-Myrtetum communis (ERICION ARBOREAE) are intermingled with Quercetum gussonei on the shallow soils of schistose steep slopes, close to the Buzza stream near Caronia. The self-renovating stone pinewoods dwelling the sandy soils deriving from lysch rock outcrops on the coastal hills (200-400 m a.s.l.) near Cefalù and on some S-facing hillsides of the inner Madonie (Alia), Nebrodi (Nicosia) and Erei Mts. (Piazza Armerina) between 650 and 700 m a.s.l. have been ascribed to Cisto cretici-Pinetum pineae (PINION PINEAE), but their native status remains rather questionable and needs to be conirmed (or rejected) after a more accurate research based on historical documents. The degradation of all the thermophilous forest and maquis communities framed into ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS leads to broom-dominated shrublands (SAROTHAMNION SCOPARII), garrigues (CISTO-LAVANDULETEA), perennial and annual dry grasslands (AVENULO-AMPELODESMION and HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI) and bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) pure stands. Thermophilous scrub (OLEO-CERATONION SILIQUAE) is locally represent by Euphorbietum dendroidis, which occurs on the steep calcareous slopes of Rocche di Crasto near Alcara Li Fusi, while Myrto 176 Itineraries communi-Pistacietum lentisci occurs at Torre del Lauro near Sant’Agata di Militello, and probably issues from the degeneration of the cork oak woods which formed an almost continuous forest cover on the acidic substrates of the coastal area on both Madonie and Nebrodi Mts. The shrublands which are topographically close and dynamically connected to local woodlands are ascribed to CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA. From 1000 up to 1200-1400 m a.s.l., Crataegetum laciniatae (ILICI-CRATAEGION LACINIATAE) occurs on the border or in the clearings of the acidophilous woodlands of ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS. At lower altitudes (Caronia, San Fratello Reitano, Mistretta, Galati Mamertino, Pettineo, Castel di Lucio, Motta d’Afermo, etc.) the most widespread mantle communities belong to PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII, mostly represented by Cytiso infesti-Pyretum spinosae (from sea level up to 700-800 a.s.l.) and by Spartio juncei-Bupleuretum fruticosi and acidophilous shrublands colonizing the coastal hills of Madonie, Nebrodi and Peloritani Mts., mostly occurring on N-facing steep slopes and valleys under cool and shady microclimatic conditions within both thermo- and meso-meso-mediterranean belts (200-850 m a.s.l.). Another frequent tall broom-dominated shrubland, Cytiso infesti-Spartietum juncei, should be better framed into CYTISETEA SCOPARIO-STRIATI and SAROTHAMNION SCOPARII. The acidophilous garrigues (CISTO-LAVANDULETEA STOECHADIS and CYTISO VILLOSI-GENISTION TYRRHENAE) are widespread and locally represented by two associations: Carlino nebrodensis-Genistetum cupanii mostly issues from the degradation of the cork and downy oak woods of the meso-mediterranean belt of the Tyrrhenian side of the massif, but also occurs as disclimax under supra-mediterranean bioclimate from 800 to 1600 m a.s.l.; Genisto aristatae-Cistetum salvifolii recorded between 500 and 800 m a.s.l. near Caronia, Capizzi, San Fratello, Biviere di Cesarò. As for perennial xerophilous grasslands (LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE), Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis (HYPARRHENION HIRTAE) is very common on base-rich lithosols under thermo-mediterranean bioclimate, while under meso- and supra-mediterrean bioclimate the destruction of woody assemblages ascribed to QUERCETALIA ILICIS probably favoured the spread of meso-xerophilous communities framed into AVENULO-AMPELODESMION 177 Itineraries MAURITANICI. On the N-facing Tyrrhenian slopes of Nebrodi Mts. this alliance is represented by Astragalo monspessulani-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici occurring between 200-1000 m a.s.l., mostly on siliceous substrates, in areas subject to 900-1100 mm of annual rainfall and average yearly temperatures of 15-17 °C, e.g. Galati Mamertino, Reitano, near Caronia, Rocche del Crasto (Alcara Li Fusi), etc. Most of the perennial rangelands occurring on siliceous soils are framed into POËTEA BULBOSAE and PLANTAGINION CUPANII, locally represented by Cynosuro cristati-Plantaginetum cupanii covers very wide surfaces of the lat siliceous areas near Mt. Soro. It is linked to leached acid-subacid (pH 6-6,5) non-permeable soils between (700)1100-1650(1.750) m a.s.l. It plays a key role as high quality pastureland, but overgrazing and excessive trampling may trigger its destruction and an almost irreversible soil degradation. No detailed information is available on the annual dry grasslands occurring under thermo- and meso-mediterranean bioclimate ((HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATI). The gaps and the degradation steps of local forest and pre-forest acidophilous assemblages are colonized by assemblages typical to nutrient-poor sandy soils (HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATI and HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI). Vegetation of coastal ecosystems The central and eastern sectors on the coasts of northern Sicily are characterized by very few and narrow sandy or gravelly shores, and most of the coastline is made of steep acid rocky clifs subject to intense salt-spray. Moreover, the wilderness of the coastal sites of Nebrodi Mts. has been strongly compromised by urban sprawl and any sort of manufacts (railways, roads, motorways, etc.). Hence, it is not surprising if only few and often very disturbed spots of pioneer halo-nitrophilous short-lived vegetation occur on the strandlines of local sandy and shingle beaches (CAKILETEA MARITIMAE and EUPHORBION PEPLIDIS), mostly represented by Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae, by Cakilo maritimae-Xanthietum italici in more humid areas near the disturbed mouths of local rivers and streams (e.g. Tusa stream) or Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum peplis. Impoverished chamaephytic communities ascribed to CRITHMO-STATICETEA and CRITHMO-STATICION) where only Limbarda crithmoides, Crithmum maritimum, Lotus cytsoides and Limonium virgatum occur, may be 178 Itineraries observed on the salt-sprayed coastal clifs near Tusa, Caronia Marina, etc. The almost vertical salt-sprayed sea clifs near Tusa host the only known nucleus of Anthyllido barbae-jovis-Erucastretum virgati a pioneer coastal shrubland framed into ANTHYLLIDION BARBAE-JOVIS. Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes The moss- and fern-dominated assemblages typical to shaded and water-splashed habitats (ADIANTETEA and ADIANTION) are rather common on base-rich substrates under thermo-mediterranean climate: Eucladio verticillati-Adiantetum capilli-veneris mostly occurs on steep clifs and walls (e.g. near Brolo and Naso). Fern- and moss-rich epilithic and epiphytic communities of shaded sites (POLYPODIETEA and POLYPODION SERRATI) are rather common in the thermo- and meso-mediterranean bioclimatic belts. Subject to thermo-mesomediterranean climate, the rock faces and crevices of the limestones of Alcara Li Fusi host a chasmophilous assemblage which may be interpreted as an impoverished pattern of Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae (DIANTHION RUPICOLAE). The local pioneer vegetation colonizing the incoherent pebbly and sandy warps of the alluvial terraces and the stream- and riverbeds (EUPHORBION RIGIDAE) may be ascribed to Calendulo fulgidae-Helichrysetum italici, endemic to the intermediate sector (650-750 m a.s.l.) of the streams of SW Nebrodi Mts. (e.g. Troina and Cerami streams) rich in loamy-clayey sediments deriving from the disgregation of metamorphic rocks. Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation Among the perennial meso-hygrophilous meadows and pastures on seasonally looded and fertile soils (MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA), those occurring on rather shallow soils are ascribed to CIRSIO VALLIS-DEMONIS-NARDION, and, more precisely, to Cynosuro cristati-Leontodontetum siculi, common on gently sloping soils issuing from Argille Scagliose and quartz sandstones between 1100 and 1400(1500) m a.s.l. (e.g. Flascio river watershed, near Floresta, Cesarò and Mt. Soro) in the belt dominated by acidophilous mixed oakwoods, and by Genisto aristatae-Potentilletum calabrae at the top of Mt. Soro above 1.400 m a.s.l., substituded by Carduncello pinnati-Thymetum spinulosi on steeper slopes. 179 Itineraries The humid meadows of DACTYLORHIZO-JUNCION STRIATI are locally represented by three associations, Dactylorhizo sacciferae-Juncetum efusi, frequent on permanently humid clayey soils and near springs, between 1100 and 1350 m a.s.l. (Valle del Flascio, Pizzo Interleo and near Cesarò, Contrada Acquasanta, Floresta, Serra del Re), substituted by Caricetum intricato-oëderi at higher elevations between (1300)1450 and 1700 m a.s.l. - along open streamsides and pond borders (Portella Maulazzo, Mt. Soro, Cesarò, Serra del Re). Petagnaetum gussonei is a nemoral forb- and moss-rich assemblage which only occurs on the humid shady sides of montane stream lowing down along the N-facing slopes of the massif (Torrente Calanna, Contrada Acquasanta, etc.). According to some authors this assemblage, dominated by Petagnaea gussonei, the only species of a genus endemic to Sicily, should be better framed into Epilobietea angustifolii including all the herb-rich fringe communities typical to forest clearings and riversides. The subnitrophilous assemblage Kickxio commutatae-Trifolietum bocconei (TRIFOLION MARITIMI) forms hygrophilous fringes on the borders of some ponds interespersed within within Doronico orientalis-Quercetum suberis at 500-650 m a.s.l., on the acid soild along the N-facing schistose slopes near Caronia. Mesophilous riparian gallery forests (ALNO GLUTINOSAE-POPULETEA ALBAE) are very rare and fragmented. No ield surveys conirm the presence of assemblages beloging to POPULION ALBAE, claimed by several authors for both Madonie and Nebrodi Mts. As for PLATANION ORIENTALIS, Platano orientalis-Salicetum gussonei actually occurs at 150-500 m a.s.l. in some deep gullies lowing in siliceous rocks (schists, gneiss, crystalline conglomerates, quartz sandstones, volcanites) in areas of NE Sicily SE Nebrodi Mts., Peloritani Mts. and Etna subject to 800-1300 mm of yearly rainfall and to an average annual temperature of 10-15 °C, within territories potentially dominated by mixed broadleaved summergren oakwoods of Erico-Quercion (Erico arboreae-Quercetum virgilianae and Festuco heterophyllae-Quercetum congestae). Located in montane sites (1250-1300 m a.s.l.) and on siliceous substrates, Osmundo regalis-Salicetum pedicellatae (OSMUNDO-ALNION) forms dense riparian forests rich in meso-hygrophilous species within area potentially covered by Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum austrotyrrhenicae or Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae. 180 Itineraries The hygrophilous pioneer scrubs and low open forests colonizing the beds and the banks of local streams (SALICETEA PURPUREAE) are locally represented by few spots of Salicetum albo-purpureae (SALICION ALBAE), one of the most representative ones occurring just after the canyon of Longi. The lower trait of most part of local streams and braided streams, the so-called ‘iumare’ (e.g. at Santo Stefano di Camastra, Tusa and Furiano) is often characterised by thermo-hygrophilous pioneer thicket communities (NERIO-TAMARICETEA). The most common features of such disturbance- and stress-tolerant vegetation are mono-speciic stands of Tamarix africana (TAMARICION AFRICANAE), and Spartio juncei-Nerietum oleandri (RUBO ULMIFOLII-NERION OLEANDRI), colonizing the alluvial sandy-gravelly luvial terraces which are slightly raised with respect to the streambeds occupied by EUPHORBION RIGIDAE assemblages. The montane ponds of Nebrodi Mts. host plenty of free loating assemblages linked to still and relatively nutrient-rich freshwater bodies (LEMNETEA and LEMNION MINORIS), such as Lemnetum minoris in the shallow waters of some ponds of Contrada Gilormo and San Giorgio below 800 m a.s.l.; Wolietum arrhizae in the ponds of Zilio, Quattrocchi and Contrada Pantana ((900 to 1050 m a.s.l.); Lemno minoris-Spirodeletum polyrrhizae colonizing the central part of some ca. 3 m-deep montane meso-eutrophic ponds, located at 950 m a.s.l. in Contrada Pantana; Lemnetum trisulcae along the shallow sides of some meso-eutrophic, clear and poorly mineralized ponds located between 950 and 1250 m a.s.l. (Campanito and Contrada Pantana). Bladderwort-dominated assemblages typical to meso-eutrophic waters (UTRICULARION VULGARIS) like Utricularietum australis occur in many 0.5-2-m deep ponds (Urio Quattrocchi, Zilio, Contrada Pantana, Campanito, near Lago Biviere, Contrada Gilormo) located between 700 and 1300 m a.s.l., whilst Utriculario vulgaris-Potamogetonetum natanti has been recently described for two small and shallow (less than 1-m deep) temporary ponds located in the localities Sollazzo Verde and Pappanu on the northern slopes of Mt. Soro (1400-1450 m a.s.l.) within the climax belt of beech woods. Also many assemblages dominated by rooted loating or submerged macrophytes (POTAMOGETONETEA and POTAMOGETONION) occur in the stagnant meso-eutrophic water bodies of Nebrodi 181 Itineraries Mts., namely Potametum perfoliati, observed in the shallow (0.5-1 m deep), still waters of the pond of Piano Tannu (c. 100 m a.s.l.), whose bottom is rich in humus and loam; Groenlandietum densae, occurring in very small (max 2-3 m2) and shallow (max10 cm deep) muddy and eutrophic ponds with no or very limited outlow, located at 1300-1350 m a.s.l. near Lago Biviere at Cesarò and at Serra del Re within the beech forest belt; Myriophylletum verticillati (NYMPHAEION ALBAE), linked to the deepest part of alkaline, meso-eutrophic, still, clear, 0.53 m-deep small ponds (Campanito, Contrada Pantana, Quattrocchi and Mt. Soro) located at 900-1250(1800) m a.s.l. Myriophylletum alternilori (POTAMOGETONION GRAMINEI) occurs in some eutrophic ponds (Contrada Pantana, San Nicola and Quattrocchi) with shallow muddy bottom located at (600)900-1050 m a.s.l. Some small depressions along the border of deeper and almost permanent waterbodies located at Portella Maulazzo, Mt. Soro, Cesarò and Portella Femmina Morta between 850 and 1000 m a.s.l. host Ranunculo laterilori-Antinorietum insularis (ISOETO-NANOJUNCETEA and PRESLION CERVINAE), a slightly subnitrophilous ephemeral microphytic pioneer amphibious assemblage typical of temporary ponds. Wooded pasture (Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae) are traditionally obtained by thinning out the density of the trees, in order to ensure the growth of meadows in the clearings. The basal sprouts of the beech provide additional fodder available throughout the summer.. 182 Itineraries Glino mollis-Verbenetum supini (VERBENION SUPINAE) is a summer annual pioneer nitrophilous and heliophilous assemblage colonizing the seasonally submerged, nutrient-rich soils of local artiicial basins (Lago Ancipa and Pozzillo) subject to strong water level luctuations. Several local communities linked to still, fresh and brackish waterbodies dominated by big rhizomatous helophytes are framed into PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA and PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS, like Phragmitetum communis along stream- and riversides or on the border on natural ponds and artiicial basins, and Scirpetum lacustris, forming dense, often unrooted populations in the standing waters or on muddy and deep soils, at 750-1300 m a.s.l. (e.g. Lago Biviere and ponds of Campanito, Serra della Testa and San Giorgio); Typhetum latifoliae observed at 800-1300 m a.s.l. along the borders of shallow eutrophic ponds disturbed by grazing animals (e.g. Lago Pisciotto); Iridetum pseudacori on the muddy borders of some shallow temporary ponds (Contrada Pantana, Piano Pomaro, Contrada Sorba, San Giorgio); Typhetum dominguensis occurring between 100 and 720 m a.s.l. on muddy-peaty bottoms of several temporary ponds (Contrada Gilormo, Contrada San Nicola and Piano Tannu); Typhetum angustifoliae growing on the muddy bottoms of the shallow mesotrophic ponds of San Giorgio at ca. 800 m a.s.l. Three diferent communties framed into GLYCERIO-SPARGANION, including the herblands occurring along the freshwater streams and on the borders of shallow water bodies of temperate Europe and sub-montane and montane Mediterranean Europe, are reported for this territory: Sparganietum erecti prefers still, clear and rather cold waters, colonizing the shallow bottom of permanent ponds between 10 and 950 m a.s.l. (Contrada Pantana, Contrada Sorba and Pizzo Michele), while Eleocharido palustris-Alismetum lanceolati occurs on the muddy borders of many local temporary ponds located at (600)8501050 m a.s.l. (Quattrocchi, Campanito, Contrada Pantana, Serra della Testa, Contrada Gilormo, Contrada San Nicola); Eleocharido palustris-Sparganietum neglecti mostly occurs on the muddy, submerged and shallow bottoms of montane waterbodies (e.g. Lago Biviere, 1280 m a.s.l.); Cyperetum longi (MAGNOCARICION ELATAE) forms discontinuous communities between 250 and 950 m a.s.l. along the raised borders of some ponds (e.g. Contrada Pantana and San Giorgio), subject to short periods of submersion. 183 Itineraries The vegetation of the Sicilian hygrophilous herblands linked to shallow montane pools subject to seasonal watertable luctuations are framed into ALOPECURO-GLYCERION SPICATAE, locally represented by Oenantho istulosae-Glycerietum spicatae dwelling the muddy-peaty shallow bottoms subject to short periods of drying up on some meso-eutrophic ponds located between 1.450 and 1.700 m a.s.l. (e.g. Biviere di Cesarò, Portella Maulazzo, Mt. Soro), substituted by Glycerio spicatae-Oenanthetum aquaticae in the ponds with a shorter hydroperiod (Contrada Pantana, Serra della Testa and Zilio) located in warmer sites (900-1250 m a.s.l.), and by Glycerio spicatae-Callitrichetum obtusangulae, linked to extremely shallow (10 to 20 cm-deep) and frequently eutrophic pools located at 780-1770 m a.s.l. (Contrada Pantana, near Mt. Soro, San Giorgio, near Lago Biviere, Contrada Scagliola, Serra della Testa), whose bottom remains humid even after drying up. Anthropogenic vegetation Local arable crops (mostly cereal ields) are characterised by two annual weed assemblages occurring in diferent seasons. The wintergreen one, Valerianello dentatae-Medicaginetum scutellatae, is framed into ROEMERION HYBRIDAE (PAPAVERETEA RHOEADIS) and has been observed on the clayey soils of the southern part of the massif (e.g. Troina, Nicosia and Cerami), while the summergreen, C4 species-rich vegetation occurring after crop harvest belongs to Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Kickxietum integrifoliae (DIGITARIO SANGUINALIS-ERAGROSTIETEA MINORIS and DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS). Concerning the wintergreen annual weedy and ruderal vegetation belonging to CHENOPODIETEA, the hypernitrophilous and xerophilous vegetation of local sheepfolds is referred to HORDEION MURINI, whilst many fallows occurring between 200 and 800 m a.s.l. on the marly and clayey soils of the southern sector of the massif are characterized by Centauretum schouwii (ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE), dynamically linked with PLANTAGINION CUPANII overgrazed and trampled communities and with PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII thorny woody mantle communities. A single sub-nitrophilous and sciaphilous community (VALANTIO MURALIS-GALION MURALIS) is reported for the area, i.e. Galio muralis-Sedetum cepaeae dwelling the the siliceous stone walls 184 Itineraries of Tortorici between 50 and 550 m a.s.l. mostly under the cover of ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS forest and pre-forest communities and rather common elsewhere in NE Sicily (Eolie islands, Peloritani Mts.). The nitrosciaphilous vegetation growing under the tree canopy of local Citrus orchards probably belongs to VERONICO-URTICION URENTIS. No data are available on the therophytic nitrophilous dwarf vegetation typical to local trampled (mostly urban and suburban) areas (POLYGONO-POËTEA ANNUAE and POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI). As for geophytic and hemicryptophytic ruderal nitrophilous vegetation (ARTEMISIETEA VULGARIS), the intensive breeding activities mostly carried out in this territory give rise to several (sub)xerophilous assemblages framed into ONOPORDION ILLYRICI, like the thistle-dominated Onopordo illyrici-Cirsietum scabri, rather common in the sheepfolds and manure heaps located at 700-900(1000) m a.s.l. on clayey soils in areas subject to an average annual rainfall 700-1100 mm (e.g. Troina). Pteridio aquilini-Tanacetum siculi, an extremely dense and tall herbland occurs at 800-1250 m a.s.l. on coarse skeleton-rich acidic soils which occurs in overgrazed areas subject to very frequent arsons (even twice a year!) and along roadsides, tracks and paths (Cerami, Capizzi, Mt. Polverello near Floresta); Phlomido herba-venti-Salvietum sclareae, recorded between 550 and 800 m a.s.l. in rocky disturbed sites such as sheepfolds and rural farms in areas subject to an average annual rainfall of 700 mm (e.g. Alcara Li Fusi). Under thermo- and meso-mediterranean bioclimate disturbed fallows, roadsides and ladills are often characterized by perennial herb-dominated ruderal communities framed into BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE, such as Centrantho rubri-Euphorbietum ceratocarpae rather common from 100 up to 600(750) m a.s.l. in the inner part of NE Sicily. Under thermo-mediterranean bioclimate the most common assemblage of EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII dwelling the nutrient-rich and disturbed riverbanks and water bodies of the territory is a thermophilous reed bed referred to Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis (CYNANCHO-CONVOLVULION SEPIUM). Under cooler bioclimates, several tall-herb plant communities form forest fringes on nutrient-rich and often deep soils, such as Anthrisco nemorosae-Chaerophylletum temuli (ANTHRISCION NEMOROSAE) occurring in shady disturbed sites (e.g. rural farms) on deep acid soils between 1450-1600 m a.s.l., or Anthrisco nemorosae-Heracletum cordati 185 Itineraries with falda freatica più supericiale in the paths within the beechwoods of Capizzi at 1350-1500 m a.s.l., while Lepidio nebrodensis-Smyrnietum perfoliati characterises more xeric but less disturbed areas at 1410-1520 m of altitude (Portella Femmina Morta, Capizzi, Cesarò, etc.). The montane areas host some mesic nitrophilous communities ascribed to ARCTION LAPPAE, like Urtico dioicae-Cirsietum italici a markedly xerophilous and heliophilous assemblage dwelling coarse metamorphic skeleton-rich soils, often near sheepfolds and rural farms at 1150-1450 m a.s.l. (Serra del Re, Floresta). Several artiicial water basins and the lake Ancipa host some summer-annual pioneer communities typical to seasonally looded nutrient-rich riverbeds, lacustrine banks and heavily nutrient-loaded anthropogenic habitats (BIDENTETEA TRIPARTITAE and CHENOPODION RUBRI). 7.3. Landscape and land use history The toponym ‘Nebrodes’, once used to indicate all the high mountains located NW of Mt. Etna, i.e. both the current Nebrodi and Madonie massifs, derives from the ancient Greek nebros (= deer) and clearly evocates the past spread of forest ecosystems suitable for these wild ungulates. There is no doubt that men strongly afected local woddlands by destroying and altering large part of them. Nevertheless, Nebrodi Mts. still host the widest and most continuous fragments of forest cover of all Sicily. This area hosts the most ancient and famous traces of upper Paleolithic settlement of the whole Sicily, located at the cave of San Teodoro, near Acquedolci, where many exceptionally well-conserved human skeletons dating back to c. 14000 years ago have been found. The good quality of lintstone and quartz tools testify that those people, probably forming a matriarchal society, were devoted to hunting, ishing and rudimental breeding. Furthermore, the presence of the mid Neolithic ‘Stentinello culture’ (V millennium BC) has been recorded near Tripi, upper Neolithic sites (c. 4000 BC) have been discovered in the territories of Troina and Basicò, while stone tools and ceramics dating back to ancient Copper Age (‘Castelluccio Culture’, ca. XXII century BC) have been found at Grotta Scodonì near Torrenova and at Alcara Li Fusi. Additionally, an Iron Age settlement (IX century BC) occurred on the foothills of Mt. Scurzi near Militello Rosmarino. 186 Itineraries Between VIII-III centuries BC, all the indigenous cities of the territory, like ‘Amistraton’ (now Mistretta), ‘Abakainon-Abacaenum’ (now Tripi), ‘Imachara’ (probably near Nicosia), ‘Traina’ (now Troina), became one by one Siculo-Hellenic. Between V and IV Greek occupied not only the coastal areas, founding or re-founding ‘Kalé Akté-Calacta’ (= beautiful shore, near Caronia) and ‘Halaesa Arkonidea’ (near Tusa), but also the hills and the mountains, building cities like ‘Halontion-Aluntium’ (now San Marco d’Alunzio) and ‘Apollonia’ (near San Fratello), the latter provided with a sea-way at Acquedolci, and small villages at Cerami, ‘Helikone’ (now Montalbano Elicona), ‘Kapition’ (now Capizzi), etc. Under Roman dominion Aluntium, Halaesa and Troina were lorid towns, especially during Republican (II BC to I AD) and late Imperial (IV-V AD) period; Calactae exported wine to Rome, Amistraton represented an important trade centre managing and exporting the wheat harvest coming from inner Sicily. Near Acquedolci, Motta d’Afermo and Torrenova several resting houses and rural farms dating back to IIIII century AD have been found near the Via Valeria, the consular road build along the Tyrrhenian coast to connect Panhormus with Messana. Romans also built some inland rural villages like the one of ‘Sinus aggeri’ (= curve of the riverbank, now Sinagra) and near Ucria. Under Byzantines most of the population concentrated in the villages of the hilly and montane area. The main centres (i.e. Apollonia renamed San Filadelio, Calacta, Halaesa, San Marco d’Alunzio, Troina, Ucria, Mistretta and Nicosia) became fortresses, and many other villages were founded, like Sparto (now Motta d’Afermo), Piraino, Sant’Angelo di Brolo, Castania (now Castell’Umberto), San Salvatore di Fitalia. Additionally, many basilian monasteries spread in the territory, mostly on strategic places and/or near to wide forested areas, and some of them give origin to new settlements, like the ones of Raccuja and Frazzanò. Almost certainly this period coincides with a strong intensiication of anthropogenic pressure on local forest ecosystems (grazing and browsing, wood gathering, etc.). As a matter of fact, almost 1500 years after the settlement of the irst Greek colonies, the inhabitants of the perched villages of north-eastern Sicily still formed a Greek-speaking community. The strong cultural and religious identity of local population, together with the inaccessibility of many towns, explain why Arabs achieved to conquer most of 187 Itineraries (not all!) this area only around mid X century, i.e. one hundred years after their arrival on the SW coasts of the island. Unlike western and central Sicily, Arabs seem not to have densely occupied the countryside, and they preferred to strengthen the pre-existing villages and rural farms, like Cerami, Migaido near Pettineo, Nicosia, Piraino, San Salvatore di Fitalia, Ucria and San Marco d’Alunzio, which became the administrative centre of the ‘Magna Divisa Vallis Demonis’, corresponding to the NE part of the island. The present name or the foundation of other local villages is linked with Arabs: this is the case of Alcara Li Fusi and Galati Mamertino (probably both deriving from al ‘Qala’at’ = fortress), Cesarò (perhaps from ‘Kasr’, castle), Raccuja (perhaps from ‘Rahal Kuddya’ = rural farm on the big hill), while the ancient Calacta became ‘al Qarunia’ (now Caronia). Lowlands appear almost desert: only near Acquedolci sugar cane is cultivated and harvested. Under Normans the territory remains almost unchanged, although they founded or re-inforced some villages (Acquedolci, Alcara Li Fusi, Brolo, Capizzi, Cerami, Frazzanò, Montalbano Elicona, San Fratello, San Salvatore di Fitalia, San Filadefo, re-named San Cesarò: free-ranging black porks in the Cynosuro cristati-Leontodontetum siculi (Cirsio vallis-demonii-Nardion). Black porks are kept on Nebrodi mountains since medieval times. Nowadays the popularity of this product is increasing, the market is enlarging and the black pork became a major source of environmental impact in many oakwoods of Nebrodi Mts. 188 Itineraries Fratello, Santo Stefano di Mistretta near Tusa, Sparto, which becomes Motta d’Afermo). Part of the territory remains a state property, other lands were donated to local aristocracy and became small iefs or Basilian monks were entrusted of their management. Many towns are populated with people coming from other regions ruled by Normans. The so-called ‘Lombardi’, actually coming from W Liguria and W Piedmont, form a peculiar cultural and linguistic enclave until present day, giving origin to the so-called ‘Gallo-Italic’ dialects. Under Frederick II Hohestaufen (XIII century) Nicosia became the fourth city of Sicily after Palermo, Messina and Catania. The Swabian emperor donated part of these lands to relatives and allies (e.g. Brolo, Sinagra, Piraino to Lancia family, Cesarò to Colonna Romano family). During XIV century the kings of Aragon did exactly the same, donating many forest-rich areas to nobles (Caronia, Naso and Tusa to the family Ventimiglia, Pettineo to the counts of Geraci, etc.) or to the church: Floresta is property of the archbishop of Patti until XIV century, while the monastery of Sant’Anastasia at Castelbuono manages the lands of Santo Stefano di Mistretta until XVII century. As the biggest forested surface of Nebrodi Mts., including the woods of Mangalavite, Troina, Grappidà, Foresta vecchia and Petrosino, belonged to territory of Caronia, the name ‘Caronie’ started to be commonly used to indicate the whole mountain range. Most of local iefs were small, hence the sustainable management of local forest resources was probably the only way to survive, not only for local inhabitats but also for the owners. Overexploitation allowed local lords to climb the Sicilian noble hierarchy (from baron to count, to marquis, to prince, to duke) as often as let them see their properties coniscated due to bankrupt. Only the most important centres, like Troina, Nicosia and Mistretta, playing a key role for the trade of both local forest goods and agro-pastoral products coming from the crop ields and pasturelands of the Erei Mts., maintained a high level of welfare until XVIII century, when Nicosia counted more than 260 noble families, 84 churchs, 6 convents and 4 monasteries. Other minor centres developed thanks to their vicinity to the main regional transhumance tracks (Cesarò, Floresta, Capizzi, Montalbano Elicona, etc.), or enjoyed the managerial qualities of their owners, like Raccuja and Sant’Angelo di Brolo, rich and famous between XVI and XVII century thanks to silk production and export. 189 Itineraries With the end of feudalism (1812) the area did not experience the fast and irreversible changes that afected the natural landscape of many other areas of Sicily. Indeed, downy oakwoods were cutted to give more room to fruit orchards, vineyards, pure cork oak stands and olive groves, while chestnut and hazelnut (Longi, Frazzanò, Galati Mamertino, Raccuja, San Salvatore di Fitalia, Ucria, Sinagra, Mirto, Montalbano Elicona, Basicò, Sant’Angelo di Brolo) groves were further developed at the expense of Turkey oak forests; but in most cases these changes were slow and slight because local communities were used to comply with the chronic shortage of resources. Natural facts - namely local geography, geo-pedology, climate - more than human choices, explain the extremely high number of small municipalities, the everlasting low demographic density, the endurance of land uses since at least Middle Ages. In fact, the adjacent coasts have always been diicult to reach due to the steepness of N-facing slopes, and they do not ofer comfortable and secure harbours: conversely, they are almost completely exposed to winter storms. Local streams are not navigable and dangerous to cross during winter. Additionally, Nebrodi Mts., together with Peloritani and S Calabrian Mts. act as a natural ‘dam’ able to intercept most of the air humidity released by the winds which encounter these ridges after having crossed the SE Tyrrhenian. The high frequency of extreme rainfall events triggers the natural tendency to slip down of local clayey and marly-clayey soils, and soil erosion not only still biases the transport of men and goods due to continuous damages to local road network, but has had impressive consequences on the private lives of many local communities. On 1682, a disastrous landslide destroyed Santo Stefano di Mistretta and the inhabitants have to move and re-found elsewhere a new town, now called Santo Stefano di Camastra; the same happened to San Fratello, subject to three huge landslides on 1754, 1922 and 2010, and to Castell’Umberto between XIX and XX centuries, while Sinagra was almost completely destroyed by two loods occurred within a decade (1827 and 1837). Also the seismic asset of the area is hostile: during Middle Ages (perhaps on 856 AD) Halaesa was probably abandoned due to an earthquake and re-founded on another site; at the end of I century AD also Calacta was probably destroyed by an earthquake; the survivors decided to move and founded a new settlement on the coast, near to present-day Caronia Marina, but just 300 years after (mid IV century AD) also the new settlement was struck by earthquake or a tsunami. 190 Itineraries The majority of the local hilly-montane villages currently counts less than 3000 people, and only few of them more than 5000 (Nicosia: 13900; Troina: 9400; Tortorici: 6500; Brolo: 5900; Mistretta: 5000). At present the main income for local communities is provided by pastoral activites (pigs left to wild pasture in the woodlands, cows and horses in the grasslands, goats and sheep in open degraded cork- and downy oakwoods). In many cases current breeding practices appear unsustainable, with severe consequences on local ecosystems. In particular, the excessive number of pigs hampers the renovation of local forests due to overgrazing and trampling, and the increasing frequency of arsons by shepherds has caused the spread of monotonous broom heaths, mantle shrublands, degraded bracken-dominated herblands, etc., compromising not only local forest communities, but even the perennial and annual dry grassland assemblages. 191 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Barbagallo C., Brullo S., Furnari F., 1979. Su alcuni aspetti di vegetazione igroila di Serra del Re (Monti Nebrodi). Pubblicazioni dell’Istituto di Botanica dell’Università di Catania, Catania, 8 pp. Brullo S., Grillo M., 1978. Ricerche itosociologiche sui pascoli dei Monti Nebrodi (Sicilia settentrionale). Notiziario itosociologico, 13: 23-61. Brullo S., Minissale P., Spampinato G., 1994. Studio itosociologico della vegetazione lacustre dei Monti Nebrodi (Sicilia settentrionale). Fitosociologia, 27: 5-50. Gentile S., 1960. Ricerche sui pascoli e sui boschi del territorio di Nicosia (Sicilia Nebrodense). Bollettino dell’Istituto di Botanica dell’Università di Catania, s. 2, 2 (1958): 87-130, 12 tavv. f.-t., 1 carta (scala 1:40.000 ca.). Gianguzzi L., 1999. Flora e vegetazione dei Nebrodi. Itinerari didattici. Regione Siciliana, Sezioni Operative per l’Assistenza Tecnica nn° 5, 7, 8,10, 11, Sant’Agata di Militello (ME), 232 pp. Gianguzzi L., Fici S., Ilardi V., 1999. Un interessante lembo residuale di foresta a Taxus baccata L., presente sui Monti Nebrodi (Sicilia nord-orientale). Colloques phytosociologiques, 28: 107-108. Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A., 1999. Considerazioni su aspetti termoili di vegetazione a Taxus baccata L. nella fascia submontana dei Nebrodi (Sicilia nord-orientale). Colloques phytosociologiques, 28 (1998): 883-891 + tabb. f.-t. Gianguzzi L., Venturella G., Raimondo F.M., 1990. Osservazioni sulla vegetazione insediata nelle colture di nocciolo del Messinese. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 14(3-4): 3-37. Pignatti Wikus E., Pignatti S., 1987. Le cenosi a cerro e frainetto della Penisola e della Sicilia. Notiziario itosociologico, 23: 107-124. Poli Marchese E., Lo Giudice R., 1988. Contributo alla conoscenza della vegetazione a Quercus cerris dei Monti Nebrodi (Sicilia). Braun-Blanquetia, 2: 153-164. 192 Itineraries Poli Marchese E., Maugeri G., 1974. La zonazione della vegetazione presso il Biviere di Cesarò (Nebrodi). Archivio botanico e biogeograico italiano, s. 4, 19(3-4): 121-134. Raimondo F.M., Marino P., Schicchi R., 2011. Hydrophytic vegetation aspects in the Nebrodi Mountains (Sicily). Fitosociologia, 48(2): 123-128. Schicchi R., 2004. Materiali per una carta tematica delle emergenze loristiche e vegetazionali del Parco dei Nebrodi. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 28(1): 139-163. 193 Itineraries Box 7.1 Petagnaea gussonei unveiled Petagnaea gussonei (Sprengel) Rauschert is endemic to the Nebrodi Mountains (NE Sicily). The subpopulations of this species are scattered over c. 56 km2 from 240 to 1450 m a.s.l., and they grow together with other hygrophilous tall herbs typical to shaded forest edges and nutrient-rich fringes located along permanent mountain streams or near freshwater springs, ascribed to the phytosociological class Epilobietea angustifolii. Petagnaea is a rather isolated genus within the tribe Saniculoideae. The nearest genus is Astrantia, which has a South and East European-Caucasian distribution range. Together with Siculosciadium, another Apiaceae, it represents the only endemic genus of the whole Sicilian vascular lora. Due to the gradual decline of both the area of occupancy and habitat quality, and considering the low number of known locations (22), often subject to several threats (e.g. disturbance of groundwater regime, ecosystem and soil degradation due to alien tree plantations, livestock trampling), this species has been categorized as Vulnerable by IUCN. Moreover, the species is listed in Appendix I of the Bern Convention and in Annexes II and IV of the EC ‘Habitats’ Directive. 194 Itineraries References Calviño C.I., Martínez S.G., Downie S.R., 2008. Morphology and biogeography of Apiaceae subfamily Saniculoideae as inferred by phylogenetic analysis of molecular data. American Journal of Botany, 95(2): 196-214. De Castro O., Cennamo P., De Luca P., 2009. Analysis of the genus Petagnaea Caruel (Apiaceae), using new molecular and literature data. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 278: 239-249. De Castro O., Gianguzzi L., Colombo P., De Luca P., Marino G., Guida M., 2007. Multivariate analysis of sites using water invertebrates and land use as indicators of the quality of biotopes of Mediterranean relic plant (Petagnaea gussonei, Apiaceae). Environmental Bioindicators, 2(3): 161-171. Gianguzzi L., 2011. Schede per una Lista Rossa della Flora vascolare e crittogamica Italiana. Petagnaea gussonei (Sprengel) Rauschert. Informatore botanico italiano, 43(2): 412-416. Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A., 2006. Petagnaea gussonei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/ IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61624A12523812.en. 195 VIII Madonie Mts Itinerary1 - From “Piani di Quacella” to “Contrada Pomieri”, through Vallone Madonna degli Angeli On Madonie Mts., many diferent geological units are represented, creating a wide variety of substrata, from alkaline to acidic, from loose and sandy to compact and clayish. Our hike will develop along the contact area between limestone and metaquartzites, giving us the chance to appreciate most of the local endemites, including the most famous one: Abies nebrodensis, currently limited to a small valley (14401600 m a.s.l.) subjected to periodical fogs, where it colonizes initial soils with an arenaceous-quartzitic matrix. The Madonian ir is one of the last representatives of a Tertiary climactic vegetation, that has been displaced by the arrival of the beech in Sicily, during the cold phases of the Quaternary. Once arrived in the summit areas of Mt. San Salvatore, we will appreciate the acidophilous pulvinate communities of Arm- Itineraries erion nebrodensis. Walking back along the ridge up to the limestone outcrops, we will observe the transition between these communities and the basiphilous ones ascribed to the alliance Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis, before descending towards Contrada Pomieri across the contact zone between the Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae and the Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum austrotyrrhenicae. Trail: Length: 9.5 km. Hiking time: 5 hours, Elevation range: 800 m. Itinerary2 - Dolines of Piano Battaglia and Mt. Carbonara The carbonatic summits of Madonie are spotted by thousands of closed hollows, known as sinkholes or dolines. These are generally small but can be up to 40 m in depth and 500 m or more in diameter. Sinkholes develop by a variety of karstic processes: collapse, sufosion or solution, depending on the land morphology and on the proximity with loose material originating from the neighbouring quartzitic sandstones. We will wander amidst the dolines and observe the how the vegetation adapts to the gradient summit-lank-hollow, in 198 Itineraries a landscape dominated by mountain pasturelands (Cirsietalia vallis-demonis, Holoschoenetalia and Poetalia bulbosae), mostly obtained by millennial stockbreeding to the detriment of beechwoods. After reaching the top of Mt. Carbonara (1979 m), the second highest peak of Sicily, we will descend a carbonatic, south facig slope with vegetation of Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis. Trail: Length: 6.7 km, Hiking time: 4.5 hours, Elevation range: 450 m Itinerary3 - Fiumara di Pollina “Fiumara” (from Latin lumen, from Classical Latin lǔre - alternative names: jumara, rieral, rambla) is the name given to wide, intermittently dry riverbed, with a large sediment load during the lood peak, causing a braided course and the frequent rearrangement of warp deposits. Most of the rivers of Northern and North-Eastern Sicily display a iumara in the terminal trait of their course. We will descend through olive groves up to the iumara of the river Pollina, where we will see thermo-hygrophilous pioneer thicket communities (Nerio-Tamaricetea). The 199 Itineraries most common aspect of such disturbance- and stress-tolerant vegetation are mono-speciic stands of Tamarix africana (Tamaricion africanae), and Spartio juncei-Nerietum oleandri (Rubo - Nerion oleandri), colonizing the alluvial sandy-gravelly luvial terraces which are slightly raised above the streambeds occupied by Euphorbion rigidae assemblages. Trail: Length: 3km, Hiking time: 1 hr, Elevation range: 100 m Itinerary4 - Promontory of Cefalù The promontory of Cefalù consists of an huge mass of carbonatic rock rising 268 metres a.s.l., which the town moved up to for protection against pirate raids after the fall of the Roman empire. Thanks to water reservoirs of karstic origin, the local people could withstand long sieges up on the Rocca, which was ofering adequate water supply from 19 wells or cisterns excavated all over the promontory. The headland overlaps a basal complex constituted by fossil-rich “Oligocene lysches and Silicide pelagic shales and lysches”. The vegetation of the promontory shows almost everywhere the traces of a long-lasting exploitation of the land. After the recent abandonment of agricultural activities, husbandry and ire are the only occasional disturbances in the area. Along the trail, we will observe 200 Itineraries many diferent vegetation types, including: Mediterranean annual and perennial dry grasslands (Thero-Brometalia, Trachynietalia distachyae, Hyparrhenietalia), vegetation of rocky clifs (Asplenietalia glandulosi; Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae), Pinus halepensis reforestation replacing the former Pistacio-Rhamnetalia vegetation (Myrto-Lentiscetum; Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis), of which only very few remains are still occurring in the most impervious places. Trail: Length: 6.7 km round trip (it can be shortened, depending on the exigencies), Hiking time: 3 hours, Elevation range: 268 m. General Description 8.1. The physical setting The name ‘Madonie’ (an Italian corruption of the Sicilian name ‘Marunìa’) issues from Mons Maronis, the site where Gangi was rebuilt at the beginnings of XIV century AD. For centuries scholars have been claiming that this peak was the property of a Roman noble named Maro; according to a more recent hypothesis it could issue from an ancient Indo-European name given from Siculi: in fact, in other Italic dialects ‘mor/mar’ means ‘big’, hence Maroneus mons could simply mean ‘the big, high mountain’. A third hypothesis links the name to the noble family Ventimiglia, coming from Maro in Liguria: arrived in Sicily by mid XIII century, they became the most powerful family of the area between XIV and XIX centuries. The massif of Madonie represents the central sector of the northern Sicilian mountain range; its calcareous core rises up abruptly within just 20 km from the Tyrrhenian coast; its highest peaks nearly reach 2000 m of elevation, like Pizzo Carbonara (1979 m a.s.l.), Mt. San Salvatore (1912), Mt. Ferro (1906), Mt. Quacella (1869), Mt. Mufara (1865), Mt. Daino (1796), Mt. dei Cervi (1794), Pizzo Antella or Pizzo della Principessa (1697), Pizzo Catarineci (1660), Pizzo Dipilo (1365), etc. The calcareous-dolomitic highlands are shaped by karst erosion, which originated a complex patchwork of dolines, poljes, sink holes, karren ields, etc., intermingled with rocky clifs, bare stone surfaces, deep canyons and screes laying on the Palaeogenic siliceous deposits made of marls. 201 Itineraries Piani di Quacella, seen from the crest. The rangelands (Carduncello pinnati-Thymetum spinulosi) are replacing the beechwood (Luzulo siculae-Fagetum sylvaticae), but the beech still occurs on screes and on the rocky limestone ridges (Hieracio madoniensis-Fagetum sylvaticae), ready to recover the lost ground. The dirt road curving on the left leads to the Vallone Madonna degli Angeli. Madonie play a key role to understand the sequence of geologic events which involved the so-called ‘ palaeo-domains’ (Sicilid, Panormid, Imerese, etc.) corresponding to small fragments of the African plate which were dismembered, displaced and then subjected to complex vertical and lateral tectonic movements, whose deformation may be divided in three main steps: 1) Lias-lower Trias (251-200 Ma): submarine muddy deposits accumulated along the northern margin of African plate start consolidating. In the meanwhile, huge coral reefs - typical to shallow, warm and oxygen-rich waters like those still occurring on northern Antilles - border the emerged lands close to a deep trench illed with a mixture of calcareous and clayey muds and with difuse distensive volcanism. At the NW limit of this area there was a microplate corresponding to current northern Algeria, Peloritani Mts. and S Calabria; even further in the same direction, Corsica, Sardinia and Baleares are still united to form the margin of the European plate. 2) Between Jurassic and Cretaceous and the beginning of Palaeogene all the sediments and the calcareous platforms disappear due to 202 Itineraries an intense and wide process of submersion of the whole area, which causes the prevalence of deep-sea muddy deposits and Ammonites; as a consequence of extensive tectonic movements the previous basins deepen and become oceans, as testiied by the presence of radiolarites and efusive volcanic products. The Kabylian-Calabrian microplate separates from ‘Sicily’ and another deep trench gradually opens in the southeastern side originating the Ionian Sea. 3) From the end of Miocene to Pleistocene (23.0-1.8 Ma) all the area between Europe and Africa undergoes a deep revolution. In this period both the Apennines and the north African chain form, while foredeep submarine environments are covered with conglomerates, clays, sandy clays and quartz sandstones originating from the erosion dismantling the rising mountains (e.g. Castellana Sicula and Terravecchia formations, outcropping near Castellana Sicula, Scillato, Collesano and Polizzi Generosa). All these changes are due to a strong compression which causes the overlap of previously separated (partly emerged) ‘palaeodomains’. During upper Pliocene (ca. 2.6 Ma) this process reaches the acme with the frequent overturning of the geological layers: for example, on the top of Madonie Mts. we can observe Panormide mesozoic coral reefs laying over the pliocenic calcareous marls called ‘Trubi’. The rock outcrops deriving from the deformation of the Sicilid palaeodomain represent the majority of the rock outcropping on the top of the massif: they are represented by the following formations: ‘Argille varicolori’, i.e. clays and clayey marls, mostly occurring in the territories of Polizzi, Collesano and Caltavuturo, ‘Tuiti di Tusa’ (marls with microinclusions of sandy debris of metamorphic and volcanic origin) and ‘Polizzi’ (marly limestones). The deformed rock of the Imerese palaeodomain are mostly Mesozoic calcareous or siliceous-carbonatic overturned layers like those of the ‘Mufara’ formation (marls, marly limestones and laky clays), ‘Scillato’ and ‘Fanusi’ (mostly carbonates), ‘Crisanti’ and ‘Caltavuturo’ (both siliceous and calcareous). The deformed rocks once belonging to the Panormid palaeodomain are well represented on Pizzo Dipilo and Pizzo Carbonara and derive form coral reefs and continental shelf sediments accumulated between Trias and Eocene-Oligocene (200-20 Ma). Some evaporitic rocks (compact limestones, salt, macrocrystalline gypsum and trubi) formed during the Messinan crisis occurring 203 Itineraries Due to the combination of anthropic disturbance and competition with the beech, Abies nebrodensis behaves like a markedly pioneer species, limited to stony places, where it grows together with Juniperus hemisphaerica (Junipero hemisphaericae-Abietetum nebrodensis). around 5.3 Ma, belonging to the so-called ‘Gessoso-Solifera’ formation, occur near Petralia Sottana (were a salt mine is still working), Polizzi Generosa and Castellana Sicula. As a consequence of geology, the association ‘rock outcrop + xerorthents (= rock outcrop + lithosols)`characterises the wide bare areas of the top of the mountains, as well as the association ‘lithic xerothents + rock outcrop + lithic haploxerolls (= lithosols + rock outcrop + eutric regosols)’ mostly occurring on the main peaks. The soil combination ‘lithic xerorthents + rock outcrop + typical and/or lithic xerochrepts (= lithosols + rock outcrop + eutric cambisols)’ is the most common of the calcareous core of the massif and SW of Polizzi and Castellana. The association ‘typical xerochrepts + typical haploxeralfs + typical and/or lithic xerorthents (= eutric cambisols + orthic luvisols + eutric regosols and/or lithosols)’ is the most common on the Tyrrhenian side of the massif, whilst ‘typical xerorthents + typical and/or vertic xerochrept + typical and/or vertic xeroluvents and/or typical chrmomoxererts and /or typical pelloxererts (= eutric regosols + eu204 Itineraries tric and/or vertic cambisols + eutric luvisols and/or chromic and/ or pellic vertisols)’ prevail on the clayey slopes of the southern side of the massif (e.g. near Blui and Bompietro). A mixture of ‘typical xerorthents + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= eutric regosols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols) ìs the most frequent on local lysch outcrops. The alluvial sediments along the coast and in the bottom of some inner valleys are characterised by ‘typical and /or vertic xeroluvents + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= eutric luvisols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols)’, while a combination of typic xerorthents + lithic xerorthents + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= calcaric regosols + lithosols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols)’ only occurs near Petralia Sottana. Depending on altitude and distance from sea, the localities included in this area are subject to 4 to 5 months of drought stress. Even if no data are available for the southern sector of the massif, almost certainly it is less rainy (the mean value of annual rainfall of the montane locality of Gangi is 630 mm, vs. 1004 of Geraci, 857 of San Mauro Castelverde, 819 of Isnello, 810 of Petralia Sottana, 798 of Castelbono, 788 of Polizzi Generosa, 740 of Borrello - located in the valley beneath San Mauro, Abies nebrodensis: branches with cones. 205 Itineraries 726 of Caltavuturo and 693 at Cefalù). Based on locally available climatic data, Scillato is the warmest and Petralia the coldest recording station, even they cover a very narrow altitudinal range with respect to the whole area: the mean annual temperatures range between 13.5 and 16.5 °C, the mean values of the coldest month (January) between 4.8 (Petralia Sottana) and 9.2 °C (Scillato), that of the warmest month (July or August) between 23.0 (Gangi) and 24.9 (Scillato). Based on several interpolation models, the coastal sector is subject to upper thermomediterranean lower to upper sub-humid bioclimate, while the Tyrrhenian slopes of Madonie Mts. are characterised by a steep gradient of humidity conditions, ranging from upper subhumid to lower humid mesomediterranean (300-750 m a.s.l.), to lower and upper subhumid supramediterranean (750-1100 m a.s.l.), to lower humid supramediterranean conditions on the top of the range. The southern slopes of the massif are drier and mostly experience by upper dry and lower subhumid mesomediterranean bioclimate. The main water courses lowing in this territory are the rivers Torto (64 Km) and Imera settentrionale or Grande (35 Km) which also represent the western limit of the massif, Imera meridionale or Salso (144 Km) lowing towards the Strait of Sicily along its the southern sector, and the river Pollina, which represents the eastern border of the area. 8.2. Flora and vegetation According to the phytogeographic subdivision of Sicily proposed by Brullo et al. (1995), the Madonie Mts. belong to the Drepano-Panormitan district. This area is by far the richest and most distinc of the whole region, hosting 45 narrow endemics, i.e. Abies nebrodensis, Adenostyles nebrodensis, Allium castellanense, Allium nebrodense, Alyssum nebrodense, Arabis madonia, Armeria nebrodensis, Asperula gussonei, Astragalus nebrodensis, Aubrieta deltoidea subsp. sicula, Bellardiochloa variegata subsp. nebrodensis, Bupleurum elatum, Campanula marcenoi, Dianthus minae, Draba olympicoides, Epipactis cupaniana, Evacidium discolor, Festuca pignattiorum, Genista cupanii (in common with Nebrodi Mts.), Genista demarcoi, Genista madoniensis, Helianthemum nebrodense, Helichrysum nebrodense, Hesperis cupaniana, Hieracium murorum subsp. atrovirens, Hieracium racemosus subsp. pignattianum, Hieracium schmidtii subsp. madoniense, Hieracium schmidtii subsp. nebrodense, Jurinea bocconei, Laserpitium siculum, Leucojum nebrodense, Linum punctatum, 206 Itineraries In the foreground: Plantagini-Armerietum nebrodensis (Armerion nebrodensis) on the arkosic oligocenic sandstones of Mt. San Salvatore; in the background: Luzulo siculae-Fagetum sylvaticae, and Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis on the mesozoic carbonates of Mt. Quacella. Ophrys cephalodaetana, Pimpinella tragium subsp. glauca, Pyrus castribonensis, Rhamnus lojaconoi, Rosa strobliana, Senecio candidus, Siculosciadium nebrodense (only species of a strictly endemic genus!), Sideritis sicula, Silene minae, Silene saxifraga subsp. lojaconi, Sorbus madoniensis, Sternbergia exscapa and Viola nebrodensis. Moreover, Madonie Mts. host the only known Sicilian population of 47 taxa, i.e. Allium permixtum, Amelanchier ovalis subsp. embergeri, Anthemis cretica subsp. columnae, Asplenium ruta-muraria, Asplenium lepidum, Buglossoides incrassata, Campanula marcenoi, Cardamine monteluccii, Carex laevigata, Carex pallescens, Carex paniculata, Carex tumidicarpa, Cerinthe auriculata, Chenopodium bonus-henricus, Colchicum triphyllum, Corydalis intermedia, Cotoneaster nebrodensis, Cynoglossum nebrodense, Daphne oleoides, Dianthus gasparrinii, Eleocharis nebrodensis, Ferulago campestris, Gagea istulosa, Galium bernardii, Helianthemum canum, Iberis carnosa, Lotus corniculatus, Juncus compressus, Minuartia condensata, Minuartia graminifolia, Myosotis stricta, Myosurus minimus, Ornithogalum comosum, Orthilia secunda, Potentilla inclinata, Ptilostemon niveus, Rhamnus infectorius, Ribes uva-crispa, Rosa serainii, Scleranthus marginatus, Silene monachorum, Scrophularia vernalis, Sorbus nebrodense, Thesium parnassi, Thlaspi rivale, Verbascum rotundifolium and Vicia glauca. 207 Itineraries Mt. San Salvatore: contact between the Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae and Plantagini-Armerietum nebrodensis, colonizing the summit windy ridges. Additionally, dozens of district and island endemics and plenty of regionally rare and endangered plants occur not only on the top of the massif but also within the forest ecosystems of the foothills, e.g. Artemisia alba subsp. alba, Ephedra nebrodensis, Herniaria permixta, Lomelosia crenata, Plantago humilis, Quercus leptobalanos, Saponaria sicula, Teucrium montanum, etc. The territory of Madonie Mts. Figures among the Italian Important Plant Areas with the code SIC13 ‘Madonie’. Many scholars stated that both the species richness (more than 2000 taxa, i.e 2/3 of the whole Sicilian vascular lora!) and the high endemism rate of Madonie Mts. testiies the paramount role played by these mountains as a ‘Tertiary’ refugium for local lora. This hypothesis must be discarded for ever for at least two good reasons. First of all, during ‘Tertiary’ (a term which has been rejected by geologists and should be substituted with ‘Palaeogene’) and, more precisely, until lower Pliocene (between 5.3 and 3.6 Ma) most of the western Sicily (and also Madonie Mts.!) was still under the seawater, and the only emerged lands which could exist before that time are nowadays under the Tyrrhenian sea or have been covered due to the overlap of the geological units shifting from NW to SE during the above-mentioned compression which originated the massif. Second, geologists have pointed out that during the glacial events occurred during Hol208 Itineraries ocene, even the last ended 18000-12000 years ago, the top of the massif was repeatedly subject to periglacial processes, hence completely devoid of vegetation. Hence, all local oro-mediterranean endemics colonized the top of the massif much more recently than expected. Modern climatic models show that glacial events the Mediterranean realm was strongly afect by aridity. The only suitable places for plants to escape from frost damages and drought stress was the full availability of N-facing valleys and canyons, providing cooler and milder microclimates and acting as major refugia giving plant the chance to survive and then to re-colonize the top of the mountains during warmer and more humid interglacial periods. Hence, the N-facing sector of the Madonie Mts. could enjoy both the warmer climate and the humid winds coming from N and NW. The ‘limestone efect’, a pattern observed worldwide, should also be invoked to explain the species and endemic species-richness of Madonie Mts. Indeed, the shallow and base-rich soils deriving from limestones and dolomias are the ideal location for evolution, especially under supra- and oro-mediterranean conditions. The top of Madonie Mts. played the role of ‘calcareous island’ for the supra-mediterranean lora, which only occurs there and has evolved there due to isolation. Summarizing, three factors seem to better explain the particularly valuable botanical heritage of Madonie Mts.: favourable microclimatic conditions during Holocene, substrate and isolation. Without the favourable combination of these factors the area would have been as poor of endemics as the almost similar and close massif of Nebrodi Mts. Zonal vegetation In the following the main vegetation units of Madonie Mts. are presented starting from the highest peaks and going down to the seaside. The relict oro-mediterranean conifer woodlands and shrubberies are framed into JUNIPERO-PINETEA SYLVESTRIS and BERBERIDO AETNENSIS-PINION LARICIONIS. Junipero hemisphaericae-Abietetum nebrodensis is localized in the Vallone Madonna degli Angeli, enjoying the water supply due to frequent fogs, occurs on initial soils deriving from lysch quartzites. Last Sicilian irs occurring there have been unanimously considered the last remnants of the recent destruction of a previously widespread 209 Itineraries montane climax, although recent paleobotanical surveys point out that Abies nebrodensis was probably very rary in historical times and that the ir species belongig to Abies alba group used to occur also under supra-mediterranean bioclimate intermingled with deciduous broadleaved species such as beeches and deciduous oaks. Cerastio tomentosi-Juniperetum hemisphaericae is a prostrate shrubland occurring on limestones, dolomites and quartzites able to colonize initial soils on sunny and windy places between 1300 and 1900 m a.s.l. The hemicryptophytic and chaemaephytic patchy and mostly thorny cushion vegetation of the upper meso-, supra- and oro-mediterranean belts of Sicily and Calabria is ascribed to the endemic class RUMICI-ASTRAGALETEA SICULI. Its alliance ARMERION NEBRODENSIS includes Plantagini humili-Armerietum nebrodensis, a community dominated by small pulvinate chamaephytes and caespitose hemicryptophytes occurring on eroded, leached and extremely acid (pH 4-6) soils, often altered by cryoturbation. It occurs in the oro-mediterranean belt, between 1700-1900 m a.s.l., on the sunny plateaux and windy ridges on the siliceous peaks of Madonie Mts. (Mt. San Salvatore and Vallone Madonna degli Angeli), very stony due to overgrazing and wind erosion. The assemblages dwelling base-rich soils are referred to the endemic alliance CERASTIO-ASTRAGALION NEBRODENSIS, locally represented by Astragaletum nebrodensis, a species-poor pioneer assemblage colonizing eroded soils rich in skeleton, stony and eroded slopes and windy ridges. The thorny cushions of Astragalus nebrodensis dominate this community, provide a shelter (against wind and overbrowsing) to the few co-occurring plants and allow slow pedogenesis. It also occurs under supra- and oro-mediterranean bioclimate between 1400 and 1900 m a.s.l., on soils deriving from carbonates and laky clays (e.g. Mt. Mufara and Quacella ridge). The sub-nitrophilous Cachryetum ferulaceae is rather common on the N-facing gently sloping karstic sites (Pizzo Carbonara, Mt. Mufara and Monte dei Cervi) covered with quite deep but primitive soils which remain humid up to late summer but linked between 1600 and 1900 m a.s.l. Lino punctati-Seslerietum siculae is a xerophilous, discontinuous community colonizing the lithosols and rocky slopes on eroded sites of the supra-mediterranean belt between 1200 and 1800 m a.s.l. To Carduncello pinnati-Thymetum spinulosi is ascribed the chamaephytic vegetation dwelling the eroded soils deriving from argillites (= laky clays), 210 Itineraries The massif of Mt. Carbonara, here seen from the opposite crest of Mt. Quacella, is spotted by hundreds of dolines. Hollows were traditionally used as summergreen pasturelands. lysch, limestones. It characterises the wind-exposed gently sloping summits of the meso- and supra-mediterranean belt between 1100 and 1400 m a.s.l. on the Quacella rigdes and also occurs on Sicani and Nebrodi Mts. On the oro-mediterranean belt of Pizzo Carbonara three diferent assemblages occur: on the stony and steep (50°) slopes between 1500 and 1900 m a.s.l. Siderito siculae-Artemisietum albae prevails, substituted by Seslerio siculae-Melicetum cupanii on the highest slopes and on windy the ridges (1800-1950 m a.s.l.). The inner N-facing and wind-sheltered slopes and the bottom of dolines, where the snowbed lasts for at least 2 months and the loam- and nutrient-rich soil remains humid up to late summer, are covered by Siculosciadetum nebrodensis (e.g. Fosse di San Gandolfo). All the mesic (and meso-hygrophilous) summergreen deciduous forests of the meso- to supra-mediterranean belts of the massif are framed into CARPINO-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE and GERANIO STRIATI-FAGION. Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum austrotyrrhenicae is mostly common on acid soils issuing from Numidian Flysch outcropping rocks, in areas subject to humid supra-mediterranean bioclimate between 1250 and 1600 m a.s.l. The most representative examples of this forest community, linked to extremely cool and humid slopes enjoying an almost con211 Itineraries View of the dolines of Piano Battaglia, with Cachryetum ferulaceae in the foreground Cynosuro cristati-Plantaginetum cupanii in the lattened part of the doline. tinuous supply of air humidity coming from N-NW, are found on the Madonie Mts. at Contrada Pomieri and some scattered spots are interspersed in the Pollina watershed (Portella Mandarini, near Pizzo Canna and Piano Simpria, at Passo Canale and Piano Farina, Mt. Antenna Piccola), Pizzo Catarineci, Mt. Giummeti and near Castelbuono. With Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae belong most of the acidophilous beech forests ot Nebrodi Mts. subject to supra-mediterranean bioclimate between 1400 and 1800 m a.s.l., like those of Mt. Daino, Mt. San Salvatore, Portella Colla, Pizzo di Fao, Pizzo Scalonazzo, Zottafonda, Piano Principessa, Pizzo Catarineci. Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum leptobalani occurs on acidic soils between 1000 and 1200 m a.s.l. at Gonato, Serre di Corco and Vicaretto. On the eastern part of Madonie Mts., a montane holm-oakwood, the Geranio versicoloris-Quercetum ilicis, occurs on acid and well-humiied soils issuing from lysch outcrops under lower supra-mediterranean humid bioclimate, between 900 and 1200 m a.s.l. Luzulo siculae-Fagetum sylvaticae includes most of the basiphilous beech forest of Madonie Mts. colonizing dolomites and limestones between 1500-1900 m a.s.l. in the supra-mediterranean humid bioclimate, like those of Bosco Madonia (Isnello), Mt. Mufara (Petralia 212 Itineraries Sottana), Pizzo Antenna Grande, Monte dei Cervi, Mt. Spina Puci, while Hieracio madoniensis-Fagetum sylvaticae only occurs in the narrow gorges of Passo della Botte, between 1350 and 1500 m a.s.l. The steep and gravelly slopes of the calcareous part of the Madonie massif, subject to supramediterranean mesoclimate, host a pioneer assemblage ascribed to Sorbo graecae-Aceretum pseudoplatani (CARPINO-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE and tilio-oStRyon caRPiniFoliae). Local basiphilous thermophilous oak woods are referred to QUERCETEA ILICIS and FRAXINO ORNI-QUERCION ILICIS, and are locally represented by Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum virgilianae, almost frequent in the territories of Polizzi Generosa, Pollina, San Mauro Castelverde, Scillato. Interestingly, the area where this forest community occurs is the same where olives and manna ash trees have been planted during past centuries, so that nowadays it is often hard to say if these forest stands are the result of the secondary succession processes going on in abandoned groves or are the remnant nuclei of a previously wide thermophilous oak forest. This evergreen forest Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis rich in deciduous trees and many herbaceous species of the Carpino-Fagetea colonises poorly developed base-rich soils issuing from limestones and dolomias, consolidated screes and even semi-rupestrial habitats under supramediterranean bioclimatic conditions subject to more than 1000 of annual rainfall, between 1000 and 1400(1700) m a.s.l., like Piano Zucchi, Mt. Balatelli and Pizzo Carbonara, Volpignano, Mt. Cucullo, Vallone Madonna degli Angeli, southern slopes of Mt. Quacella. It is dynamically connected with CERASTIO-ASTRAGALION NEBRODENSIS communities; at lower altitudes it is substituted by thermophilous oakwoods (Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum virgilianae), while around 1400-1500 m a.s.l. it is gradually substituted by Luzulo sylvaticae-Fagetum sylvaticae. Rhamno lojaconoi-Lauretum nobilis occurs on the N-facing slopes and within the thalwegs of the streams Cava and Vicaretto (municipalities of Castelbuono and Geraci Siculo) both on calcareous and quartzitic substrates under upper meso-mediterranean subhumid-humid bioclimate. The co-occurrence of Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris conirms local high humidity. The acidophilous forest and maquis communities are framed into ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS. As for the submontane mixed oakwoods, Quercetum gussonei only occurs in the wood of Cappelliere and on Ne213 Itineraries Cachryetum ferulaceae develops on the overgrazed slopes of the dolines. brodi Mts. (Caronia and San Fratello) at (700)750-950(1.000) m a.s.l. and enjoys exceptionally high amounts of rainfall (probably 800-1110 mm), Quercetum leptobalani has been observed in some N-facing submontane areas of Madonie Mts. (Collesano and Piano Zucchi) at (700)750900(1.400) and Ficuzza, where annual rainfall amount is approximately 800 mm, while Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis is a mixed (mostly evergreen) oakwood linked to cool-humid montane microhabitats, shady slopes and valley bottoms, which occurs at (450)850-1200(1300) m a.s.l. During last centuries some of these forest communities have been substituted by hazelnut or chestnut groves (e.g. near Polizzi Generosa). The degradation of the four above-mentioned mixed forest communities leads to thorny shrublands (Crataegetum laciniatae) and - under intense overgrazing - to PLANTAGINION CUPANII. To Genisto aristatae-Quercetum suberis are ascribed the cork-oak woods occurring on gently sloping areas between 500 and 800 m a.s.l. (Collesano, Pollina, Castelbuono, Mongiarrati, Bosco Guarneri near Cefalù, Finale di Pollina, Geraci Siculo). Dense species-poor spots of acidophilous tall shrubland ascribed to Erico arboreae-Arbutetum unedonis (ERICION ARBOREAE) occur in the coastal sector of the massif at Finale di Pollina and Sant’Ambrogio near Cefalù. 214 Itineraries The deepest part of the active dolines hosts hygrophytic perennial meadows of Holoschoenetalia (here: Eleocharito nebrodensi-Juncetum compressi) and the annual vegetation of temporary ponds (here: Myosurus minimus, Spergularia madoniaca, Ranunculus icaria subsp. bulbilifer, Ranunculus laterilorus, Thlaspi rivale and Barbarea sicula). The self-renovating stone pinewoods dwelling the sandy soils deriving from lysch rock outcrops on the coastal hills (200-400 m a.s.l.) near Cefalù have been ascribed to Cisto cretici-Pinetum pineae (PINION PINEAE), but their native status remains rather questionable and needs to be conirmed (or rejected) after a more accurate research based on historical documents. The degradation of all the thermophilous forest and maquis communities framed into ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS leads to broom-dominated shrublands (SAROTHAMNION SCOPARII), garrigues (CISTO-LAVANDULETEA), perennial and annual dry grasslands (AVENULO-AMPELODESMION and HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI) and bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) pure stands. Thermophilous scrub (OLEO-CERATONION SILIQUAE) is locally represent by Euphorbietum dendroidis, which occurs on the steep calcareous slopes of the Rocca di Cefalù, while Myrto communi-Pistacietum lentisci occurring in locality Settefrati near Lascari probably issues from the degeneration of the cork oak woods which formed an almost continuous forest cover on the acidic substrates of the coastal area on both Madonie and Nebrodi Mts. 215 Itineraries The shrublands which are topographically close and dynamically connected to local woodlands are ascribed to CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA. From 1000 up to 1200-1400 m a.s.l., Crataegetum laciniatae (ILICI-CRATAEGION LACINIATAE) occurs on the border or in the clearings of the acidophilous woodlands of ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS. M Piano Battaglia, Pomieri, Portella Colla, Monte di Mele, Vallone Madonie, Pizzo Antenna, etc.). Three diferent basiphilous assemblages occur on the highest part of Madonie Mts.: Clematido vitalbae-Prunetum cupanianae occurs at 12501500 m a.s.l. on N-facing sites up to 1800 m a.s.l. on S-facing slopes (e.g. Macchia dell’Inferno, Piano Zucchi, Fosse di San Gandolfo, SW slopes of Mt. Spina Puci); Lonicero xylostei-Prunetum cupanianae colonizes the thiny colluvial soils of some consolidated debris cones on the NW slopes of Carbonara massif, Mt. Mufara, Monte dei Cervi and Quacella ridge (ca. 1350 m a.s.l.), while Junipero hemisphaericae-Prunetum cupanianae characterises the consolidated dolomitic scree on the NE-facing side of Quacella between 1350 and 1450 m a.s.l. At lower altitudes (e.g. Gibilmanna) the most widespread mantle communities belong to PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII, mostly represented by Cytiso infesti-Pyretum spinosae (from sea level up to 700-800 a.s.l.) and by Spartio juncei-Bupleuretum fruticosi and acidophilous shrublands colonizing the coastal hills of Madonie, Nebrodi and Peloritani Mts., mostly occurring on N-facing steep slopes and valleys under cool and shady microclimatic conditions within both thermo- and meso-meso-mediterranean belts (200-850 m a.s.l.). Another frequent tall broom-dominated shrubland, Cytiso infesti-Spartietum juncei, should be better framed into CYTISETEA SCOPARIO-STRIATI and SAROTHAMNION SCOPARII N The only basiphilous garrigue community (ONONIDO-ROSMARINETEA and POLYGALO PRESLII-ERICION MULTIFLORAE) described for the area is Genistetum demarcoi, only occurring on the shallow soils issuing from calcareous rock outcrops on the SE-facing slopes of Pizzo Dipilo near Isnello, between 400 and 900 m a.s.l., while the acidophilous garrigues (CISTO-LAVANDULETEA STOECHADIS and CYTISO VILLOSI-GENISTION TYRRHENAE) are much more widespread and are locally represented by three associations: Carlino nebrodensis-Genistetum cupanii mostly issues from the degradation of the cork and downy oak woods of the meso-mediterranean belt of 216 Itineraries the Tyrrhenian side of Madonie (Brullo 1984), but also occurs as disclimax under supra-mediterranean bioclimate from 800 up to 1600 m a.s.l.; Cisto salviifolii-Genistetum madoniensis is found on the foot-hills of northern Madonie between (200)250 and 650 (800) m a.s.l. (Gratteri, Lascari, Pollina, Cefalù and San Mauro Castelverde), and Genisto aristatae-Cistetum salvifolii between 500 and 800 m a.s.l. on the Tyrrhenian slopes of Madonie (Collesano, Lascari, Isnello and Geraci Siculo) and Nebrodi Mts. As for perennial xerophilous grasslands (LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE), Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis (HYPARRHENION HIRTAE) is very common on base-rich lithosols under thermo-mediterranean bioclimate, while under meso- and supra-mediterrean bioclimate the destruction of woody assemblages ascribed to QUERCETALIA ILICIS probably favoured the spread of meso-xerophilous communities framed into AVENULO-AMPELODESMION MAURITANICI. On the Madonie massif this alliance is represented by three species-rich communities. Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici, common between 100-800(1100) m a.s.l. on the calcareous steep slopes in areas Patches of Fagus sylvatica colonize the upper part of this doline (named Fossa di San Gandolfo). These patches were preserved for charcoal production and to shelter the livestock during the hottest hours of the day. In the foreground, summergeen pasturelands of Cynosuro cristati-Plantaginetum cupanii in the lattened part of the doline and Siculosciadetum nebrodensis in the stony hollows. 217 Itineraries The summit peaks of Pizzo Carbonara, colonized by the Asperulo gussonei-Potentilletum nebrodensis (Saxifragion australis) on vertical clifs and by the Seslerio siculae-Melicetum cupanii (Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis) on steep stony slopes. subject to 600-1000 mm of annual rainfall and average yearly temperatures of 11-18 °C (Polizzi Generosa, Piano Zucchi, Quacella, Gratteri, Isnello). Seselio tortuosi-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici occurs in central Sicily, namely on Erei Mts. and southern Madonie Mts. (e.g. Alimena) between 350-800(1.000) m a.s.l. on soils issuing from calcarenites, chalks and marls in areas subject to 700-900 mm of annual rainfall and average yearly temperatures of 14-17 °C. Avenulo cincinnatae-Stipetum siculae occurs in windy, sunny and rocky habitats, dweling the shallow soils of the ridges and lattened plateaux under meso-mediterranean humid bioclimate between 700 and 900 m a.s.l. at Gangi. Overgrazed areas are characterised by the prevalence of Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI on base-rich soils, while the perennial rangelands occurring on siliceous soils are framed into POËTEA BULBOSAE and PLANTAGINION CUPANII, locally represented by Cynosuro cristati-Plantaginetum cupanii which covers very wide surfaces of the lat siliceous areas at Piano Battaglia and Piano Battaglietta, Mt. Ferro, Mt. San Salvatore and Mt. Cervi. It is linked to leached acid-subacid (pH 6-6,5) non-permeable soils between (700)1100-1650(1.750) 218 Itineraries m a.s.l. It plays a key role as high quality pastureland, but overgrazing and excessive trampling may trigger its destruction and an almost irreversible soil degradation. At higher elevations (1.5001.750 m a.s.l.), within the potential belt of GERANIO-FAGION, it is often substituted by Armerio nebrodensi-Plantaginetum cupanii, a species-rich herbland occurring on seasonally submerged almost lat areas (Vaddi du Vuosco near Castelbuono, Zubbio near Pizzo Catarineci, Piano Cervi, Contrada Pomieri, etc.). No detailed information is available on the annual dry grasslands occurring under thermo- and meso-mediterranean bioclimate (HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATI). The gaps and the degradation steps of local forest and pre-forest acidophilous assemblages are colonized by assemblages typical to nutrient-poor sandy soils (HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATI and HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI). The annual the dry grasslands occurring on alkaline loamy substrates should be ascribed to STIPION RETORTAE, while those dwelling shallow skeletal base-rich soils belong to TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE and are locally represented by Thero-Sedetum caerulei. Some halo-nitrophilous assemblages framed into PEGANO HARMALAE-SALSOLETEA VERMICULATAE occur on the southern sector of Madonie Mts. Salsoletum agrigentinae (SALSOLO OPPOSITIFOLIAE-SUAEDION FRUTICOSAE) occurs on the badland system of Contrada Lavanche near Castellana Sicula, where this chenopod scrub is intermingled with halo-xerophilous perennial grassland referred to Asteretum sorrentinii (MORICANDIO-LYGEION SPARTI), and subhalo-nitrophilous annual dry assemblages referred to Podospermo cani-Parapholidetum pycnanthae (SAGINETEA MARITIMAE and GAUDINIO FRAGILIS-PODOSPERMION CANI). To ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS belong two associations recorded near Caltavuturo, i.e. Coronillo valentinae-Artemisietum arborescentis, occurring on intensely eroded marly slopes, subject to herbivore disturbance under thermo-mediterranean subhumid bioclimate, between 400 and 500 m a.s.l., and Lycio europaei-Artemisietum arborescentis, halo-nitrophilous shrubland occurring on the S-facing clayey slopes in rather disturbed sites (suburban areas, rural settlements, sheepholds, roadsides, tracks, etc.) subject to meso-mediterranean dry to subhumid bioclimate between 500 and 700 m a.s.l. 219 Itineraries Fiumara di Pollina: Tamarici africanae-Viticetum agni-casti, growing in the terminal part of the iumara, on slightly saline sediments. Vegetation of coastal ecosystems The central and eastern sectors on the coasts of northern Sicily are characterized by very few and narrow sandy or gravelly shores, and most of the coastline is made of steep acid rocky clifs subject to intense salt-spray. Moreover, the wilderness of the coastal sites of Madonie Mts. has been strongly compromised by urban sprawl, industrial sites (like that of the Gulf of Termini Imerese) and every sort of manufacts (railways, roads, motorways, etc.). Hence, it is not surprising if only few and often very disturbed spots of pioneer halo-nitrophilous short-lived vegetation occur on the strandlines of local sandy and shingle beaches (CAKILETEA MARITIMAE and EUPHORBION PEPLIDIS), mostly represented by Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae, by Cakilo maritimae-Xanthietum italici in more humid areas near the disturbed mouths of local rivers and streams (e.g. Imera settentrionale river; Roccella and Pollina streams, etc.) or Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum peplis. Even less frequent and very impoverished and discontinuous are the tall-grass perennial swards typical to mobile coastal dunes (AMMOPHILETEA and AMMOPHILION AUSTRALIS), occurring in the area, i.e. Cypero mucronati-Agropyretum juncei at Settefrati near Lascari, 220 Itineraries Fiumara di Pollina: Spartio juncei-Nerietum oleandri growing in the intermediate part of the iumara. Sporoboletum arenarii and Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum australis near Cefalù, and the dwarf scrub and grasslands linked to stabilized coastal grey hind dunes (HELICHRYSO ITALICI-CRUCIANELLETEA MARITIMAE and CRUCIANELLION MARITIMAE), represented by few small nuclei of Centaureo sphaerocephalae-Ononidetum ramosissimae (Gorgo Lungo near Campofelice di Roccella, Settefrati near Lascari, Cefalù). Impoverished chamaephytic communities ascribed to CRITHMO-STATICETEA and CRITHMO-STATICION) where only Limbarda crithmoides, Crithmum maritimum, Lotus cytsoides and Limonium virgatum occur, may be observed on the salt-sprayed coastal clifs near Settefrati near Lascari, Cefalù, Finale di Pollina, etc. Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes The moss- and fern-dominated assemblages typical to shaded and water-splashed habitats (ADIANTETEA and ADIANTION) are rather common on base-rich substrates under thermo-mediterranean climate: Eucladio verticillati-Adiantetum capilli-veneris mostly occurs on steep clifs and walls (e.g. near Cefalù and Castelbuono), while Eucladio verticillati-Didymodontetum tophacei prefers the man-made habitats (walls, water tanks, drinking troughs, etc.) of coastal sites (e.g. Kalura, Finale di Pollina, etc.). 221 Itineraries The gravelly riverbeds of most of the Sicilian iumaras are currently invaded by Eucalyptus camaldulensis, which spreads particularly well into the Spartio juncei-Nerietum oleandri. Fern- and moss-rich epilithic and epiphytic communities of shaded sites (POLYPODIETEA and POLYPODION SERRATI) are rather common in the thermo- and meso-mediterranean bioclimatic belts. The oro-litophilous vegetation colonizing the rock faces and crevices of local limestones or dolomites clifs between (1300)1500 and 1850 m a.s.l., subject to 2-3 months of snow bed cover and strong summer drought stress, is ascribed to Asperulo gussonei-Potentilletum nebrodensis (SW side of Mt. Quacella and Pizzo Carbonara), which in turn is framed into SAXIFRAGION AUSTRALIS (ASPLENIETEA TRICHOMANIS), an alliance endemic to the carbonatic massifs of Apennines, Calabria and Sicily. At lower elevations, between (500)800 and 1500(1600) m a.s.l., Anthemido cupanianae-Centauretum busambarensis characterises the mid-altitude calcareous clifs of Isnello, Valle Trigna, Mt. Balatelli, NW slopes of Mt. Carbonara, Mt. Milocco, Pizzo Antenna Piccola, Mt. Cucullo, Cozzo Castellazzo, etc. Subject to thermo-mesomediterranean climate, the rock faces and crevices of the Mesozoic limestones of Rocca di Cefalù host a chasmophilous assemblage which may be interpreted as an impoverished pattern of Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae (DIANTHION RUPICOLAE). 222 Itineraries The fern- and moss-rich vegetation of the rock crevices and shady and moist ledges of the siliceous clifs of the supra- and oro-Mediterranean belt (POHLIO CRUDAE-ASPLENION SEPTENTRIONALIS) still waits to be investigated. Several thermophilous chasmo-nitrophilous communities belonging to the class CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA DIFFUSAE, such a Centrantho rubri-Parietarietum judaicae, Sedo dasyphylli-Ceterachetum oicinarum and Asplenio trichomanis-Umbilicetum horizontalis (CYMBALARIO-ASPLENION) and Oxalido corniculatae-Parietarietum judaicae (PARIETARION JUDAICAE) occur on the disturbed clifs, the stone walls and the old monuments of this area. Two pioneer assemblages colonize local calcareous screes (DRYPIDETEA SPINOSAE and LINARION PURPUREAE) at diferent altitudes: Arenario grandilorae-Rumicetum scutati occurs above 1400 m a.s.l., in areas potentially covered by beech forests, while Rumici scutati-Cardaminetum graecae dominates the debris cones at lower altitudes (1000-1400 m a.s.l.) in areas where Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis occurs. The local pioneer vegetation colonizing the incoherent pebbly and sandy warps of the alluvial terraces and the stream- and riverbeds (EUPHORBION RIGIDAE) may be ascribed to Ononido ramosissimae-Helichrysetum italici, typical to heterogeneous alluvial deposits between 200 and 450 m a.s.l., and endemic to central-northern Sicily (e.g. Imera settentrionale river), where the annual main rainfall amount is 500-700 mm and the average annual temperatures are 14-16 °C. Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation Among the perennial meso-hygrophilous meadows and pastures on seasonally looded and fertile soils (MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA), those occurring on rather shallow soils are ascribed to CIRSIO VALLIS-DEMONIS-NARDION, and, more precisely, to Cynosuro cristati-Leontodontetum siculi, common on bare sunny slopes with soils issuing from Flysch rock outcrops between 1000 and 1500 m a.s.l. (e.g. Portella Mandarini, Pizzo Catarineci, etc.) in the belt dominated by acidophilous mixed oakwoods. Eleocharito nebrodensi-Juncetum compressi (MENTHO LONGIFOLIAE-JUNCION INFLEXI) forms linear and narrow tall-herb fringes along thalwegs and near some montane springs (e.g. Piano Battaglia). 223 Itineraries Mesophilous riparian gallery forests (ALNO GLUTINOSAE-POPULETEA ALBAE) are very rare and fragmented. No ield surveys conirm the presence of assemblages beloging to POPULION ALBAE, claimed by several authors for both Madonie and Nebrodi Mts. Located in montane sites (1250-1300 m a.s.l.) and on siliceous substrates, Osmundo regalis-Salicetum pedicellatae (OSMUNDO-ALNION) forms dense riparian forests rich in meso-hygrophilous species within area potentially covered by Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum austrotyrrhenicae or Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae (between Pomieri and Geraci Siculo, Piano Pomo). The hygrophilous pioneer scrubs and low open forests colonizing the beds and the banks of local streams (SALICETEA PURPUREAE) are locally represented by two assemblages framed into SALICION PEDICELLATAE, i.e. Ulmo canescentis-Salicetum pedicillatae, mostly occurring in the deep valleys and gullies at 400-700 m a.s.l., like Vallone San Nicola near Polizzi, and Agropyro panormitani-Salicetum pedicellatae, occurring between 1050 and 1150 m a.s.l. at Vallone Canna. The lower trait of most part of local streams and braided streams, the so-called ‘iumare’ (e.g. Pollina and Castelbuono streams, Imera settentrionale river) is often characterised by thermo-hygrophilous pioneer thicket communities (NERIO-TAMARICETEA). The most common features of such disturbance- and stress-tolerant vegetation are mono-speciic stands of Tamarix africana (TAMARICION AFRICANAE), and Spartio juncei-Nerietum oleandri (RUBO ULMIFOLII-NERION OLEANDRI), colonizing the alluvial sandy-gravelly luvial terraces which are slightly raised with respect to the streambeds occupied by EUPHORBION RIGIDAE assemblages. The hygrophilous and aquatic communities linked to permanent and temporary ponds underwent a very strong and fast shrink during last decades due to road construction or to irrational water uptake afecting many montane springs, causing not only the extinction of many plant species, but even of entire habitats. The past frequency of these wetlands is also testiied by the diferent (and speciic) vernacular names assigned by local people to diferentiate them: ‘trièmule’ (= trembling sites, i.e. Sphagnum-dominated peat bogs) and ‘margi iliciari’ (= ‘fern-rich temporary ponds’) only occurred on siliceous substrates with low pH values, while the ‘margi quacinari’ (= ‘lime temporary ponds’, rich in calcium-tolerant Juncus and Carex species) were located on calcareous rock outcrops. At present all these pecu224 Itineraries Salix purpurea subsp. lambertiana is colonizing the upper part of the Fiumara di Pollina, where the riverbed is widening but the energy of the lowing water is still relatively high. liar habitats, rare or absent in the rest of Sicily, have almost completely disappeared or are strongly compromised, so that only ‘urghi’ (= permanent ponds) survive, albeit often disturbed by overgrazing and trampling due to domestic and wild herbivores, altered or reduced in terms of surface due to human activities. As for the assemblages dominated by rooted loating or submerged macrophytes (POTAMOGETONETEA) only Myriophylletum alternilori (POTAMOGETONION GRAMINEI) occurs on the shallow muddy bottom of Gorgo di Pietra Giordano. Some temporary ponds occurring on the high mountains at (1200)1400-1650 m a.s.l. (Piano Battaglia, Pizzo Catarineci, Piano Dalla near Geraci Siculo, Portella Colla, Urgo di Pollicino) host Ranunculo laterilori-Antinorietum insularis (ISOETO-NANOJUNCETEA and PRESLION CERVINAE), a hygrophilous and subnitrophilous ephemeral microphytic pioneer assemblage linked to very shallow (max 35 cm-deep) impermeable depressions located on karstic plains. The hydroperiod of these ponds is strongly afected by snow bed cover timing and endurance. The life-cycle of the species of this community starts with snow melting and ends by the irst decade of June, 225 Itineraries when a species turnover occurs and the depressions are colonized by several nitrophilous species. As a consequence of natural illing processes, these depressions are gradually colonized by Eleocharito nebrodensi-Juncetum compressi, then covered with Cynosuro cristati-Plantaginetum cupanii grasslands. Several local communities linked to still, fresh and brackish waterbodies dominated by big rhizomatous helophytes are framed into PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA and PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS, like Phragmitetum communis along stream- and riversides or on the border on natural ponds and artiicial basins; Typhetum angustifoliae growing on the muddy bottoms of the shallow mesotrophic ponds of Castellana Sicula. The vegetation of the Sicilian hygrophilous herblands linked to shallow montane pools subject to seasonal watertable luctuations are framed into ALOPECURO-GLYCERION SPICATAE, locally represented by Glycerio spicatae-Callitrichetum obtusangulae, linked to extremely shallow (10 to 20 cm-deep) and frequently eutrophic pools located at 780-1770 m a.s.l. (still occurring near the sink hole of Piano Battaglia, destroyed elsewhere), whose bottom remains humid even after drying up. Anthropogenic vegetation Local arable crops (mostly cereal ields) are characterised by two annual weed assemblages occurring in diferent seasons. The wintergreen one, Legousio hybridae-Biforetum testiculatae, is framed into ROEMERION HYBRIDAE (PAPAVERETEA RHOEADIS) and has been observed on the clayey soils of both the Tyrrhenian sector (e.g. Collesano and Campofelice di Roccella) and the southern part of the massif (e.g. Castellana Sicula), while the summergreen, C4 species-rich vegetation occurring after crop harvest belongs to Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Kickxietum integrifoliae (DIGITARIO SANGUINALIS-ERAGROSTIETEA MINORIS and DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS). Concerning the wintergreen annual weedy and ruderal vegetation belonging to CHENOPODIETEA, the hypernitrophilous and xerophilous vegetation of local sheepfolds is referred to HORDEION MURINI, whilst many fallows occurring between 200 and 800 m a.s.l. on the marly and clayey soils of the southern sector of the massif are characterized by Centauretum schouwii (ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE), dynamically linked with PLANTAGINION CUPANII 226 Itineraries overgrazed and trampled communities and with PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII thorny woody mantle communities. A single sub-nitrophilous and sciaphilous community (VALANTIO MURALIS-GALION MURALIS) is reported for the area, i.e. Valerianello carinatae-Cerastietum luridi occurring between (700)750-950(1000) m a.s.l. on the siliceous shaded stony areas covered by mantle communities (CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA) deriving from the degradation of the mesophilous mixed oakwoods of ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS. The nitrosciaphilous vegetation growing under the tree canopy of Citrus orchards (Campofelice di Roccella, Scillato, etc.) probably belongs to VERONICO-URTICION URENTIS. No data are available on the therophytic nitrophilous dwarf vegetation typical to local trampled (mostly urban and suburban) areas (POLYGONO-POËTEA ANNUAE and POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI). As for geophytic and hemicryptophytic ruderal nitrophilous vegetation (ARTEMISIETEA VULGARIS), the intensive breeding activities mostly carried out in this territory give rise to several (sub)xerophilous assemblages framed into ONOPORDION ILLYRICI, like the thistle-dominated Onopordo illyrici-Cirsietum scabri, rather common in the sheepfolds View of Cefalù, with the headland (“Rocca”) overlooking the town. 227 Itineraries and manure heaps located at 700-900(1000) m a.s.l. on clayey soils in areas subject to an average annual rainfall 700-1100 mm (e.g. Caltavuturo) and Bonannietum graecae, common in disturbed places such as roadsides, tracks and paths between (800)950 and 1250 a.s.l. on base-rich soils deriving from mostly carbonatic (rarely metamorphic) rock outcrops. Under thermo- and meso-mediterranean bioclimate disturbed fallows, roadsides and ladills are often characterized by perennial herb-dominated ruderal communities framed into BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE, such as Dittrichio graveolentis-Ferulaginetum campestris, a species-poor community occurring on the marly-clayey and sunny slopes between 1000 and 1150 m a.s.l., or to Euphorbio ceratocarpae-Arundinetum plinii, a subhygrophilous assemblage referred to ARUNDION PLINII, both recorded in the the territory of Polizzi Generosa. Under thermo-mediterranean bioclimate the most common assemblage of EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII dwelling the nutrient-rich and disturbed riverbanks and water bodies of the territory is a thermophilous reed bed referred to Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis (CYNANCHO-CONVOLVULION SEPIUM). Under cooler bioclimates, several tall-herb plant communities form forest fringes on nutrient-rich and often deep soils, such as Anthrisco nemorosae-Chaerophylletum temuli (ANTHRISCION NEMOROSAE) occurring in shady disturbed sites (e.g. rural farms) on deep acid soils between 1450-1600 m a.s.l. (Contrada Pomieri, Contrada Canna, Mt. San Salvatore), or Anthrisco nemorosae-Heracleetum cordati along the paths within the beechwoods at 1350-1500 m a.s.l. with surfacing groundwater. The montane areas host some mesic nitrophilous communities ascribed to ARCTION LAPPAE, like Urtico dioicae-Arrhenatheretum elatioris, occurring on the loamy-clayey soils deriving from lysch and illing some small karstic depressions of the massif (Piano Battaglia, Piano Battaglietta, Carbonara massif, Màrcatu di Marrabilici near Polizzi, Mt. Cervi and Mt. Daino) at (1200)1400-1600(1850) m a.s.l., where it represents the last step of the degradation of local pasturelands (Plantaginion cupanii and Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis); Cerintho auriculatae-Chenopodietum boni-henrici, occurring in some dolines of Pizzo Carbonara at (1700)1810-1880 m a.s.l. which are subject to strong nitrogen input and intense slope erosion due to overgrazing and trampling by cows; Verbasco rotundifolii-Sambucetum ebuli a markedly xerophilous and heliophilous assemblages dwelling soils which 228 Itineraries are poor in humus but rich in coarse calcareous skeleton, mostly occurring along the paths at 1400-1500 m a.s.l. (Piano Battaglia, Portella Arena, Mt. Daino). Several man-made water basins such and the artiicial lake near Blui host some summer-annual pioneer communities typical to seasonally looded nutrient-rich riverbeds, lacustrine banks and heavily nutrient-loaded anthropogenic habitats (BIDENTETEA TRIPARTITAE and CHENOPODION RUBRI). 8.3. Landscape and land use history Human presence in the area since upper Palaeolithic-Mesolithic (i.e. approximately 12-10000 years ago) is documented by the archaeological indings made in several caves, i.e. near Cefalù, Geraci Siculo and Castelbuono. Neolithic sites (IV-III millennium BC) have been discovered in the territories of Petralia and Castelbuono, while stone tools and ceramics dating back to ancient Copper Age (‘Castelluccio Culture’, ca. XXII century BC) have been found near Gangi. Additionally, Iron Age settlements (IX century BC) occurred near Gratteri, Aliminusa and on the top of the Rocca of Cefalù. There is a perfect match between archaeological indings and the results of recent palaeobotanical investigations, which point out that the forest ecosystems of the whole area were repeatedly opened for agricultural purposes. Fire activity was closely associated with farming, and burning activities intensiied during the Early Neolithic (around 5000 BC), at early Bronze Age (c. 2500 BC) and early Iron Age (800 BC), when due to the overexploitation of local fertile clayey soils, most part of the southern side of the massif probably started to look like now, i.e. almost completely devoid of woody vegetation and characterised by pasturelands, fallows and cereal crop ields. Between VII and V centuries BC, all the autochthonous towns and villages of this area were inluenced and contented by Phoenicians and Greeks, who wanted to take the full control of the northern Sicilian coast. In this framework the Greek colony of Himera played a major role. Founded from Zancle (now Messina) on 648 BC, thanks to its position it became soon very powerful because it controlled the main connection route between the northern and the southern Sicilian coast, roughly corresponding to the valleys of the two rivers Imera settentrionale and Imera meridionale. On 480 BC the plain of Himera was the theatre of 229 Itineraries a bloody battle won by the allied armies of Akragas and Syracusai: after this defeat, Carthage will never try to expand eastwards and will need almost 80 years to recover the control of W Sicily by destroying both Selinous and Himera (409 BC). Soon after the battle of Himera, between V and IV Greeks occupied not only the coastal areas, founding or re-founding ‘Kephaloidion’ (= ‘head shaped’, now Cefalù), but also the hills and the mountains, building cities and/or emporia like ‘Kraterios’ (probably corresponding to Gratteri), ‘Engyon’ (probably corresponding to Gangivecchio or to Alburchia, localities close to Gangi), ‘Hyerax’ (now Geraci Siculo), ‘Petra’ (now Petralia), ‘Polis’ (now Polizzi Generosa), etc. Under Romans most of the Greek settlements, namely Engium, Hyerax, Petra and Polis, still played an important role as trade centres for the agro-pastoral products coming from the inner southern side of Madonie, whose lands were probably already deforested and mostly devoted to cereal crop culture. All the area was probably densely inhabited, as suggested by the inding of a wide necropolis dating back to III-II century BC on Mt. Riparato near Scillato, and many rural farms and villages were interspersed in the territory, namely near Castelbuono and Cephaloedium. Ruling Byzantines Sicily experienced strong insecurity: most of the old main centres became fortresses, and many people decided to move towards more protected sites. For example, the people of Cephaloedium re-built the village on top of the mountain and many rural villages were founded in the hilly and montane area, such as Caltavuturo, Ypsygro (= high humid place, now Castelbuono), and probably also San Mauro Castelverde, Scillato and Sclafani Bagni. These new settlements were often connected with monasteries and shrines (e.g. Gibilmanna) and close to wide forested areas, and almost certainly this period coincided with a strong intensiication of anthropogenic pressure on local forest ecosystems (grazing and browsing, wood gathering, etc.). Arabs (IX-XI centuries AD) probably founded or re-founded many villages (Alimena, Aliminusa, Collesano, Gratteri, Isnello) in the countryside. In the meanwhile, lowlands appeared almost desert, probably as a consequence of increasingly humid climatic conditions, and in order to avoid malaria. Under Normans (XI-XII centuries AD) the whole territory experienced one of its wealthiest periods. Cefalù was re-founded on the plain and became an important centre. Part of the territory remained a state property and Basilian monks were entrusted of the management of for230 Itineraries est goods, other lands were donated to local aristocracy and became small iefs, while wide surfaces became property of the most important bishops of Valdemone, i.e. Troina, Messina and Cefalù. During XIII century AD Swabians donated to the family Ventimiglia the lands of Castrum Bonum (now Castelbuono), Pollina, Geraci and San Mauro. The counts of Geraci gradually became the lords of a state within a state, provided with own laws, allowed to produce own coins and owners of almost all of the forested areas of the Madonie and Nebrodi Mts. until XVI century. In fact, during XIV century AD the kings of Aragon gave them the lands of Caronia, Naso, Pettineo and Tusa on Nebrodi Mts. and they acquired the lands of Collesano and Petralia, and during the following century the also obtain the lands of Gratteri and Isnello. The capital of the county was Geraci during XIII-XIV centuries, then Castelbuono since 1419. This town will play a leading role between XIV and XVIII centuries. The success of Castelbuono was also favoured by the gradual decline of almost all the ancient centres of Madonie. Engyon-Engium was destroyed in 1299 during the war of Sicilian Vespers and the new Gangi will never recover its role. Together with Geraci, Polizzi and Petralia its economy will be increasingly focused on the trade of agro-pastoral products coming from the exploitation of the wide latifundia characterising the southern side of the massif. Other iefs, like that of Cefalù, never had the same power because they passed through too many hands. Also the county of Sclafani had considerable dimensions between XIV and XVII century, including the current territories of Aliminusa, Scillato, Sclafani Bagni and Valledolmo. According to documents of the XVI century mentioning the ‘forest of Aliminusa’, at least part of this county was still covered with forest patches at that time. With the exception of Cefalù, the coast continued to be poorly inhabited at last until the end of XVI century, even if some humid areas are intensely exploited for sugar cane production, such as the area of Garbinogara, near the mouth of the Imera settentrionale river. Some other centres enjoyed the managerial qualities of local communities, like Pollina, Castelbuono, San Mauro and Scillato, wealthy between XVII and XIX centuries thanks to oil and manna production and export. Under increasing pressure of other noble families, during XVIII century the Ventimiglia started to loose their power and were obliged to sale part of their lands (e.g. Collesano and Petralia). Most of the remnant nuclei of forest vegetation - evergreen or summer-green oak woods on the foothills and beech woods on the 231 Itineraries top - are concentrated on the N-facing slopes of the massif, not only because this area was more properly managed in historical times but more probably because of the more favourable bioclimatic conditions. The majority of the local hilly-montane villages currently counts less than 3000 people, and only two of them more than 5000 (Castelbuono: 8800, and Gangi: 6700). Nowadays the century-long exploitation of forest ecosystems, along with the knowledge connected with coppicing, charcoal production, etc., is disappeared and the main income for local communities is provided by pastoral activities (pigs left to wild pasture in the woodlands, goats and sheep in open degraded cork- and downy oakwoods and grasslands) and tourism. In many cases current breeding practices appear unsustainable, with severe consequences on local ecosystems. In particular, the increasing number of pigs and introduced herbivores, such as boars and fallow deer, hampers the renovation of local forests due to overgrazing and trampling, so that many old forest stands show a park-like structure with no renova- The Cefalù cathedral was erected in 1131 and is one of the treasures of the recently promoted UNESCO-Arab-Norman itinerary. tion at all, and not only local forest communities, but even the perennial and annual dry grassland assemblages are often compromised. 232 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Albo G., 1905. La lora dei Monti Madonie. Nuovo Giornale botanico italiano, n. s., 12: 217-260. Bertolani Marchetti D., Accorsi C.A., Arobba D., Bandini Mazzanti M., Bertolani M., Biondi E., Braggipo G., Ciui C., De Cunzo T., Della Ragione S., Forlani L., Guido A. M., Lolli F., Montanari C., Paoli P., Raimondo F.M., Rossitto M., Trevisan Grandi M., 1984. Recherches géobotaniques sur les Monts Madonie (Sicile du Nord). Webbia, 38(1): 329-348. Brullo S., 1984. Contributo alla conoscenza della vegetazione delle Madonie (Sicilia settentrionale). Bollettino dell’Accademia gioenia di Scienze naturali, s. 4, 16 (322)(1983): 351-420. Di Martino A., 1970. Piante e iori delle Madonie. Palermo, Sellerio. Di Martino A., Marcenò C., Raimondo F.M., 1976. Difesa del Nocciolo dagli artropodi dannosi. XIII. Osservazioni sulla lorula e la vegetazione infestante dei noccioleti di Polizzi (Madonie nord-occidentali). Bollettino dell’Istituto di Entomologia Agraria e Assistenza Fitopatologica di Palermo, 9: 215-264. Ilardi V., Bazan G., 2007. Aspetti residuali di vegetazione psammoila nel litorale tirrenico del Palermitano. 102° Congresso nazionale della Società Botanica Italiana (Palermo, 26-29 settembre 2007), riassunti: 408. Petronici C., Mazzola P., Raimondo F.M., 1978. Nota introduttiva allo studio degli ambienti idromori delle Madonie. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 2(1-2): 11-24. Raimondo F.M., 1983. Carta della vegetazione di Piano della Battaglia e del territorio circostante (Madonie, Sicilia) (scala 1:4.000). Roma, C.N.R., Programma Finalizzato “Promozione Qualità dell’Ambiente”, AQ/1/89 (1980): 1-43. Raimondo F.M., 1984. La vegetazione rupestre delle “Serre di Quacella” (Madonie, Sicilia). Atti della Società toscana di Scienze naturali, Memorie, s. B, 90 (1983): 31-41. 233 Itineraries Raimondo F.M., Gianguzzi L., Schicchi R., 1994. Carta della vegetazione del massiccio carbonatico delle Madonie (Sicilia centro-settentrionale). Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 3 (1992): 23-40 + carta (scala 1:50.000). Raimondo F.M., Marcenò C., Di Martino A., 1972. Lineamenti ecologici e geobotanici delle Madonie. Informatore botanico italiano, 4(3): 174-179. Raimondo F.M., Mazzola P., 1984. Aggiunte alla lora delle Madonie (Sicilia). Atti dell’Accademia di Scienze Lettere e Arti di Palermo, s. 4, 40(1)(1980-81): 231-241. Raimondo F.M., Schicchi R., Surano N., 2004. Carta del paesaggio e della biodiversità vegetale del parco delle Madonie (Sicilia). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 28(1-2): 71-137. Schicchi R., Venturella G., Filippone A., Raimondo F.M., 1990. Caratteri distributivi e itocenologici dei castagneti delle Madonie. Quaderni di Botanica ambientale e applicata, 1: 33-59. Strobl G., 1878-1887. Flora der Nebroden mit Bezug auf die Flora ganz Siciliens. Flora, 61-70 (estratto, 472 pp.). 234 Itineraries Box 8.1 The once endemic Pleurotus nebrodensi. Until few years ago Pleurotus nebrodensis (Inzenga) Quél was thought to be strictly endemic to northern Sicily. The historical Sicilian collection sites of ‘Canna’ and ‘Dragonara’, located in the Vallone Faguare, a canyon of the Madonie Mts., were retraced thanks to recently rediscovered documents and through interviews with local people. The species is linked to Cachrys ferulacea (L.) Calest. (Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl.), a perennial herb belonging to the family Apiaceae, which dominates the mountain pastures subject to overgrazing. The recent discovery of P. nebrodensis in two diferent Greek mountain ranges in northern Peloponnese and in Central Greece suggests the need of further ield surveys throughout the whole distribution range of Cachrys ferulacea (i.e. from Italy to Azerbaijan) in order to verify the distribution of this endangered mushroom. Pleurotus nebrodensis and its habitat are not protected by 92/43 EU ‘Habitats’ Directive. Hence, a stronger awareness of politicians, scientists and local stakeholders is urgently needed in order to implement appropriate conservation strategies. As the cultivated mushrooms present the same organoleptic characteristics of the wild type, ex situ cultivation may provide additional income for local farmers, who could ofer a cheaper product; this could significantly reduce the pressure on wild populations due to overharvesting. 235 Itineraries References Gargano M.L., Saitta A., Zervakis G.I., Venturella G., 2011. Building the jigsaw puzzle of the critically endangered Pleurotus nebrodensis: Historical collection sites and an emended description. Mycotaxon, 115(1):107-114. Gargano M.L., Zervakis G.I., Venturella G. (eds.), 2014. Pleurotus nebrodensis: A very special mushroom. Bentham e-Book eISBN: 978-1-60805-800-6, 145 pp. Venturella, G., Zervakis, G.I., Polemis, E. & Gargano M.L., 2016. Taxonomic identity, geographic distribution, and commercial exploitation of the culinary-medicinal mushroom Pleurotus nebrodensis (Basidiomycetes). International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 18: 59-65. Zervakis G.I., Ntougias S., Gargano M.L., Besi M.I., Polemis E., Typas M.A., Venturella G., 2014. A reappraisal of the Pleurotus eryngii complex: New species and taxonomic combinations based on the application of a polyphasic approach. And an identiication key to Pleurotus taxa associated with Apiaceae plants. Fungal Biology 118, (9-10): 814-834. 236 IX The wood of Ficuzza and Rocca Busambra Itinerary1 - From Alpe Cucco to Rocca Busambra Rocca Busambra (1613 m a.s.l.) is the highest and most isolated peak of western Sicily and it is characterized by N-facing vertical clifs, rising 350 m over a dense wood. The hike will start on the clayey and acidic soils at the foothill of the clifs, where we will cross a patchwork of woods (Erico-Quercion ilicis), mountain rangelands (Cynosuro-Leontodontetum siculi) and fringe communities (Crategetum laciniatae), still maintained by traditional stockbreeding. As we will get closer to the impressive clif, we will observe some spots of the endemite rich vegetation of the Anthemido-Centauretum busambarensis. The clif originated from the combined action of intense tectonic and karst processes, but our climb on the top of the mountain will be along a more convenient trail, developing on its southern slope, amidst perennial dry grasslands, partially inluenced by the human disturbance (frequent ires, Itineraries overgrazing, etc.). These grasslands are arranged along the altitudinal gradient: from the communities dominated by Helictotrichon convolutum (Hyparrhenietalia) at lower elevations up to the Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis communities in the summit areas. Trail: Length: 10 km. Hiking time: 5 hours, Elevation range: 600 m GENERAL DESCRIPTION 9.1. The physical setting The rocky body of Rocca Busambra (1613 m a.s.l.) represents the highest and most isolated peak of western Sicily. It has been traditionally treated by geographers as the northernmost outpost of Sicani Mts., the mountain area connecting the provinces of Palermo and Agrigento. Many features make it unique: the unmistakable silhouette and the breathtaking extension (ca. 15 km) of its N-facing vertical clifs, rising 350 m over a dense wood cover and almost perfectly orientated from West to East. The mountain has been shaped by the combined action of intense tectonic and Westward view of Busambra. On the top, the hemicrypto-chamaephytic vegetation of Carduncello-Thymetum spinulosi. 238 Itineraries karst processes. Its southern slopes appear mostly bare, while the clayey and acidic soils gently sloping along its northern foothills favoured the development of an almost continuous forest cover, whose diferent tonalities of green (or yellow, orange and red during autumn) make a sharp and fascinating contrast with the white or grey of the calcareous rocks. The contact between calcareous rocks and impermeable soils gave rise to plenty of springs and originated many creeks and temporary or even permanent ponds, too. The main faults of the N-facing clifs of Rocca Busambra are covered with huge stone blocks, coarse pebbly and sandy debris, which form several active scree systems. The ridge of Rocca Busambra issues from a long and complex history of deformation of several lithological units. To the Trapanese carbonate pelagic-platform unit belong the most ancient outcropping rocks, massive layers of the so-called ‘white dolomitic limestones’ (upper Trias-lower Lias, i.e. 200-185 Ma), which overlay reddish fossil-rich limestones famous for their Ammonites (Jurassic, 170-135 Ma), and white to pink marly limestones, the so-called ‘scaglia’ (Cretaceous-Eocene, 120-50 Ma). Other outcropping rocks belong to the Cretaceous-Miocene Sicani Basin, like the marls and marly clays of Case Pirrello and locality Lavanche (lower Aquitanian-Chattian, 28-23 Ma), while both reddish to whitish limestones and marly limestones (upper Cretaceous to lower Oligocene, 100-34 Ma) and the grey blackish limestones (lower Cretaceous, 125 Ma) characterise the SE part of Rocca Busambra. The so-called Sicilide units, issuing from the deformation of the Imerese Basin, are locally represented by several rock oucrops, i.e. varicoloured siliciied clays, shales and marls (late Cretaceous, 100 Ma), white pelagic limestones (middle-late Eocene, 49-37 Ma) and the so-called ‘Numidian Flysch’, made of clays and shales with quartz sandstones and pebbly conglomerates intercalations (Oligocene to lower Miocene, 28-15 Ma). The late orogenic foredeep sediments of ‘Terravecchia’ Formation are deltaic quartz conglomerates, sandstones and clays dating back to upper Tortonian-lower Messinian (8-7 Ma). Due to their fertility, the soils deriving from ‘Numidian Flysch’ and ‘Terravecchia’ formations were intensely cultivated. Local bioclimate changes along with the remarkable altitudinal range of the whole areas. The interpolation of data coming from the nearest stations of Risalaimi, Lupo, Ficuzza, Mezzojuso, Campofelice 239 Itineraries di Fitalia and Tagliavia, provides the following simpliied picture: the areas located under 600 m a.s.l. are subject to thermo-mediterranean lower subhumid bioclimate, with mean annual temperatures (T) = 16-18 °C and annual rainfall (P) = 600-800 mm, between 600 and 900 m a.s.l. mesomediterranean (T = 13-16 °C) lower (600-800 mm) and upper (800-1000 mm) subhumid, between 900 and 1300 m a.s.l. supramediterranean (T = 8-13 °C) upper subhumid (800-1000 mm) to lower humid (> 1000 mm). The three associations ‘rock outcrop + lithic xerorthents (= rock outcrop + lithosols)’, ‘lithic xerorthents + rock outcrop + lithic haploxerolls (= lithosols + rock outcrop + eutric and/or calcic cambisols)’ and ‘typical xerochrepts + calcixerollic xerochrepts + lithic xerorthents (= eutric cambisols + calcic cambisols + lithosols)’ characterise the top and the highest bare slopes of Rocca Busambra, while almost all the area covered by forest lays on the association ‘typical xerochrepts + typical haploxeralfs + typical and/or lithic xerorthents (= eutric cambisols + orthic luvisols + eutric regosols and/or lithosols). Eastward view of Busambra, emerging from the woodlands of Bosco Ficuzza. From the left, Quercetum leptobalani on lyshoid-loamy soils, Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis on carbonatic debris and Sorbo graecae-Aceretum pesudoplatani on the topmost rocky ledges. 240 Itineraries The sediments of the alluvial plains of local watersheds give rise to three diferent associations, i.e. ‘typical and/or vertic xeroluvents + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= eutric luvisols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols)’, typical and/or vertic xeroluvents + typical chromoxererts and/or typical pelloxererts (= eutric luvisols + chromic and/or pellic vertisols)’ and ‘typical chromoxererts and/or typical pelloxererts (= chromic and/or pellic vertisols)’. The association ‘typical xerorthents + typical and/or vertic xeroluvents and/or typical chromoxererts and/or pelloxererts (= eutric regosols + eutric luvisols and/or chromic and/or pellic vertisols)’ correspond to the highest part of San Leonardo river basin on the southern slopes of Rocca Busambra, while the soils association ‘typical xerorthents + typical and/or vertic xerochrepts (= eutric regosols + eutric and/or vertic cambisols)’ is rather frequent at lower altitudes all around Rocca Busambra. The association ‘typical xerochrepts, vertic xerochrechrepts + typial chromoxererts and/or typical pelloxererts (= eutric cambisols, vertic cambisols + chormic and/or pellic vetisols)’ occurs just out the nature reserve, west of Rocca Busambra, i.e. near Tagliavia, and near the dam of Scanzano reservoir. Rocca Busambra and the adiacent woodlands also give origin to the left tributary of Belìce river, called Frattina or Belìce sinistro (57 Km), and to two rivers which low into the Tyrrhenian sea, the Milicia (27 Km), and the Eleuterio (30 Km), once navigable and full of watermills, interrupted with a dam in 1950s to build up the Scanzano artiicial water reservoir. 9.2. Flora and vegetation Sicily Since more than three centuries, Ficuzza and Rocca Busambra has been among the favourite destinations for Italian and European botanist visiting. On the XVIII century P. Arduino, probably the irst foreign botanist to visit the area, sent some plant specimens coming from Rocca Busambra to Linnaeus himself. During the following century the knowledge on local botanical heritage strongly improved, thanks to the systematic exploration of the area carried out by V. Tineo G. Gussone, G. Gasparrini, F. Parlatore in the irst half of the century, and by A. Todaro, M. Lojacono-Pojero, and several plant collectors such as E. and A. Huet du Pavillon an H. Ross, working on behalf of the Swiss University of Geneva. Between the 1970s and the 241 Itineraries 1980s and once again in the last ten years many researches focused on hydro-hydrophilous plants and communities have been carried out. The most recent loristic census of local vascular plants points out that this area hosts more than 1000 taxa, i.e. nearly one third of the whole Sicilian vascular lora! According to the biogeographical subdivision of Sicilian territory proposed by Brullo et al. (1995), this area represents the southernmost part of the Drepano-Panormitan district, grouping all the (mostly) calcareous massifs of NW Sicily, from Madonie Mts. to Egadi Islands, and hosts ive narrow endemics (only occurring on Rocca Busambra), i.e. Armeria gussonei, Dianthus borbonicus, Hieracium busambarense, Sorbus busambarensis, Viola tineorum, many district endemics, such as Alyssum siculum, Anthyllis busambarensis, Brassica rupestris subsp. hispida, Brassica villosa subsp. villosa, Centaurea busambarensis, Centaurea panormitana subsp. ucriae, Centaurea panormitana subsp. umbrosa, Delphinum emarginatum, Dianthus busambrae, Gagea chrysantha, Galium pallidum, Helichrysum panormitanum, Muscari lafarinae, etc., Sicilian endemics such as Anthemis cupaniana, Crepis sprengeli, Oncostema cupanii, Onosma canescens, Quercus gussonei, Quercus leptobalanos, Thymus paronychioides, Trifolium bivonae, Valantia deltoidea, etc., and many plants that are rare at regional and national level, such as Asplenium scolopendrium, Celtis tournefortii, Centaurea parlatoris, Cerastium lacaitae, Echinops ritro subsp. siculus, Gagea bohemica, Gagea longifolia, Gagea mauritanica, Geocaryum capillifolium, Geocaryum cynapioides, Heracleum pyrenaicum subsp. cordatum, Jonopsidium albilorum, Minuartia verna subsp. verna, Nectaroscordum siculum, Ophrys pallida, Osmunda regalis, Trifolium brutium, Verbascum siculum, etc. Local permanent and temporary ponds host a remarkable number of aquatic and hygrophilous plants of extreme biogeographical and conservation interest due to their rarity on the regional and even the national level (Callitriche brutia, Callitriche obtusangula, Ceratophyllum demersum, Epilobium tetragonum subsp. tournefortii, Potamogeton pusillus, Ranunculus aquatilis, Ranunculus omiophyllus, Ranunculus peltatus, Ranunculus trilobus, Trifolium michelianum, Trifolium micranthum, etc.). Many of these habitats are severely threatened or have already disappeared along with noteworthy plants like Barbarea vulgaris, Eryngium pusillum, Isoetes hystrix, Myosotis sicula, Ranunculus laterilorus, Utricularia vulgaris, etc., while many others currently occur only in one 242 Itineraries North-eastward view from Busambra with the reddish canopies and rangelands of the Querceto leptobalani sigmetum and in the back, the Genisto aristatae-Quercetum suberis, growing on quartzitic sandstone ridges. Husbandry is still performed along the southern lank of Busambra, which exibits all the seral stages of the Aceri campestris-Querceto ilicis sigmetum. 243 Itineraries (Antinoria insularis, Ceratophyllum demersum, Corrigiola littoralis, Isoetes duriei, Isolepis cernua, Montia fontana subsp. amporitana, Neoschischkinia pourretii, Peplis portula, etc.) or two sites (Alopecurus bulbosus, Alopecurus aequalis, Sparganium erectum, etc.). Due to its key role in the framework of regional plant conservation strategies, the whole area falls within a nature reserve managed by the Regional Forest Department, is part of the regional Natura 2000 network and has been included within the national list of Important Plant Areas with the code ‘SIC11 Bosco Ficuzza e Cappellerie e Rocca Busambra’. Zonal vegetation The N-facing side of the steep and fractured ridge of Rocca Busambra ofers plenty of suitable niches to many rupicolous and scree species. Additionally, it provides a very wide area laying beneath its clifs with long-lasting shadow, and it represents a formidable barrier for the cool and humid winds coming from north and north-west, capturing most of the air humidity coming from the Tyrrhenian, and Coppiced holm oakwood (Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis), traditionally used for charcoal production. 244 Itineraries causing rainstorms and fog accumulation even in sunny summer days. In also provides local vegetation with additional water supply by releasing it through the numerous springs issuing from its komplex karstic system. All these factors explain why the woodlands on the northern foothills of the massif have survived. Conversely, S-facing slopes appear mostly bare, eroded and devoid of vegetation, not only due to the occurrence of less suitable soil types, but also because exposed to the warm and dry winds coming from Africa and to an almost continuous solar radiation. No historical document mentions the past presence of woods on the southern slopes of Rocca Busambra, suggesting not only that deforestation must have happened long time ago, but also that under unfavourable edapho-climatic conditions overexploited forests had no chance to recover like they almost certainly did many times on the northern side. On the steep and gravelly slopes of the uppermost part of Rocca Busambra, subject to supramediterranean mesoclimate, some spots of deciduous forest occur. These pioneer assemblages are ascribed to Sorbo busambarensis-Aceretum pseudoplatani (CARPINO-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE and tilio-oStRyon caRPiniFoliae). The shallow and stony soils of the wind-exposed top of the ridge (above 900 m of altitude) is dominated by several hemicryptophytic and chaemaephytic oromediterranean assemblages, framed into the association Carduncello pinnati-Thymetum spinulosi (RUMICI-ASTRAGALETEA SICULI and CERASTIO-ASTRAGALION NEBRODENSIS). This evergreen forest Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis (QUERCETEA ILICIS and FRAXINO ORNI-QUERCION ILICIS) colonises poorly developed base-rich soils issuing from limestones and dolomias, consolidated screes and even semi-rupestrial habitats under supramediterranean bioclimatic conditions, between 1000 and 1400 m a.s.l. It is dynamically connected with CERASTIO-ASTRAGALION NEBRODENSIS communities, while at lower altitudes it is substituted by thermophilous oakwoods (Oleo silvestri-Quercetum virgilianae). On the sandy permeable soils deriving from siliceous rock outcrops such as quartz sandstones, conglomerates and shales, several oak forest assemblages (ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS) occur at diferent elevations. Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis is a mixed (mostly evergreen) oakwood linked to cool-humid montane microhabitats, shady slopes and valley bottoms, which occurs between (450)850 and 1200 m 245 Itineraries a.s.l. Its degradation leads to garrigues (CISTO-LAVANDULETEA), perennial and annual dry grasslands (AVENULO-AMPELODESMION and HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI, respectively) or to PLANTAGINION CUPANII under intense overgrazing. The submontane mixed oakwoods of Quercetum gussonei and Quercetum leptobalani are localized between 700 and 1000 m a.s.l. The irst only occurs in the wood of Cappelliere and on Nebrodi Mts. and enjoys exceptionally high amounts of rainfall (probably 800-1110 mm), the second has been observed in some N-facing submontane areas of Madonie Mts. and Ficuzza, where annual rainfall amount is approximately 800 mm; if disturbed, both communities are connected to mantle communities ascribed to Crataegetum laciniatae. Some old private chestnut groves occurring near Mezzojuso, located between 600 and 1000 m a.s.l., have been grown at the expense of the above-mentioned oak woods in order to obtain several products, such as timber, fruits, etc. Local cork-oak wood mostly occurs on gently sloping areas between 500 and 800 m a.s.l. Often degraded due to overgrazing and wildires, local assemblages are considered as an impoverished pattern of the Genisto arista- Mantle vegetation (Crataegetum laciniatae) and, in the foreground, the Cachryetum ferulaceae, two seral stages of the Aceri campestris-Querceto ilicis sigmetum. In the background a clif colonized by the Anthemido-Centauretum busambarensis. 246 Itineraries tae-Quercetum suberis. Sometimes it appears intermingled with fragments of other acidophilous forest (Erico arboreae-Quercetum virgilianae) or pre-forest (Erico arboreae-Myrtetum communis, ERICION ARBOREAE) communities whose degradation leads to broom-dominated shrublands (SAROTHAMNION SCOPARII), garrigues (CISTO-LAVANDULETEA), perennial and annual dry grasslands (AVENULO-AMPELODESMION and HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI) and bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) pure stands. At lower attitudes, some thermo-thermophilous communities framed into OLEO-CERATONION SILIQUAE occur, like Euphorbietum dendroidis dominated by the tree spurge and wild olive and colonising the steep slopes of calcareous outcropping rocks, and Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum aetnensis, dominated by deciduous Balkan species but also rich in sclerophylls and lianas. Both the degradation or the ongoing expansion of local broadleaved woodlands gives rise to mantle communities ascribed to CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA. From 1000 up to 1200-1400 m a.s.l., Crataegetum laciniatae (ILICI-CRATAEGION LACINIATAE) occurs on the border or in the clearings of the acidophilous woodlands of ERICO-QUERCION ILICIS. At lower altitudes more common are Cytiso infesti-Pyretum spinosae and Roso sempervirentis-Rubetum ulmifolii (PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII) and broom-dominated shrublands (SAROTHAMNION SCOPARII). The endemic-rich garrigue referred to Polygalo preslii-Ericetum multilorae (ONONIDO-ROSMARINETEA and POLYGALO PRESLII-ERICION MULTIFLORAE) occurs on the alkaline soils deriving from limestones and dolomias in several windy and sunny areas of the SE sector of Rocca Busambra (e.g. Portella del Vento). The perennial grasslands on base-rich and shallow soils (LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE) are represented by Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis (HYPARRHENION HIRTAE) in the warmest and driest sites of the territory, while under meso-mediterranean bioclimate prevails Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici (AVENULO-AMPELODESMION MAURITANICI), a species-rich tussock grassland. Overgrazed areas are characterised by the prevalence of assemblages framed into PLANTAGINION CUPANII (POËTEA BULBOSAE) on acid substrates, to Thapsio garganicae-Feruletum communis and Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI on base-rich soils. 247 Itineraries The ephemeral annual dry grasslands occurring on local nutrient-poor sandy substrates are referred to HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATI and HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI, while the annual dry grasslands occurring on base-rick soils belong to STIPO-TRACHYNIETEA DISTACHYAE and are locally represented by assemblages referred to STIPION RETORTAE or to Thero-Sedetum caerulei (TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE) on shallow skeletal base-rich soils. The marls and clayey marls outcropping on the southern slopes of Rocca Busambra could have hosted halo-nitrophilous chenopod scrub communities referred to PEGANO HARMALAE-SALSOLETEA VERMICULATAE and SALSOLO OPPOSITIFOLIAE-SUAEDION FRUTICOSAE). Nowadays the badlands of this area still host fragments of halo-xerophilous perennial grassland referred to Asteretum sorrentinii (MORICANDIO-LYGEION SPARTI), intermingled with subhalo-nitrophilous annual dry assemblages referred to Podospermo cani-Parapholidetum pycnanthae (SAGINETEA MARITIMAE and GAUDINIO FRAGILIS-PODOSPERMION CANI). Vegetation of clifs, walls and screes The thermo-hygrophilous Eucladio verticillati-Adiantetum capilli-veneris (ADIANTETEA and ADIANTION) occurs on the shady, water-splashed, base-rich rocks along the traits of the stream of Vallone Arciera at Ficuzza. The fern- and moss-rich epilithic or epiphytic communities of shaded sites (POLYPODIETEA and POLYPODION SERRATI) are locally represented by Homalothecio sericei-Poetum bivonae, Selaginello denticulatae-Cymbalarietum pubescentis on the rock faces and crevices of the northern clifs of Rocca Busambra and by Polypodietum cambrici on the branches of old trees in the woodland. The undisturbed rocky ledges and clifs of Rocca Busambra are colonised by an extremely endemite-rich chasmophytic community, the Anthemido cupanianae-Centauretum busambarensis (ASPLENIETEA TRICHOMANIS and DIANTHION RUPICOLAE), which only occurs in the calcareous and dolomitic mountains of the central-western Sicily up to 1600 m a.s.l. (Madonie Mts., Palermo Mts., Sicani Mts., etc.). The most representative examples occur on the submontane and montane clifs, while under thermo-mediterranean bioclimate (e.g. on the steep and sunny slopes surrounding the canyon of Frattina river and at Rocche di Rao) it undergoes gradual loristic improverishment. 248 Itineraries The stony habitats along the ridge of the southern slope are colonized by the hemicrypto-chamaephytic vegetation of Carduncello-Thymetum spinulosi (Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis). The stone walls of the area host some thermophilous chasmo-nitrophilous assemblges (CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA DIFFUSAE) which could be referred to Sedo dasyphylli-Ceterachetum oicinarum (CYMBALARIO-ASPLENION) and Oxalido corniculatae-Parietarietum judaicae (PARIETARION JUDAICAE). The pioneer assemblages which colonise local calcareous screes are ascribed to Scutellario rubicundae-Melicetum cupanii (DRYPIDETEA SPINOSAE and LINARION PURPUREAE). Hydro-hygrophilous vegetation The perennial meso-hygrophilous pastures and meadows linked to nutrient-rich deep soils (MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA), looded during winter and heavily grazed, are ascribed to Cynosuro cristati-Leontodontetum siculi (CIRSIO VALLIS-DEMONIS-NARDION), also occurring on Nebrodi Mts., while several assemblages belonging to MENTHO LONGIFOLIAE-JUNCION INFLEXI occur on the borders of local ponds and streamlets and formed a continuous ring of vegetation surrounding Gorgo del Drago (Godrano) until 40 years ago. The area hosts several dozens of natural and artiicial ponds. Some of them are covered by free-loating duckweed vegetation ascribed to 249 Itineraries Lemnetum gibbae and Lemnetum trisulcae (LEMNETEA and LEMNION MINORIS), other ones host communities dominated by rooted loating or submerged macrophytes (POTAMOGETONETEA) which may be framed to POTAMOGETONION (Potametum pectinati and Potametum perfoliati), to NYMPHAEION ALBAE (Potamogeton natans aggregate) and to RANUNCULION AQUATILIS (Ranunculetum peltati). As for the pioneer vegetation of temporary ponds (ISOETO-NANOJUNCETEA), many spots of the precious ephemeral microphytic communities ascribed to ISOETION and to PRESLION CERVINAE have occurred in the past around the temporary ponds interspersed in the forestland but have almost completely disappeared during recent times. During summer Glino mollis-Verbenetum supinae (VERBENION SUPINAE), typical to seasonally submerged nutrient-rich soils, covers the gently sloping and sunny banks of the artiicial lake Scanzano, subject to strong water level luctuations. The reed- and sedge-dominated bed and herbland vegetation (PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA and PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS) which occasionally covers (or used to cover) the sides of local freshwater bodies and streams is referred to Phragmitetum communis, Typho angustifoliae-Phragmitetum australis and Scirpetum lacustris. Helosciadetum Summit doline, colonized by the Seslerio siculae-Helictotrichetum convoluti in the hollowed part and by the Carduncello-Thymetum spinulosi on the stony slopes surrounding the depression (both associations belong to the alliance Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis). 250 Itineraries nodilori and Sparganietum erecti (GLYCERIO-SPARGANION) are helophytic communities dominated by small hygrophilous and heliophilous hemicriptophytes which perform dense covers along some streams and around some ponds of this area, respectively. The seasonally inundated banks of the river Frattina host some spots of Cypero longi-Caricetum otrubae (MAGNOCARICION ELATAE). In the past also another association framed into this alliance, Caricetum divisae, may have occurred in this territory. Glycerio spicatae-Oenanthetum aquaticae (ALOPECURO-GLYCERION SPICATAE) colonises the muddy peat soils bordering the pond of Gorgo Lungo, located within the forest of Ficuzza. Although currently absent, riparian gallery forests (ALNO GLUTINOSAE-POPULETEA ALBAE and POPULION ALBAE) might have been rather well-represented in the territory, as the co-occurrence of several species linked to humid and shady riparian habitats (e.g. Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris, Osmunda regalis and Asplenium scolopendrium) at Vallone Arcera suggests. Ulmo canescentis-Salicetum pedicillatae (SALICETEA PURPUREAE and SALICION PEDICELLATAE), occurring in NW Sicily below 800-900 m a.s.l., forms linear and narrow dense assemblages along some deep gullies of Eleuterio river near Ficuzza, while fragments of thermo-hygrophilous pioneer thicket (NERIO-TAMARICETEA and TAMARICION AFRICANAE) occur on the sides and the bed of Frattina river and on the banks of Scanzano lake. Anthropogenic vegetation Local arable crops (mostly cereal ields) are characterised by two annual weed assemblages occurring in diferent seasons. The wintergreen one, Legousio hybridae-Biforetum testiculatae is framed into ROEMERION HYBRIDAE (PAPAVERETEA RHOEADIS), while the summergreen, C4 species-rich vegetation occurring after crop harvest belongs to Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Kickxietum integrifoliae (DIGITARIO SANGUINALIS-ERAGROSTIETEA MINORIS and DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS). Concerning the wintergreen annual weedy and ruderal vegetation belonging to CHENOPODIETEA, the hypernitrophilous and xerophilous vegetation of local sheepfolds is referred to Malvo parvilorae-Chrysanthemetum coronarii (HORDEION MURINI), whilst many fallows are characterized by Hedysaro coronarii-Lavateretum trimestris and Centauretum schouwii (ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE), 251 Itineraries dynamically linked with PLANTAGINION CUPANII overgrazed and trampled communities and with PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII thorny woody mantle communities. As for the acidophilous assemblages typical to the vineyards and fallows occurring on the marly and clayey soils of inner central-western Sicily (FEDIO GRACILIFLORAE-CONVOLVULION CUPANIANI), many of them have been described in the area between Marineo and Ficuzza, like Ononido alopecuroidi-Vicietum siculae (550800 m a.s.l.), Chamaemelo fuscati-Silenetum fuscatae and Vulpio ligusticae-Tetragonolobetum bilori (50-650 m a.s.l.), Hedysaro coronarii-Lathyretum hirsuti linked to steep, humid and shady slopes between (200)500 and 600 m a.s.l, and Lotetum angustissimo-conimbricensis (600-700 m a.s.l.). Due to progressive succession processes, these communities are often substituted by Arundo plinii-dominated reed beds on the steepest slopes, by Festuca arundinacea meadows on lat areas. No information is yet available on the sciaphilous subnitrophilous geophyte-rich fringe communities (VALANTIO MURALIS-GALION MURALIS) occurring within and beneath local woody pre-forest vegetation. The trampled areas of the village of Ficuzza host two therophytic nitrophilous dwarf coomunities, i.e. Euphorbio chamaesyci-Oxalidetum corniculatae and Trisetario aureae-Crepidetum bursifoliae (POLYGONO-POËTEA ANNUAE and POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI). The thistle-dominated ruderal (sub)xerophilous nitrophilous assemblage occurring on the base-rich soils along the roadsides and the tracks of Rocca Busambra are ascribed to Bonannietum graecae (ONOPORDION ILLYRICI and ARTEMISIETEA VULGARIS), endemic to the disturbed areas of central-western Sicilian montane areas (Madonie and Sicani Mts., Mts. of Palermo) subject to meso- and supramediterranean bioclimate (800-1250 m a.s.l.). To Euphorbio ceratocarpae-Arundinetum plinii (ARUNDION PLINII) are ascribed the tall subhygrophilous fringes frequently occurring on clayey soils along the humid borders of fallowlands and cereal crop ields or along the streamlets. On the disturbed edges and clearings of the forest communities located at higher altitudes, some isolated pure stands of Atropa belladonna and the more widespread Anthrisco nemorosae-Heracleetum cordati occur. These tall-herb assemblages are framed into EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII and ANTHRISCION NEMOROSAE. 252 Itineraries The vertical clifs of the north facing slope are colonized by the Anthemido-Centauretum busambarensis (Dianthion rupicolae) and the steep rocky ledges by the Festuco rubrae-Seslerietum siculae (Cerastio-Astragalion nebrodensis). 253 Itineraries The riparian fringes growing on nutrient-rich riverbanks are ascribed to Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis (CYNANCHO-CONVOLVULION SEPIUM) or to Cirsio cretici-Dorycnietum recti (DORYCNIO RECTI-RUMICION CONGLOMERATI). The seasonally looded nutrient-rich banks of Lago Scanzano host summer-annual pioneer plant communities belonging to BIDENTETEA TRIPARTITAE and CHENOPODION RUBRI. 9.3. Landscape and land use history The archaeological indings of several sites near Corleone, at Cutrupia cave on Rocca Busambra and at Pizzo Chiarastella near Cafalà Diana testify the human presence in the territory since Neolithic times (Stentinello culture, ca. VI millennium BC). The irst traces of settlements belong to the so-called ‘bell beaker’ culture, probably of middle European origin, which reached Sicily from Sardinia during the III millennium BC. However, the set up and expansion and local human communities did not occur before ancient Bronze age (irst half of the II millennium BC). The Royal Palace of Ficuzza in the sunset light, surrounded by the woodlands of Bosco Ficuzza and crowned by the Busambra. The palace, intended as hunting lodge, was commissioned by Ferdinand I of Bourbon and built between 1802 and 1810. 254 Itineraries For millennia the Belìce and Eleuterio valleys represented the main connecting route between the southern and the northern coast of W Sicily. Between XI and VIII century BC, with the establishment of the Elymians in the western inland (Segesta, Entella, Nakone near Poggioreale), the foundation of the Greek colonies (Selinous, Herakleia and Akragas) along SW Sicilian coasts and of the Phoenician ones (Panormos and Solous) on the Tyrrhenian ones, this route became even more important, and the indigenous settlements gradually fell under Elymian (e.g. La Montagnola near Marineo, probably corresponding to Makella), Greek (Mt. Chiarastella, and Pizzo di Casa at the easternmost edge of Rocca Busambra, etc.) and Punic inluence (VIII BC: Pizzo Nicolosi on the westernmost tip of Rocca Busambra). The toponyms ‘Eleutherios’ (= free, now Eleuterio), ‘Kefalé (= head, top, now Cefalà) and ‘Phytalia’ (= fertile ground, vegetated area, now Campofelice di Fitalia) were more probably given by Greek settlers than from Byzantines one thousand years later. The intricate medieval network of rural farms (e.g. ‘Case Nicolosi’, II century BC; ‘Case Bifarera di sopra’ and ‘Case Bifarera di sotto’, V century AD), villages (e.g. Alpe Ramosa, VII-XI AD, perhaps the ‘Al Khazan’ mentioned by Arab travellers; ‘Buchinene or Bicchinello-Casale di sopra’ and ‘Masseria Casale’, IX-XI AD) probably retraces the location of the settlements of the Elymian-Greek-Punic-Roman period. For example, the Arab-Norman ‘Chasum’ (XI-XIII AD), giving the name to Pizzo di Casa, was built on the ruins of a Greek town, and the thermal waters of the magniicent Arab-Norman bath of Cefalà Diana were already used under Roman dominion. With no doubt Arabs densely occupied and shaped this territory with their agro-pastoral activities, as conirmed by plenty of toponyms, such as ‘Qal’at abu Samar’ (= the fortress of Samar/Samir, now Rocca Busambra), Pizzo Morabito (from ‘murabit’ = the Peak of the monk, the preacher), ‘Jabal Zurara’ (probably corresponding to the wood of Cappelliere), ‘al Gidran’ (= swamp or fenced area, now Godrano), ‘Manzil el Emir’ (= house, estate of the emir, now Misilmeri), ‘Manzil Jusuf’ (= house of Jusuf, Joseph, now Mezzojuso), ‘Ras al Ayn’ (= head of the water, now Risalaimi, one of the main springs of Eleuterio), etc. After conquering Sicily (XI century AD), Norman kings donated these lands to several fellows of the Sicilian aristocracy. Between XII and XIII most of local woodlands were included into two big feuds, Cefalà 255 Itineraries an Chasum, and the churches of Monreale, Palermo and Agrigento were allowed to manage the forest goods of part of these wide territories, inducing the people living in local rural communities, the so-called ‘casali’, to increase land exploitation. Nonetheless, a very wide forested area, fenced and protected as hunting reserve for the delight (solatium) of Arab emirs since X century, remains untouched by will of the Norman and Swabian kings until mid XIII century. The so-called ‘Parco Vecchio’ (= old park) was just immense, spanning with almost no interruption from Rocca Busambra to the plain of Palermo throughout the territories now belonging to the municipalities of Marineo, Misilmeri, Belmonte Mezzagno, Santa Cristina Gela and Altofonte. Between XIII and XIV centuries, the feud of Cefalà passes through the hands of several noble families, while several churches are entrusted to exploit Chasum, the and the forest appears more and more discontinuous and degraded, also due to the increasing demand of irewood to fulil the needs of the sugar cane plantations located near the mouth of Eleutero river. Notwithstanding several licentiae populandi (permissions to found new villages), the nobles ruling Cefalà did not succeed to populate the lands, and during XV century they started to dismember and sell their own properties. In that period entire sectors of the Parco Vecchio vanished forever, turned into cereal crop ields and pasturelands. At the beginning of XVI century, the rise of wheat price changed the socio-economic scenario of the area: in fact, during the following 200 years the new owners earn much more than in past, found or re-found a number of rural villages, like Mezzojuso and Marineo during XVI century and Ogliastro (now Bolognetta), Godrano and Villafrati during XVII century. Forest exploitation went on with neither rules nor limits until the end of XVIII century, when Ferdinand I of Bourbon, exile in Sicily, decided to transform the whole forest in a private hunting reserve, forbidding the public use of forest goods and building a royal palace in the new-born village of Ficuzza. This fact probably changed the destiny of the last wide forested area of western Sicily preventing it from total destruction. Ficuzza is a less wild and more disturbed wood than it seems. Indeed, only small and localised spots of local woodlands (like the one of locality Fanuso) show structural features similar to old growth conditions. During last two centuries the forest underwent severe damages at least three times: during a rebellion on 1820, when Ferdinand had to 256 Itineraries The summit of the Busambra ofers visitors a number of post-industrial installations. If the Sicilian people were not so proud of their cultural heritage, these objects would have been removed a long time ago. temporarily escape from Sicily and part of the woodland was destroyed and burnt, after the death of his son Francesco (1830), when nearly 3/4 of its tree cover was almost destroyed, and during the two World Wars, when wide surfaces were subject to clear-cuts and burning. Fortunately, most of the following forestation activities, started around the 1950s, were carried out by using autochthonous woody species grown in local nurseries, and this allowed a very fast recover of local forest ecosystems. As for artiicial plantations, some of them have been carried out with Fraxinus spp. (mostly F. angustifolia but sometimes also F. ornus). On the clayey soils of the localities Lavanche and Pirrello (S of Rocca Busambra) almost pure stands of Eucalyptus spp. (E. camaldulensis, E. gomphocephala and E. × trabutii) deeply impacted soil biochemistry and groundwater level, while Pinus spp. (mostly P. pinea, P. halepensis and P. pinaster) altered the landscape surrounding the (once permanent) pond of ‘Gorgo del Drago’ near Godrano. Ficuzza still hosts the traces of the past exploitation of the forest such as charcoal hips; the wide spectrum of activities carried out there 257 Itineraries is testiied by plenty of stone wall structures: the ‘neviere’, where the snow was gathered and covered with straw to last and to be used during summer; the ‘pagghiari’ (small thatched huts built to host shepherds and lumberjacks); the ‘calcare’ (kilns where calcareous rocks were burnt to obtain lime); the ‘chirchiari’ or ‘cunzarri’ (stone heaps created to ease plowing activities), the ‘mannare’ (stone-wall sheepfolds were locks were protected against the wolves), the ‘girati’ (stonefenced hunting areas were fallow deers and boars were introduced), the ‘peschiera’ (ishery) near Gorgo del Drago at Godrano, etc. The area surrounding Ficuzza and Rocca Busambra is not densely inhabited. The only villages which are really close to the forest are Mezzojuso (3000 inhabitants) and Godrano (1000), while Corleone (12000 inhabitants), Marineo (7000), Bolognetta (4000), Villafrati (3500), Cefalà Diana (1000) and Campofelice di Fitalia (500) are nowadays quite far from it. Nowadays the main challenge is the real involvement of local communities and stakeholders, trying to igure out together the best policies to combine the survival of cattle breeders with the main goals for the conservation of local nature heritage, i.e. the maintenance of all the dynamic steps of local vegetation through a more sustainable use of pasturelands, the undisturbed evolution of the most endangered and/or mature sectors of local forest, the improvement or even the restoration of local temporary and permanent ponds, the gradual removal and substitution of the alien trees’ stands covering some sectors of the area. 258 Itineraries SELECTED REFERENCES Bernhardt K.-G., 1987. Steineichenwaldreste in Südwest-Sizilien. Mitteilungen der Deutschen Dendrologischen Gesellschaft, 77 (1985): 257-263. Bernhardt K.-G., Giardina G., 1989. Der Bosco Ficuzza (Nordsizilien) als Beispiel für einen anthropogen geformten Wald im mediterran Winterregengebiet. Archiv für Naturschutz und Landschaftsforschung, 29(3): 181-189. Bianchetto E., Buscemi I., Corona P., Giardina G., La Mantia T., Pasta S., 2015. Fitting the stocking rate with pastoral resources to manage and preserve Mediterranean forestlands: a case study. Sustainability, 7: 7232-7244. Caldarella O., 2014. Censimento degli ambienti lentici e note distributive sulla lora idro-igroitica nell’area di Bosco Ficuzza (Sicilia occidentale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 38(2): 193-244. Di Palma G., Genchi G., Raimondo F.M., Riggio S., 1981. Ricerche ecologiche e biocenotiche preliminari sui “gurghi” del Bosco del Cappelliere (Palermo). Giornale botanico italiano, 114 (3-4) (1980): 136 (abstract). Federico C., 2009. La lora della riserva naturale orientata di: Bosco della Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Gorgo del Drago. Regione Siciliana, Dipartimento Regionale Azienda Foreste Demaniali, Palermo, 420 pp. Gianguzzi L. (ed.), 2004. Il paesaggio vegetale della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Bosco della Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere, Gorgo del Drago”. Collana “Sicilia Foreste” n° 22, Regione Siciliana, Azienda Foreste Demaniali, Palermo, 160 pp. Gianguzzi L., Cuttonaro P., Cusimano D., Romano S., 2016. Contribution to the phytosociological characterization of the forest vegetation of the Sicani Mountains (inland of north-western Sicily). Plant Sociology, 53(1): 5-43. 259 Itineraries Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A., Rigoglioso A., 2004. Carta della vegetazione (scala 1:20.000) della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Bosco Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Gorgo del Drago”. Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 27(1): 205-242 + 1 carta f.-t. Giardina G., La Mantia T., Sala G., Di Leo C., Pasta S., 2014. Possibile origine e consistenza di un popolamento di Quercus trojana Webb subsp. trojana (Fagaceae) al Bosco della Ficuzza (Provincia di Palermo, Sicilia nord-occidentale). Il Naturalista siciliano, s. 4, 38(2): 265-289. Giardina G., Scarpulla A. (a cura di), 1993. Bosco di Ficuzza: Tra Storia e Natura. Azienda Foreste Demaniali della Regione Siciliana, 49 pp. Raimondo F.M. (a cura di), 2006. Paesaggio e biodiversità nella Riserva Naturale Orientata “Bosco di Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Gorgo del Drago”. Azienda Foreste Demaniali della Regione Siciliana, 83 pp. 260 Itineraries Box 9.1. Ficuzza: the last forest of western Sicily The presence and even the survival of Ficuzza is intimately linked with Rocca Busambra, whose steep northern clifs dominate (and provide shadow and humidity to) a wide spectrum of forest communities, mostly dominated by evergreen (Quercus ilex and Q. suber) and deciduous (Q. pubescens s.l. and Q. cerris s.l.) thermophilous oaks. Forest borders and abandoned pastures host shrubberies dominated by brooms, like Cytisus infestus, C. villosus and Spartium junceum, and thorny Rosaceae (Crataegus, Prunus, Pyrus, Rosa and Rubus). The survival of Ficuzza also issued from human choices. In fact, it was protected as private hunting reserve of the Sicilian kings from Frederick II Hohenstaufen (XIII century) to Ferdinand IV of Bourbon (XIX century). Additionally, since the XII century it was part of the Provincia Monrealensis, a very wide territory assigned by Norman kings to the archibishops of the town of Monreale near Palermo, whose rational management of local woodlands, used to produce fuelwood, charcoal, and as pasturelands let them survive throughout centuries. In order to satisfy the urgent need of fuelwood wide sectors of the forest were cutted down during the World War II, but many of them promptly recovered through succession or were successfully restored just after the end of the conlict by using native species grown in local nurseries. References Bernhardt K.-G., Giardina G., 1989. Der Bosco Ficuzza (Nordsizilien) als Beispiel für einen anthropogen geformten Wald im mediterran Winterregengebiet. Archiv für Naturschutz und Landschaftforschung, 29(3): 181-189. Bianchetto E., Buscemi I., Corona P., Giardina G., La Mantia T., Pasta S., 2015. Fitting the stocking rate with pastoral resources to manage and preserve Mediterranean forestlands: a case study. Sustainability, 7: 7232-7244. doi: 10.3390/su7067232. Falkenhausen (von) V., 1980. La foresta nella Sicilia normanna. Pp. 73-82 in: Atti del I Congresso internazionale di Studi antropologici siciliani ‘La cultura materiale in Sicilia’, Quaderni del Circolo semiologico siciliano, STASS, Palermo. 261 Itineraries Giardina G., Scarpulla A. (a cura di), 1994. Bosco di Ficuzza: Tra Storia e Natura. Regione Siciliana, Assessorato Territorio e Ambiente, Azienda Foreste Demaniali, 49 pp. Saldarelli R., 1951. La foresta demaniale di Ficuzza. Monti e Boschi, 2: 70-80. 262 X Other itineraries Even if our botanical excursions focus on Central and western Sicily, we have not been able to resist the temptation to overcome the East, to briely suggest you four magniicent hikes: two in the Hyblaean and two in the Etnean territory. In the hopeful await of a second volume of botanical excursions, focussed on Eastern Sicily, we hope you will appreciate our efort! Riccardo & Salvo Itinerary1 - Cavagrande del Cassibile The south-eastern corner of Sicily consists of a carbonate platform named “Hyblaean Plateau”: a succession of horizontal layers of Miocenic marls and limestones, crossed by a complex network of deep canyons. We will visit one of these canyons, Cava Grande del Cassibile, in the eastern sector of the Hyblaean Plateau. The lithostratigraphic succession of Cava Grande del Cassibile includes, at the bottom, an alternation of marly limestones with a thickness of about Itineraries 150 m, upwards followed by multi-layered banks of whitish – yellowish calcarenites, also about 150 m thick, topped by more compact limestones ascribed to the Climiti Unit, 100 m thick. Moisture coming from the sea is forced by the sea breeze into the valleys excavated by waterways; so that in the inner part of the valleys quite a regular regimen of moisture condensation occurs, forming nocturnal fogs which even in summer stagnate very often until 9 a.m. Hidden precipitations are likely to be even more intense in summer, when the thermic diferences between the coastal sites and inland valleys are greater. The vegetation with highest biomass are the holm-oak woods (Quercetalia ilicis) and the riverine forests (Populetalia albae), although they are now rather rare due to ires, clearings, reforestation with Pinus halepensis and citrus plantations. Disturbance (mainly due to ire) allows bushes and perennial grasses to dominate the landscape of the Hyblaean canyons. More in detail, a large part of the sloping faces is covered by a low maquis (Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni). When ire events are more frequent, the maquis is replaced by a garigue (Cisto-Ericetalia), in the Hyblaean plateau featured by two very frequent East-Mediterranean species, Sarcopoterium spinosum and Salvia fruticosa, which have in SE-Sicily the most western outpost of their distribution range. The further stage of degradation of the series is represented by perennial dry grasslands (Hyparrhenietalia hirtae), at present the commonest vegetation in the Hyblaean corner of Sicily. Trail: Length: 5.7 km one-way trip, Hiking time: 3 hours, Elevation range: 500 m. 264 Itineraries Cavagrande del Cassibile, extensive rangeland on stony slopes (Ferulago nodosae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae). Annual dry grassland on a rocky ledge (Trigonello monspeliacae-Stipetum capensis). 265 Itineraries Pothole along the Cassibile river, surrounded by riverine vegetation units (Polygono salicifolii-Phragmitetum communis; Arundini-Convolvuletum sepium; Platano-Salicetum pedicellatae). Eastward view of the canyon (Cavagrande del Cassibile); valley slopes are extensively colonized by the Helichryso-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici and vertical clifs by the Putorio calabricae-Micromerietum microphyllae. 266 Itineraries Intensively exploited rangeland, afected by ruderalization processes (Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis; Thapsio-Feruletum communis). The holm-oakwood (Doronico-Quercetum ilicis), potentially the most common vegetation unit in the hyblaean canyons, is now relegated in the most impervious sites. 267 Itineraries Itinerary2 - From Eloro to Vendicari The peculiar morphology of the coast of Vendicari (SE Sicily) originated from the interaction of karst and marine processes. The site is a 6.8 km long microtidal, wave-dominated and bedrock-conined coastal ecosystem, with many evidences of Pleistocenic karst processes in a Quaternary carbonate shore-platforms. A karst polje formed during the Late Pleistocene sea level lowstand. The postglacial sea level rise had drowned most part of the original polje, which can be still recognized in the inner continental shelf. Sea level stabilization after the Holocene eustatic maximum favoured the development of a beach barrier, which generated additional coastal lakes of lagoons. The current physical setting is characterized by horizontal sedimentary layers, alternating with sandy dune systems and coastal saltmarshes and lacustrine systems (locally called “Pantani”) with three presently looded coastal lakes and four ancient coastal wetlands. The area is characterized by the occurrence of several plant communities, mainly represented by low maquis (Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni), chamaephytic thermo-xerophilous garigues 268 Itineraries (Cisto-Ericetalia), perennial dry grasslands (Hyparrhenietalia), petro-halophilous scrubs (Crithmo-Limonietea), vegetation of rocky clifs (Asplenietalia glandulosi; Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae) and of temporary ponds (Isoeto-Nanojuncetea, Juncion maritimi, Scirpion compacti) and ephemeral meadows (Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae and Saginetea maritimae), which shift into the psammophilous vegetation complexes of coastal sand dunes (Ammophiletalia australis, Helichryso stoechadis-Crucianelletalia maritimae, Malcolmietalia) towards the shoreline. Trail: Length: 9 km one-way trip, Hiking time: 3 hours, Elevation range: 50 m Vendicari, spring view of a coastal garrigue (Chamaeropo-Sarcopoterietum spinosi) colonizing sandstone banks, with intestitial space colonized by annual dry grasslands (Vulpio-Romuletum rollii). 269 Itineraries The same vegetation, in summer. Green patches are, either, Pistacia lentiscus, Chamaerops humilis or Thymbra capitata, the only species, in this context, which keep green during the dry season. Vendicari, the lacustrine system of Pantano Grande: plant species assemblages are driven by gradients in soil texture, salinity and humidity. In the foreground, Imperato-Juncetum littoralis, empty depressions are seasonally colonized by Salicornietum emerici; upper elevations in the middle of the lake are covered by Arthrocnemo-Juncetum subulati, landward shores are colonized by Phragmitetum communis. 270 Itineraries Similar view, from the landward shores. Vendicari, dunal system colonized by the Ephedro-Juniperetum macrocarpae. 271 Itineraries Vendicari, early spring ephemeral vegetation in the dune slacks (Vulpio-Romuletum rollii). Itinerary3 - Etna - southern side (From “Schiena dell’Asino” to “Piano del Vescovo”, through Valle del Bove) 272 Itineraries The single most relevant landmark of the island is Mt. Etna (currently standing 3329 m), the biggest volcano of the Mediterranean region. It dominates the Eastern side of Sicily, with multiple layers of erupted materials that cover an area of 1190 km², with a basal circumference of 140 km. The origin of the name Etna is exciting, as it comes from the ancient Greek ‘(H)Aithna’, whose Indo-European root is the some of ‘Heat’, ‘Hot’, ‘Heiss’: what an appropriate name for a mountain bursting with lava and hot gasses! Even funnier was the name of the mountain until last century, ‘Mongibello’, issuing from ‘Mons’ (mount in Latin) and ‘Djabal’ (mount in Arab), so a reiteration of the concept to indicate ‘THE’ mountain by antonomasia. While the dangerous and unpredictable volcano Stromboli is called ‘iddu’ (him) by local people, the name of the highest active volcano of Europe, dominating the eastern coast of Sicily is feminine… As a matter of fact, it appears to be kinder than other volcanoes, and it only rarely caused fatalities during its long and continuous activity. We will climb 700 m of altitudinal range along the southern rim of Valle del Bove, an huge horse-shoe shaped caldera on the eastern lank of the volcano, resulting from a progressive collapse of older volcanic ediices, which took place (with distinct phases) between 60,000 and 9,000 years ago. From the top of the rim (a rocky ridge called “Schiena dell’Asino”), we will have an impressive view over the caldera: a 5 km wide and 7 km long depression surrounded by steep slopes (between 400 and 1,000 m high), where several magmatic dikes and rocky ridges emerge in consequence of selective erosive processes. The name Valle del Bove means “Valley of the Ox” and it seems to recall the time when (until 1991), the valley bottom was covered by lush pastures, freely grazed by herds of cows and sheep. Nowadays, Valle del Bove is the place where much of Etna’s lava lows are converging, making it the only place of stunning wilderness in Sicily. We will walk through the thorny cushions of the Astragalus siculus dominated vegetation (Rumici-Astragaletea siculi) and, after a couple of km bordering the southern side of the valley loor (making nice observations on the recolonization patterns on recent lavas), we will escape from Valle del Bove through the beechwoods above Piano del Vescovo, i.e. the extreme southern limit of the distribution range of the European beech (Fagus sylvatica). Trail: Length: 8.7 km. Hiking time: 4.5 hours, Elevation range: 740 m uphill and 1200 m downslope. 273 Itineraries Astragaletum siculi is the dominant vegetation in the oromediterranean belt of Mt. Etna. The thorny cushions of Astragalus siculus shelter many plant species (here Anthemis aetnensis and Viola aethnensis), whose presence is manifested with brilliant colours at lowering time. For their strategy, these plants have been deined as Polstergäste (literally: the guests of the cushion), a pun for the world Poltergeist, that is a ghost supposed to manifest its presence by occasional noises. 274 Itineraries Valle del Bove seen from its southern rim: the crest named Schiena dell’asino. The yellow lowers on the left belong to Hypochaeris robertia, the most ancestral and isolated clade of its genus It’s only one, but it is living there, next to the middle point of Valle del Bove. The most heroic Festuca circummediterranea in the world (bottom right of the pic). 275 Itineraries The last survivors of a woodland erased by the eruption December 1991 - February (?) 1993. The dykes help in the retention of the organic matter and route some extra water to the trees In the bottom part of the dykes poplar (Populus tremula) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) are very frequent. In the upper part, instead, Acer campestre, Sorbus sp.pl. and Genista aetnensis tend to prevail. 276 Itineraries Itinerary4 - Etna - North-Eastern side (From “Piano Provenzana” to “Monti Sartorius”) Downslope from the central cone, Etna displays several hundred minor cones, the so-called “temporary” cones, shaping this huge mountain as one of the world’s largest polygenic volcanoes. We will start our walk from the eruptive vents of 2002, near Piano Provenzana, and, after a short climb across Rumici-Astragaletea siculi vegetation, we will walk along a gently sloping diagonal descending towards Monti Sartorius, a complex of small cones dating back to 1865. We will see beautiful Calabrian pine forests, exploited since ancient times for timber and resin (pitch) production. The Calabrian pine forest (Pinus calabrica) represents the zonal vegetation in the N-NW lank of Mt Etna, but most often it represents a seral stage of oak- or beechwoods (depending on elevation). At the end of the trail, ending up in the East-facing lank of the Volcano, i.e. the moistest and coolest part of the oro-mediterranean vegetation belt on Mt. Etna, we will cross the Aetnean birchwood (Betula aetnensis), which has its optimal stands right in the tableland surrounding Monti Sartorius. Trail: Length: 8 km. Hiking time: 4 hours, Elevation range: 280 m uphill and 670 m downslope. 277 Itineraries The Calabrian pine (Pinus calabrica) forest of Piano Provenzana has been crossed by a large lava low in 2002. Many pines hit by the lava are still standing and their skeletal silhouettes contrast with the green pines in the background. The Calabrian pine forests have been exploited since ancient times for timber and resin (pitch) production. Resin extraction was a local economic activity until a recent past. Many pines with the typical “ishbone” carving, adopted for this ancient practice, are still alive. 278 Itineraries Springtime view of Monti Sartorius (1865), with a fringe of Betula aetnensis and the Calabrian pinewood in the background. Dormient Astragaletum siculi, with patches of Juniperus hemisphaerica and Berberis cretica subsp. aetnensis. 279 Itineraries Betula etnensis is a close relative of Betula pendula, The light woods dominated by Betula pendula, with Adenocarpus bivonae in the understorey, are limited to the NE lank of Mt. Etna and have been described as Cephalanthero longifoliae-Betuletum etnensis (Pino-Quercion congestae). Genista aetnensis, endemic to very restricted areas of Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily is a very important biomass producer on recent lava lows, where it can grow relatively fast, thanks to the symbiosis with nitrogen-ixing bacteria. 280 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units R. GuaRino, d. cuSimano, v. ilaRdi, S. PaSta “Antiochus, when he was Ephor, hearing that Philip had given Messenians their land, asked if he had also provided them with the power to prevail in fighting to keep it” (Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans) This syntaxonomical list represents a irst attempt to adapt sometimes obtorto collo - to the pan-European framework proposed by Mucina et al. (2016) the bulk of phytosociological knowledge so far available on the Sicilian vascular vegetation, up to the association level. The aim was to promote and support - as much as possible the nomenclatural stability and the coherence of classes, orders and alliances with the EuroVegChecklist (Mucina et al, 2016), which was adopted as baseline. We are aware that many phytosociological associations described for Sicily are superluous and their autonomy is not supported by numerical ordination analyses (particularly in the case of forests), however a formalized review and ordination of the associations so far described from Sicily was outside of our purposes. In spite of our best intentions, a few discrepancies remain between our view and the work by Mucina et al. (2016), in all those cases in which there is a clear need for the realignment of syntaxonomy to phytogeographic, geo-ecological and systematic issues. All the reassessments or disagreements proposed here are commented in red notes; “*” refers to syntaxa here corrected or reseated; “**” refers to irst records from Sicily; “†” refers to syntaxa reported from Sicily by Mucina et al. (2016) but, basing on the current state of knowledge, their occurrence on the island is not proven. Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units CARPINO-FAGETEA SYLVATICAE Jacuks & Passarge 1968 Mesic (and meso-hygrophilous) summergreen deciduous forests Indicator species in Sicily: Acer campestre, Acer monspessulanum, Acer opalus subsp. neapolitanum, Acer pseudoplatanus, Aquilegia sicula, Aremonia agrimonoides, Arum italicum, Asperula odorata, Blechnum spicant, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Calamintha grandilora, C. sylvatica, Campanula trichocalycina, Cardamine chelidonia, Castanea sativa, Cephalanthera rubra, Cephalanthera damasonium, Chaerophyllum temulum, Clematis vitalba, Corydalis solida, Daphne laureola, Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. saccifera, Digitalis micrantha, Dryopteris ilix-mas, Epipactis helleborine, E. microphylla, Fagus sylvatica, Drymochloa drymeia, Festuca heterophylla, Fragaria vesca, Galanthus reginae-olgae, Galium rotundifolium, Geranium robertianum, Geum urbanum, Hieracium pignattianum, H. symphytifolium, Hypericum androsaemum, Hypopitys monotropa, Lathraea squamaria, Lathyrus pratensis, L. venetus, Luzula sicula, Malus sylvestris, Melica unilora, Mercurialis perennis, Milium efusum, Milium vernale subsp. montianum, Moehringia trinervia, Mycelis muralis, Neottia nidus-avis, Poa sylvicola, Polystichum aculeatum, P. setiferum, Potentilla micrantha, Primula vulgaris, Prunus avium, Pyrola secunda, Quercus petraea subsp. austrotyrrhenica, Ranunculus lanuginosus, Rubus canescens, Sanicula europaea, Scilla bifolia, Scutellaria columnae, Symphytum gussonei, Taxus baccata, Veronica montana, Viola reichenbachiana. FAGETALIA SYLVATICAE Pawłowski in Pawłowski et al. 1928 Basiphilous beech and mixed fir-beech forests in the nemoral zone and in the montane belt of the submediterranean regions of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Acer campestre, A. pseudoplatanus, Allium ursinum, Anthriscus nemorosa, Aquilegia sicula, Arum cylindraceum, Conopodium capillifolium, Corydalis solida, Dryopteris ilix-mas, Epilobium montanum, Epipactis helleborine, Galium odoratum, Geranium robertianum, Ilex aquifolium, Malus sylvestris, Melica unilora, Melittis albida, Neottia nidus-avis, Platanthera chlorantha, Polygonatum multilorum, Polystichum setiferum, Potentilla micrantha, Rubus canescens, R. hirtus, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Tamus communis, Ulmus glabra, Veronica oicinalis. 282 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units GERANIO STRIATI-FAGION Gentile 1970 Refugial basiphilous beech and mixed fir-beech forests of Southern Italy and the southwestern Balkans Indicator species in Sicily: Allium pendulinum, Anemone apennina, Galium odoratum subsp. scabrum (=Galium scabrum), Geranium versicolor, Euphorbia meuselii, Lamium lexuosum, Polygonatum gussonei, Ranunculus velutinus. Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum austrotyrrhenicae Brullo & Marcenò in Brullo 1984 Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae (Gentile 1969) Brullo 1984 em. Ubaldi et al. 1987 Arrhenathero nebrodensi-Quercetum cerridis Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1996 Ilici aquifolii-Taxetum baccatae Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1996 Luzulo siculae-Fagetum sylvaticae Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 1999 Rubo aetnici-Fagetum sylvaticae Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 1999 Epipactido meridionalis-Fagetum sylvaticae Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 1999 Melitto albidae-Fagetum sylvaticae Brullo, Guarino, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 1999 Geranio versicoloris-Quercetum ilicis Maniscalco & Raimondo 2003 Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum leptobalani Maniscalco & Raimondo 2009 Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum cerridis Raimondo, Schicchi & Bazan 2009 Conopodio capillifolii-Quercetum congestae Maniscalco & Raimondo 2009 Hieracio madoniensis-Fagetum sylvaticae C. Brullo et al. 2012 TILIO-OSTRYON CARPINIFOLIAE Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 Note - This alliance, not mentioned by Mucina et al. (2016), is to be considered a southern vicariant of Tilio-Acerion Klika 1955: sub-montane centro-Mediterranean hop-hornbeam and lime forests on steep slopes with a mild and humid mesoclimate. 283 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Acer pseudoplatanus, Athyrium ilix-foemina, Phyllitis scolopendrium, Corylus avellana, Ostrya carpinifolia, Sambucus nigra, Tilia platyphyllos, Ulmus glabra. Aceri obtusati-Ostryetum carpinifoliae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Ostryo carpinifoliae-Quercetum congestae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Sorbo graecae-Aceretum pseudoplatani Gianguzzi & La Mantia 2004 Hieracio criniti-Aceretum aetnensis C. Brullo et al. 2012 QUERCETEA PUBESCENTIS Doing-Kraft ex Scamoni & Passarge 1959 Thermophilous forests with deciduous oaks of sub-Mediterranean regions Indicator species in Sicily: Asperula laevigata, Betula aetnensis, Crepis leontodontoides, Euonymus europaeus, Limodorum abortivum, Luzula forsteri, Oenanthe pimpinelloides, Quercus cerris, Q. congesta, Q. dalechampii, Pinus nigra subsp. calabrica, Poa sylvicola, Tamus communis, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii. QUERCETALIA PUBESCENTI-PETRAEAE Klika 1933 Oak forests of the warm cool-temperate regions in the nemoral zone of Central and Southern Europe and relic supramediterranean firpine and oak forests of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Acer monspessulanum, Agropyron panormitanum, Buglossoides purpurocaerulea, Castanea sativa, Cephalanthera longifolia, Katapsuxis silaifolia, Limodorum abortivum, Lonicera etrusca, Populus tremula, Ruscus aculeatus, Teucrium siculum, Vicia cassubica. PINO CALABRICAE-QUERCION CONGESTAE Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Spampinato 1999 Submediterranean montane Siculo-Calabrian pine-oak woods Indicator species in Sicily: Acer obtusatum subsp. aetnense, Betula aetnensis, Epipactis meridionalis, Pinus nigra subsp. calabrica, Quercus congesta, Q. dalechampii, Q. leptobalanos, Rubus aetnicus. 284 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Vicio cassubicae-Quercetum cerridis Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Agropyro panormitani-Quercetum congestae Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Spampinato 1999 Doronico orientalis-Castanetum sativae C. Brullo et al. 2012 Agropyro panormitani-Populetum tremulae C. Brullo et al. 2012 Daphno laureolae-Pinetum calabricae C. Brullo et al. 2012 Cephalanthero longifoliae-Betuletum aetnensis C. Brullo et al. 2012 CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA R. Tx. 1962 Shrubland vegetation seral or marginal to broadleaved woodlands (“mantle”) Indicator species in Sicily: Berberis vulgaris, Calystegia sylvatica, Clematis lammula, Clematis cirrhosa, Clematis vitalba, Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus oxyacantha, Ligustrum vulgare, Pyracantha coccinea, Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus catharticus, Rosa canina, Rubus glandulosus, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana. PRUNETALIA SPINOSAE R. Tx. 1952 Scrub and mantle vegetation seral or marginal to broad-leaved forests in the nemoral zone of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Crataegus monogyna, Euonymus europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus catharticus, Rosa pouzinii, Rubia peregrina subsp. peregrina, Rubus ulmifolius, Smilax aspera, Tamus communis. ILICI-CRATAEGION LACINIATAE Ubaldi 2011 Note - This alliance is ascribed by Mucina et al. (2016) to Paliuretalia Trinajstić 1978. We esteem more appropriate to respect the Ubaldi’s view: montane Calabrian and Sicilian mantle vegetation, seral or marginal to broad-leaved forests, with many species in common with the mantle vegetation of the nemoral zone of Europe (descended into the Mediterranean region through the Apennine temperate corridoir) and virtually no diagnostic species in common with the pseudomaquis and šibljak fringing oak forests of the submediterranean regions of southeastern Europe. 285 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Crataegus rhipidophylla, Euonymus europaeus, Prunus cocomilia, P. cupaniana, Rhamnus catharticus, Ribes uva-crispa subsp. austro-europaeum, Rosa montana, R. pulverulenta, R. spinosissima, Rubus acheruntinus. Crataegetum laciniatae Brullo & Marcenò in Brullo 1984 *Clematido vitalbae-Prunetum cupanianae Raimondo, Marino & Schicchi 2010 *Junipero hemisphaericae-Prunetum cupanianae Raimondo, Marino & Schicchi 2010 nom. invers. propos. Note - In the original description, the two latter associations were framed into the Juniperetalia hemisphaericae Rivas-Mart. & J.A. Molina in Rivas-Mart. et al. 1999 but, due to the dominant species and the vegetation structure, they would it better into Ilici-Crataegion laciniatae. Lonicero xylostei-Prunetum cupanianae Gianguzzi, Caldarella, Cusimano & Romano 2011 Roso siculae-Prunetum spinosae Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 PYRO SPINOSAE-RUBETALIA ULMIFOLII Biondi, Blasi & Casavecchia in Biondi et al. 2014 Spiny bramble scrub on nutrient-rich soils of the winter-mild Atlantic seaboards, the Mediterranean, the Macaronesian Archipelago and the Azores Indicator species in Sicily: Pyrus spinosa, Rubus ulmifolius, Lonicera etrusca, Rosa sempervirens. PRUNO SPINOSAE-RUBION ULMIFOLII O. de Bolòs 1954 Spiny bramble scrub of the winter-mild Atlantic seaboards and the Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Asparagus acutifolius, Clematis cirrhosa, Crataegus monogyna, Cytisus infestus, Euphorbia characias, Origanum vulgare, Pyrus pyraster, Rosa canina, Rubus ulmifolius, Rubia peregrina, Smilax aspera, Spartium junceum, Tamus communis. 286 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Rubo ulmifolii-Tametum communis Tx. in Tx. & Oberd. 1958 Rubo ulmifolii-Crataegetum brevispinae O. de Bolòs 1962 Pyro amygdaliformi-Paliuretum spinae-christi O. de Bolòs 1962 Rubo ulmifolii-Dorycnietum recti S. Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Scutellario linnaeanae-Urticetum rupestris Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Rubo ulmifolii-Aristolochietum altissimae Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Roso sempervirentis-Rubetum ulmifolii Blasi, Cutini, Di Pietro & Fortini 2001 Clematido cirrhosae-Rubetum ulmifolii Gianguzzi & La Mantia 2008 *Cytiso infesti-Pyretum spinosae Gianguzzi & La Mantia 2008 nom. mut. et inv. propos. Note - In the original description, this association was framed into the Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni Rivas-Mart. 1975, but due to the dominant species and the vegetation structure, it would it better into the Pruno spinosae-Rubion ulmifolii. Spartio juncei-Bupleuretum fruticosi Raimondo & Ilardi 2009 Roso corymbiferae-Rubetum ulmifolii Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 Euphorbio characiae-Prunetum spinosae Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 LAURO NOBILIS-SAMBUCETALIA NIGRAE Biondi, Blasi, Casavecchia, Galdenzi & Gasparri 2014 in Biondi et al. 2014 Mesic scrub in shady habitats on nutrient-rich soils of the Central Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Sambucus nigra, Laurus nobilis, Rubus ulmifolius, Rhamnus alaternus, Rubia peregrina, Ulmus minor. LAURO NOBILIS-SAMBUCION NIGRAE Biondi, Blasi, Casavecchia, Galdenzi & Gasparri 2014 in Biondi et al. 2014 Mesic scrub in shady habitats on nutrient-rich soils of the Central Mediterranean 287 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Sambucus nigra, Laurus nobilis, Rubus ulmifolius, Rhamnus alaternus, Rubia peregrina, Ulmus minor. Hyperico majoris-Rubetum ulmifolii Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 **ROBINIETEA Jurko ex Hadač & Sofron 1980 Seral forest-clearing and anthropogenic successional scrub and thickets on nutrient-rich soils of temperate Europe Note - Even if there are no published data on the occurrence of this vegetation in Sicily, the black locust is widely replacing the former holm oak woods in the northern end of Sicily, particularly in the area of Dinnammare shrine, near Messina. Frequent species in Sicily: Arum italicum, Robinia pseudoacacia, Sambucus nigra, Humulus lupulus, Galium aparine, Chaerophyllum temulum, Fallopia convolvulus, F. dumetorum, Smyrnium olusatrum, Stellaria media, Urtica membranacea. †TRIFOLIO-GERANIETEA SANGUINEI T. Müller 1962 Thermophilous forest fringe and tall-herb vegetation in nutrientpoor sites in the submediterranean to subboreal zones of Europe and the Macaronesia †ASPHODELETALIA MACROCARPAE Biondi & Allegrezza in Biondi et al. 2014 Meso-xerophilous fringe and tall-herb vegetation on deep oligotrophic soils in the meso- and supratemperate belts of the Southern European peninsulas †HYPERICO CALABRICAE-ASPHODELION MACROCARPI Biondi, Gangale & Uzunov in Biondi, Casavecchia, Pesaresi, Gangale & Uzunov 2014 Meso-xerophilous fringe and tall-herb vegetation on deep oligo-trophic soils over siliceous substrates in the meso- and supratemperate belts of the Southern Apennine Peninsula and Sicily 288 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Note - This alliance includes meso-xerophilous fringe and tall-herb vegetation on deep soils with siliceous pedogenetic matrices in the mesoand supratemperate belts. Even if Biondi et al. (2014), and, accordingly, Mucina et al. (2016), state that representatives of this alliance, from the Southern Apennine and crystalline massifs of Calabria, stretch up to Sicily, no character species or published data about these communities are so far known from the island, apart from the following taxa, which in Sicily are not typical of fringe communities: Brachypodium rupestre, Centaurea ambigua, Cirsium vallis-demonis, Knautia purpurea, Potentilla calabra, Trifolium ochroleucum, Viola aethnensis subsp. messanensis. MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA R.Tx. 1937 Perennial meso-hygrophilous pastures and meadows on fertile deep soils at low and mid-altitudes (rarely also high altitudes) of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Agropyron repens, Agrostis castellana, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Bromus mollis, B. racemosus, Bellis perennis, Daucus carota, Gaudinia fragilis, Juncus articulatus, J. fontanesii, Scirpoides holoschoenus subsp. australis, Lolium perenne, Lotus corniculatus, Oenanthe pimpinelloides, Plantago lanceolata, Poa trivialis, Prunella vulgaris, Pulicaria dysenterica, Rumex crispus, Senecio erraticus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Trifolium squarrosum. POTENTILLO-POLYGONETALIA AVICULARIS Tx. 1947 Temporarily looded and heavily grazed zoo-anthropogenic nutrient-rich meadows and pastures of the temperate and Mediterranean regions of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Agrostis stolonifera, Festuca arundinacea, Plantago major, Polygonum aviculare, Trifolium resupinatum, Verbena oicinalis. POTENTILLION ANSERINAE Tx. 1947 Temporarily looded and heavily grazed nutrient-rich pastures experiencing variable wet-dry or brackish-fresh alternating conditions of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: See class. Lolio perenni-Plantaginetum majoris (Linkola 1921) Berger 1930 289 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units TRIFOLION MARITIMI Br.-Bl. ex Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 Temporarily flooded heavily grazed nutrient-rich grasslands and herblands on subsaline soils of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Cichorium pumilum, Plantago coronopus, Paspalum distichum, P. dilatatum. Kickxio commutatae-Trifolietum bocconei Brullo & Marcenò 1985a CIRSIETALIA VALLIS-DEMONII Brullo & Grillo 1978 Note - This order is framed by Mucina et al. (2016) into the class Nardetea strictae Rivas Goday & Borja Carbonell in Rivas Goday & Mayor Lopez 1966. Even if Nardus stricta occurs in very few relictual stands on the summit plateaux of the Calabrian and NE-Sicilian crystalline massifs, the endemite-rich meadows of Calabrian and Sicilian mountains have no ecological and loristic ainities with the secondary mat-grass swards on nutrient-poor soils of the temperate, boreal and subarctic regions of Europe. Therefore, they should be framed into Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, as in the opinion of the authors of the original description of the order at issue. Indicator species in Sicily: Centaurea ambigua, Cirsium vallis-demonis, Crepis leontodontoides, Hypochoeris neapolitana, Knautia purpurea, Potentilla calabra, Trifolium phleoides, T. pratense subsp. semipurpureum, T. squarrosum, T. striatum, Viola aethnensis subsp. messanensis. CIRSIO VALLIS-DEMONII-NARDION Giacomini & Gentile ex Di Pietro & Theurillat in Di Pietro et al. 2015 Siculo-Calabrian supramediterranean mesic seasonal perennial pastures on siliceous substrates Indicator species in Sicily: Cirsium vallis-demonii, Potentilla calabra, Viola aethnensis subsp. messanensis. Hypochoerido hispidae-Lotetum conimbricensis Brullo, Grillo & Terrasi 1976 Cynosuro cristati-Leontodontetum siculi Brullo & Grillo 1978 Genisto aristatae-Potentilletum calabrae Brullo & Grillo 1978 290 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units HOLOSCHOENETALIA Br.-Bl. ex Tchou 1948 Humid grass-rush meadows of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Carex distans, Cirsium creticum, Cyperus longus subsp. badius, Galium elongatum, Jacobaea aquatica, Juncus articulatus, J. efusus, Lythrum junceum, Oenanthe globulosa, Potentilla reptans, Rumex conglomeratus. DACTYLORHIZO-JUNCION STRIATI Brullo & Grillo 1978 Relict humid swards of high altitudes of Calabria and Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Oenanthe lachenalii, Juncus acutilorus, Scirpoides romanus. Dactylorhizo sacciferae-Juncetum efusi Brullo & Grillo 1978 Caricetum intricato-oederi Brullo & Grillo 1978 *Petagnietum gussonei Brullo & Grillo 1978 nom. mut. propos. FILIPENDULO ULMARIAE-LOTETALIA ULIGINOSI Passarge 1975 Tall-herb wet meadow fringe vegetation on mineral soils of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Mentha pulegium Potentilla reptans, Pulicaria dysenterica, Rumex crispus. MENTHO LONGIFOLIAE-JUNCION INFLEXI T. Müller & Görs ex De Foucault 2009 Tall-herb temporarily flooded lightly-grazed nutrient-rich meadow fringes in riparian and alluvial habitats of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Agropyron repens, Agrostis castellana, Juncus inlexus, Mentha longifolia, M. suaveolens, Ranunculus pratensis, R. sardous subsp. xatardii, Teucrium scorodonia subsp. crenatifolium, Trifolium fragiferum subsp. bonannii. Junco inlexi-Menthetum longifoliae Lohmeier 1953 Eleocharito nebrodensi-Juncetum compressi Raimondo 1983 291 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Teucrio scorodoniae-Cirsietum italici Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Teucrio scorodoniae-Lotetum tenuis Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Carici otrubae-Juncetum inlexi Minissale & Spampinato 1987 Epilobio hirsuti-Agropyretum repentis Minissale & Spampinato 1986 Cirsio triumfettii-Eupatorietum cannabini Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Phalarido coerulescentis-Agropyretum repentis Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Equiseto palustris-Juncetum efusi Minissale & Spampinato 1991 Kickxio commutatae-Teucrietum scordioidis Minissale, Musumarra & Sciandrello 2006 *JUNIPERO-PINETEA SYLVESTRIS Rivas-Mart. 1965 nom. invers. propos. Relict oromediterranean conifer woodlands and shrubberies Indicator species in Sicily: Juniperus hemisphaerica, Cotoneaster nebrodensis, Rosa sicula, Daphne oleoides. BERBERIDO CRETICAE-JUNIPERETALIA EXCELSAE Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 Relict submediterranean supramediterranean dry pine forests and juniper woods of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Berberis aetnensis, Pinus calabrica, Allium nebrodense, Prunus cupaniana (dif.), Sorbus graeca (dif.). BERBERIDO AETNENSIS-PINION LARICIONIS (Brullo, Giusso & Guarino 2001) Mucina & Theurillat 2016 Acidophilous dry pine and juniper vegetation in the supra-mediterranean belt of Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Calabria Indicator species in Sicily: See order. Cerastium tomentosi-Juniperetum hemisphaericae Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. 1980 Bellardiochloo aetnensis-Juniperetum hemisphaericae Brullo & Siracusa in Brullo, Giusso & Guarino 2001 292 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Junipero hemisphaericae-Abietetum nebrodensis Brullo & Giusso in Brullo, Giusso & Guarino 2001 Junipero hemisphaericae-Pinetum calabricae Brullo & Siracusa in Brullo, Giusso & Guarino 2001 Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex A. Bolòs y Vayreda & O. de Bolòs in A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950 Mediterranean evegreen maquis and thermophilous oak woods Indicator species in Sicily: Arisarum vulgare, Aristella bromoides, Asparagus acutifolius, Carex halleriana, Cyclamen repandum, Cytisus infestus, Daphne gnidium, Erica arborea, Laurus nobilis, Lonicera implexa, Melica minuta, Olea europaea, Osyris alba, Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia terebinthus, Pulicaria odora, Pyrus spinosa, Rhamnus alaternus, Rubia peregrina subsp. longifolia, Smilax aspera. QUERCETALIA ILICIS Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1934 em. Rivas-Mart. 1975 Evergreen and semi-deciduous thermo- to supramediterranean oak and relict laurel forests of the Central and Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Asperula laevigata, Aristolochia navicularis, A. rotunda, Carex distachya, Cyclamen hederifolium, Euphorbia characias, Fraxinus ornus, Laurus nobilis, Lonicera etrusca, Loranthus europaeus, Luzula forsteri, Paeonia mascula, Pimpinella peregrina, Quercus ilex, Q. amplifolia, Q. virgiliana, Rosa sempervirens, Tamus communis, Thalictrum calabricum, Viburnum tinus, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii, Helleborus bocconei subsp. intermedius, Huetia cynapioides, Mespilus germanica, Physospermum verticillatum. FRAXINO ORNI-QUERCION ILICIS Biondi, Casavecchia & Gigante in Biondi et al. 2013 Evergreen and semideciduous calciphilous holm oak forests of the Central Mediterranean 293 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Asplenium onopteris, Fraxinus ornus, Carpinus orientalis, Cercis siliquastrum, Cyclamen hederifolium, C. repandum, Drymochloa drymeia, Emerus major subsp. emeroides, Lonicera etrusca, Thalictrum calabricum, Viola alba subsp. dehnhardtii. Lauro nobilis-Quercetum ilicis (Br.-Bl. 1967) Rivas-Mart. 1975 Ostryo carpinifoliae-Quercetum ilicis Lapraz 1975 Doronico orientali-Quercetum ilicis Barbagallo, Brullo & Fagotto 1979 Oleo sylvestris-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo 1984 Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis Brullo 1984 Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Celtido aetnensis-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Sorbo torminalis-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo et al. 1996 Lauro nobilis-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo, Costanzo & Tomaselli 2001 Bupleuro fruticosi-Quercetum ilicis Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 Rhamno lojaconoi-Lauretum nobilis Marino, Castiglia, Bazan, Domina & Guarino 2014 Ampelodesmo mauritanici-Quercetum ilicis Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 Sorbo torminalis-Quercetum ilicis Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 ERICO ARBOREAE-QUERCION ILICIS Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Evergreen and semideciduous acidophilous holm oak forests of the Central Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Clinopodium vulgare subsp. orientale, Cytisus villosus, Erica arborea, Quercus leptobalanos, Poa sylvicola, Pulicaria odora, Teline monspessulana, Teucrium siculum. Erico arboreae-Quercetum ilicis Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum suberis Barbagallo 1983 Quercetum leptobalani Brullo 1984 Genisto aristatae-Quercetum suberis Brullo 1984 Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis Gentile 1969 em. Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Erico arboreae-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Mespilo germanicae-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b 294 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Arabido turritae-Quercetum congestae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Festuco heterophyllae-Quercetum congestae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Vicio elegantis-Quercetum congestae Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Quercetum gussonei Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Doronico orientali-Quercetum suberis Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1995 Carici serrulatae-Quercetum suberis Cirino, Ferrauto & Longhitano 1999 Sorbo graecae-Quercetum ilicis Brullo, Gianguzzi, La Mantia & Siracusa 2009 ARBUTO UNEDONIS-LAURION NOBILIS Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González & Loidi 1999 Relict Mediterranean laurel forests Indicator species in Sicily: Laurus nobilis, Arbutus unedo. Hedero helicis-Lauretum nobilis Bueno & Fernándes Prieto 1991 Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis Gianguzzi, D’Amico & Romano 2010 PISTACIO LENTISCI-RHAMNETALIA ALATERNI Rivas-Mart. 1975 Thermo-mesomediterranean low-grown matorral, macchia and garrigue of the Mediterranean Basin Indicator species in Sicily: Anagyris foetida, Asparagus albus, A. aphyllus, A. horridus, Bupleurum fruticosum, Ceratonia siliqua, Clematis cirrhosa, Emerus major subsp. emeroides, Jasminum fruticans, Myrtus communis, Phillyrea angustifolia, Pinus halepensis, Pistacia lentiscus, Prasium majus, Quercus calliprinos, Rhamnus oleoides, Teucrium fruticans, Ziziphus lotus. OLEO-CERATONION SILIQUAE Br.-Bl. 1936 ex Guinochet & Drouineau 1944 em. Rivas-Mart. 1975 Thermomediterranean calcicolous macchia of the Liguro-Tyrrhenian seaboards Indicator species in Sicily: Artemisia arborescens, Asparagus horridus, Chamaerops humilis, Euphorbia dendroides, Teucrium lavum, Ziziphus lotus. 295 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Euphorbietum dendroidis Guinochet in Guinochet & Drouineau 1944 Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci (Molinier 1954 em. O. de Bolós 1962) Rivas-Mart. 1975 Salvio trilobae-Phlomidetum fruticosae Barbagallo, Brullo & Fagotto 1979 Chamaeropo humilis-Sarcopoterietum spinosi Barbagallo, Brullo & Fagotto 1979 Cytiso infesti-Rhoetum tripartitae Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 nom. mut. propos. Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Chamaeropo humilis-Quercetum calliprini Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Ephedro fragilis-Lycietum europaei Brullo & Marcenò 1985b Hippocrepido emeri-Bupleuretum fruticosi Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Teucrio fruticantis-Rhamnetum alaterni Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Asparago acutifolii-Ziziphetum loti Gianguzzi, Ilardi & Raimondo 1996 Asparago stipularis-Retametum gussonei Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Ephedro fragilis-Pistacietum lentisci Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Cytiso villosi-Artemisietum arborescentis Ferro 2005 nom. mut. propos.* Rhamno oleoidis-Pistacietum lentisci Minissale, Musumarra & Sciandrello 2006 Cytiso infesti-Quercetum calliprini Minissale & Sciandrello 2012 nom. mut. propos.* Cisto salviifolii-Cytisetum infesti Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 nom. mut. propos.* Micromerio consentinae-Phlomidetum fruticosae Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum aetnensis Gianguzzi, Cusimano & Romano 2014 Asparago albi-Artemisietum arborescentis Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 Euphorbio characiae-Anagyridetum foetidae Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano & Romano 2016 296 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units PERIPLOCION ANGUSTIFOLIAE Rivas-Mart. 1975 Thermomediterranean semiarid deciduous relict low matorral of the coastal regions of southeastern Spain, Sicily and the eastern regions of North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: Periploca angustifolia, Lycium intricatum, Rhus pentaphylla, Rhus tripartita. Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Periploco angustifoliae-Juniperetum turbinatae S. Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Periploco angustifoliae-Rhoetum tripartitae Brullo, Gianguzzi, La Mantia & Siracusa 2009 JUNIPERION TURBINATAE Rivas-Mart. 1975 corr. 1987 Thermomediterranean tall juniper scrub on coastal dune systems of the Western Mediterranean seaboards Indicator species in Sicily: Ephedra fragilis, Juniperus macrocarpa, J. phoenicea subsp. turbinata. Ephedro fragili-Juniperetum macrocarpae Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 Junipero turbinatae-Quercetum calliprini Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 *Cytiso infesti-Juniperetum turbinatae Brullo, Gianguzzi, La Mantia & Siracusa 2009 nom. mut. propos. Piptathero coerulescentis-Juniperetum turbinatae Minissale & Sciandrello 2012 Ampelodesmo mauritanici-Juniperetum turbinatae Gianguzzi et al. 2012 ERICION ARBOREAE (Rivas-Mart. ex Rivas-Mart., Costa & Izco 1986) Rivas-Mart. 1987 Thermo-mesomediterranean neutrophilous to acidophilous mesic matorral of the Mediterranean Basin Indicator species in Sicily: Erica arborea, Arbutus unedo. 297 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Erico arboreae-Arbutetum unedonis Molinier 1937 Erico arboreae-Myrtetum communis Quézel et al. 1988 PINETALIA HALEPENSIS Biondi, Blasi, Galdenzi, Pesaresi & Vagge in Biondi et al. 2014 Thermo-mesomediterranean pine forests of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea, Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata. PISTACIO LENTISCI-PINION HALEPENSIS Biondi, Blasi, Galdenzi, Pesaresi & Vagge in Biondi et al. 2014 Thermo-mesomediterranean Aleppo pine forests on calcareous substrates of the Central Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: See order. Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis De Marco, Veri & Caneva 1984 Erico arboreae-Pinetum halepensis De Marco & Caneva 1985 Thymbro capitatae-Pinetum halepensis De Marco & Caneva 1985 Genisto aspalathoidis-Pinetum hamiltonii Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 corr. Gianguzzi 1999 Note - In the original description, this association, characterized by the SW Mediterranean endemic Pinus pinaster subsp. hamiltonii, was framed into the Erico-Quercion ilicis. Even if the growing stands are inluenced by intense moisture condensation, due to the edaphic conditions imposed by the volcanic scoriae of Pantelleria, the overall species assemblage is more similar to that of Pistacio-Pinion halepensis. However, some doubts remain on the most appropriate syntaxonomical treatment for the association at issue. PINION PINEAE Feinbrun 1959 Thermomediterranean stone pine forests on leached sandy soils of ancient coastal dunes and inland alluvia of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean 298 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Cistus crispus, Pinus pinea. *Cisto crispi-Pinetum pineae Bartolo, Brullo & Pulvirenti 1994 *Cisto cretici-Pinetum pineae Brullo, Minissale, Siracusa, Scelsi & Spampinato 2002 ONONIDO-ROSMARINETEA Br.-Bl. in A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950 Mediterranean garrigues growing on alkaline to neutrocline soils Indicator species in Sicily: Argyrolobium zanonii, Asperula cynanchica, Astragalus monspessulanus, Cistus clusii, Coris monspeliensis, Fumana thymifolia, Globularia alypum, Lotus dorycnium, Rhaponticum coniferum, Rosmarinus oicinalis, Thesium divaricatum, Thymelaea hirsuta. ROSMARINETALIA OFFICINALIS Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1934 Western Mediterranean thermo-supramediterranean dry- subhumid calcicolous scrub Indicator species in Sicily: Fumana laevipes, F. laevis, Helianthemum apenninum, H. cinereum subsp. rotundifolium, H. croceum, Ononis minutissima, O. pusilla. POLYGALO PRESLII-ERICION MULTIFLORAE Guarino & Pasta all. nova hoc loco. Holosyntypus: Polygalo preslii-Ericetum multilorae Marcenò & Colombo 1982 nom. invers. propos. Note - In the light of the new syntaxonomical framework proposed by Mucina et al. (2016), the endemite-rich garrigues of W-Sicily on limestone talus slopes and base-rich soils deserve to be framed into a distinct alliance, as it happens for the Sardinian (two alliances), Corsican and Balearic basiphilous garrigues belonging to the same order. Indicator species in Sicily: Eryngium tricuspidatum subsp. bocconei, Galium pallidum, Genista gasparrinii, G. demarcoi, Helichrysum nebrodense, Matthiola fruticulosa, Micromeria fruticulosa, Muscari lafarinae, Polygala preslii. 299 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Polygalo preslii-Ericetum multilorae Marcenò & Colombo 1982 nom. invers. propos. Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multilorae Brullo & Marcenò 1983 nom. invers. propos. Genistetum gasparrinii Gianguzzi, Cusimano, Ilardi & Romano 2015 Genistetum demarcoi Gianguzzi, Cusimano, Ilardi & Romano 2015 CISTO-MICROMERIETALIA JULIANAE Oberd. 1954 Thermo-mesomediterranean phrygana of the continental Greece and the Adriatic and Ionian coasts Indicator species in Sicily: Cistus creticus subsp. creticus, Coris monspeliensis, Coronilla valentina, Cytinus ruber, Helianthemum sessililorum, Helictotrichon convolutum, Teucrium luteum, Fumana juniperina, F. laevipes, F. procumbens, F. thymifolia, Phagnalon rupestre, Micromeria nervosa. CISTO ERIOCEPHALI-ERICION MULTIFLORAE Biondi 2000 Thermo-mesomediterranean calcicolous garrigue of the central and southern regions of the Adriatic and Ionian seaboards of the Apennine Peninsula Indicator species in Sicily: Cistus creticus subsp. creticus, Lotus dorycnium, Erica multilora subsp. multilora, Fumana arabica, Micromeria graeca, Micromeria nervosa. Rosmarino oicinalis-Thymbretum capitatae Furnari 1965 Thymbro capitatae-Helichrysetum stoechadis Barbagallo 1983 Hyparrhenio pubescentis-Helianthemetum sessililori Brullo, Giardina, Minissale & Spampinato 1989 Cistetum salvifolio-clusii Bartolo, Giardina, Minissale & Spampinato 1989 Thymbro capitatae-Cistetum parvilori Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Helichryso scandentis-Ericetum multilorae Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Thymelaeo hirsutae-Rosmarinetum oicinalis Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1997 300 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Sileno siculae-Helichrysetum hyblaei Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Tomaselli 1998 Diplotaxio crassifoliae-Reaumurietum vermiculatae Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Coronillo valentinae-Thymbretum capitatae Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Brachypodio ramosi-Cistetum cretici Gianguzzi & La Mantia 2008 CISTO-LAVANDULETEA STOECHADIS Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Molinier & Wagner 1940 Mediterranean scrub on acidocline, siliceous and ultramaic substrates Indicator species in Sicily: Cistus salviifolius, C. crispus, C. monspeliensis, Cytinus hypocistis, C. ruber, Lavandula stoechas, Pulicaria odora, Teline monspessulana. LAVANDULETALIA STOECHADIS Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Molinier & Wagner 1940 em. Rivas-Mart. 1968 Western Mediterranean garrigue and other scrub on hard acidic siliceous and ultramaic bedrocks Indicator species in Sicily: See class. *CYTISO VILLOSI-GENISTION TYRRHENAE Biondi 2000 nom. mut. propos. Thermomediterranean acidophilous coastal garrigue of the southwestern Tyrrhenian seaboards Indicator species in Sicily: Cytisus villosus, Genista madoniensis, G. aristata, G. cupanii, Trifolium bivonae, Micromeria consentina. Genistetum tyrrhenae (Brullo, Di Martino & Marceno 1977) Brullo in Brullo & Furnari 1994 Genisto aspalathoidis-Rosmarinetum oicinalis Gianguzzi 1999 Cisto salviifolii-Genistetum madoniensis Marino, Guarino & Bazan 2012 Genisto aristatae-Cistetum salvifolii Gianguzzi, Cusimano, Ilardi & Romano 2015 301 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units NERIO-TAMARICETEA Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Thermo-hygrophilous pioneer thicket of intermediate and terminal riverbeds and braided-streams (“iumaras”) Indicator species in Sicily: Nerium oleander, Tamarix africana, T. gallica, Vitex agnus-castus. TAMARICETALIA AFRICANAE Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Circummediterranean and Macaronesian riparian scrub Indicator species in Sicily: See class. TAMARICION AFRICANAE Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Infra- to supramediterranean tamarisk riparian scrub in temporarily looded freshwater habitats of the Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Tamarix arborea, Glycyrrhiza glabra. Tamaricetum gallicae Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Tamarici africanae-Viticetum agni-casti Brullo & Spampinato 1997 RUBO ULMIFOLII-NERION OLEANDRI O. de Bolòs 1985 Thermo- to supramediterranean oleander riparian scrub of the Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Rubus ulmifolius, Nerium oleander. Rubo ulmifolii-Nerietum oleandri O. de Bolòs 1956 Spartio juncei-Nerietum oleandri Brullo & Spampinato 1991 CYTISETEA SCOPARIO-STRIATI Rivas-Mart. 1974 Central-western Mediterranean and Atlantic acidophilous tall broomlands Indicator species in Sicily: Cytisus scoparius, Erica arborea, Orobanche rapum-genistae subsp. rapum-genistae, Pteridium aquilinum. 302 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units CYTISETALIA SCOPARIO-STRIATI Rivas-Mart. 1974 Western and Central Mediterranean thermo- to supramediterranean and submediterranean broomy cytisoid scrub Indicator species in Sicily: See class. *VIOLO MESSANENSIS-adenocarpion Brutii Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 nom. mut. propos. (= Violo messanensis-Adenocarpion complicati Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 nom. inval., Art. 2b) Siculo-Calabrian meso-supramediterranean broom heath Indicator species in Sicily: Adenocarpus commutatus, Helianthemum nummularium subsp. obscurum, Thymus longicaulis, Viola aethnensis subsp. messanensis. *Cytiso infesti-Adenocarpetum commutati Bartolo, Brullo & Pulvirenti 1994 nom. mut. propos. Pteridio aquilini-Euphorbietum corallioidis Guarino 1999 nom. inval. LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE Rivas-Mart. 1978 Circum-Mediterranean perennial grasslands and pseudosteppes on rocky substrates and clayey soils Indicator species in Sicily: Allium sphaerocephalon subsp. arvense, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. maura, Asperula aristata, Asphodeline lutea, Asphodelus ramosus, Bituminaria bituminosa, Calamintha nepeta, Calendula sufruticosa subsp. fulgida, Carlina hispanica subsp. globosa, Carlina sicula, Centaurea sicula, Charybdis pancration, Convolvulus cantabrica, C. elegantissimus, Dactylis hispanica, Elaeoselinum asclepium, Galium lucidum, Hypericum perfoliatum, H. perforatum, Lobularia maritima, Ornithogalum gussonei, Piptatherum miliaceum, Pallenis spinosa, Petrorhagia illyrica subsp. haynaldiana, Reichardia picroides, Sanguisorba minor subsp. verrucosa, Sedum sediforme, Sixalix atropurpurea, Thapsia garganica, Verbascum sinuatum. 303 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units LYGEO-STIPETALIA TENACISSIMAE Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Relict Mediterranean edaphic steppes on deep clayey soils Indicator species in Sicily: Carlina gummifera, Lygeum spartum, Polygonum tenorei, Reichardia intermedia, Scorzonera undulata subsp. deliciosa. MORICANDIO-LYGEION SPARTI Brullo, De Marco & Signorello 1990 Relict Southern Italian and Ionian thermo-mesomediterranean edaphic steppes on deep clayey soils Indicator species in Sicily: Eryngium dichotomum, E. triquetrum, Moricandia arvensis, Capparis sicula. Eryngio dichotomi-Lygeetum sparti Gentile & Di Benedetto 1961 corr. C. Brullo et al. 2010 *Tripolietum sorrentinoi Venturella, Ottonello & Raimondo 1984 nom. mut. propos. Lavatero agrigentinae-Lygeetum sparti Brullo 1985 corr. C. Brullo et al. 2010 Phagnalo annotici-Lygeetum sparti Biondi & Mossa 1993 CYMBOPOGONO-BRACHYPODIETALIA Horvatić 1963 RAMOSI Circum-Mediterranean thermo- to supramediterranean perennial grasslands on base-rich lithosols Indicator species in Sicily: Andropogon distachyos, Carlina gummifera, Cachrys libanotis, Convolvulus althaeoides, Echinophora tenuifolia, Ferula communis, Foeniculum piperitum, Heteropogon contortus, Hyoseris radiata, Hyparrhenia hirta, Kundmannia sicula, Hyparrhenia sinaica, Lathyrus articulatus, Micromeria graeca, Phagnalon saxatile. HYPARRHENION HIRTAE Br.-Bl., P. Silva & Rozeira 1956 Thermo-mesomediterranean pseudosteppes on calcareous sandy soils of the Western Mediterranean and southern regions of the Central Mediterranean 304 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: See order. Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis A. Bolòs y Vayreda & O. de Bolòs & Br.-Bl. in A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950 Oryzopsio paucilorae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Cenchro ciliari-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Wildpret & Rodriguez in Rivas-Mart. et al. 1993 Euphorbio terracinae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Penniseto setacei-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Gianguzzi, Ilardi & Raimondo 1996 Tricholaeno tenerifae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 1997 Bothriochloo panormitanae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 1997 Heteropogono contorti-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 1997 Imperato cylindricae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Dichanthio annulati-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Hyparrhenio hirtae-Festucetum humifusae Brullo & Guarino in C. Brullo et al. 2010 Stipo gussonei-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo & Scuderi in C. Brullo et al. 2010 Phalarido coerulescentis-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Scuderi in C. Brullo et al. 2010 AVENULO-AMPELODESMION MAURITANICI Minissale 1995 Note - Mucina et al. (2016) consider this alliance a synonym of Hyparrhenion hirtae Br.-Bl. et al. 1956, but there are ecological, physiognomic and loristic reasons to frame into an own alliance the grasslands dominated by Ampelodesmos mauritanicus: these latter are thermo- to supramediterranean very distinctive grasslands occurring on calcium-rich deep soils on stony slopes. They host plenty of exclusive, rare or endemic species and the vegetation structure is that of a dense tussock mat. The Hyparrhenia-dominated stands are, instead, infra- to mesomediterranean grasslands with a diferent, mostly saharo-sindic 305 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units or south-Mediterranean loristic settlement. They occur on gravelly to sandy soils on a wide array of physio-chemical conditions (from acidic to markedly alkaline) and the vegetation structure is that of a tufted, discontinuous grassland. Indicator species in Sicily: Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, Avenula cincinnata, Dianthus graminifolius, Eryngium tricuspidatum subsp. bocconei, Gypsophila arrostii, Helminthotheca aculeata, Pimpinella anisoides, Scorzonera villosa subsp. columnae. Helichryso hyblaei-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995 Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995 Seselio tortuosi-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995 Galio aetnici-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995 Astragalo huetii-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995 Astragalo monspessulani-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995 Arrhenathero nebrodensis-Helictotrichetum convoluti Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Tomaselli 1998 Avenulo cincinnatae-Stipetum siculae Brullo, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato in C. Brullo et al. 2010 Avenulo cincinnatae-Stipetum barbatae Brullo, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato in C. Brullo et al. 2010 Avenulo cincinnatae-Brachypodietum phoenicoidis Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato in C. Brullo et al. 2010 REICHARDIO MARITIMAE-DACTYLIDION HISPANICAE Biondi, Filigheddu & Farris 2001 Thermomediterranean subhalophilous perennial grasslands in wind-swept habitats on calcareous soils of the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Aegean coasts Indicator species in Sicily: Brachypodium retusum, Dactylis glomerata subsp. maritima, Reichardia picroides. Pulicario odorae-Brachypodietum retusi Ferro & Ladero-Alvárez 1999 Helminthotheco aculeatae-Brachypodietum retusi C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso & Tomaselli 2007 Coronillo glaucae-Brachypodietum retusi C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso & Tomaselli 2007 306 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units **ASPHODELETALIA RAMOSI Biondi in Biondi et al. 2016 Note - The authors of this order propose a new class (Charybdido pancratii-Asphodeletea ramosi Biondi in Biondi et al. 2016) for the overgrazed wintergreen Mediterranean pastures dominated by poisonous geophytes and hemicriptophytes. This vegetation is in topographic and seral connection with the thermo-xerophilous Mediterranean perennial grasslands and the few thermophilous sub-Apennininic associations described by the same authors can be considered the northernmost, heterotopic and impoverished examples of a vegetation having its optimum in the thermomediterranean bioclimate. For these reasons, we propose to frame the Asphodeletalia ramosi into the class Lygeo sparti-Stipetea tenacissimae, even if its authonomy from Hyparrhenietalia hirtae remains questionable. Indicator species in Sicily: Asphodelus ramosus subsp. ramosus, A. istulosus, A. tenuifolius, Charybdis pancration, Thapsia garganica, Asparagus acutifolius, Ornithogalum gussonei, Anemone hortensis, Carlina corymbosa, Hypochoeris radicata, Iris planifolia, Ferula communis, Hermodactylus tuberosus, Thapsia garganica. **CHARYBDIDO PANCRATII-ASPHODELION RAMOSI Biondi et al. 2016 (incl. Asphodelo ramosi-Ferulion communis Biondi et al. 2016) Overgrazed wintergreen Mediterranean pastures dominated by poisonous geophytes and hemicriptophytes Indicator species in Sicily: See order. Thapsio garganicae-Feruletum communis Brullo 1984 Sanguisorbo verrucosae-Magydaretum pastinaceae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Ferulo communis-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis Gianguzzi, Ilardi & Raimondo 1996 Ferulago nodosae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo et al. 2005 ex Minissale, Sciandrello & Spampinato 2008 Cachryo siculae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato in C. Brullo et al. 2010 307 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Cachryo pungentis-Hyparrhenietum hirtae Brullo, Minissale & Sciandrello in C. Brullo et al. 2010 Cachryo siculae-Brachypodietum retusi Brullo, Giusso & Scuderi 2010 Thapsietum pelagicae C. Brullo & Brullo in C. Brullo et al. 2010 **ASPHODELION FISTULOSI Biondi et al. 2016 Note - Even if there are no validly published data on the occurrence of this vegetation in Sicily, assemblages which could be referred to this alliance are quite common on roadsides and old ields in the coastal thermomediterranean areas of Sicily and satellite islands. Indicator species in Sicily: Asphodelus istulosus, Isatis canescens. POETEA BULBOSAE Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. in Rivas-Mart. 1978 Mediterranean and Maghrebian perennial rangelands rich in annual species, from the thermo- to the oromediterranean belts Indicator species in Sicily: Bellis annua subsp. microcephala, B. sylvestris, Leontodon tuberosus, Moraea sisyrinchium, Poa bulbosa. POETALIA BULBOSAE Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. in Rivas Goday & Ladero 1970 Mediterranean and Maghrebian seasonal perennial and ephemeroid pastures in the thermo- to oromediterranean belts Indicator species in Sicily: Erodium botrys, Herniaria glabra, Parentucellia latifolia, Paronychia argentea, Ranunculus paludosus, Romulea ramilora, Scorpiurus vermiculatus, Taraxacum obovatum, Trifolium nigrescens, T. pallidum, T. subterraneum, T. sufocatum, T. tomentosum. TRIFOLIO SUBTERRANEI-PERIBALLION MINUTAE Rivas Goday 1964 Central and Western Iberian heavily grazed seasonal perennial pastures on acidic substrates in the thermo- to oromediterranean belts 308 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Onobrychis aequidentata, Ranunculus millefoliatus, Trifolium glomeratum, Trifolium subterraneum subsp. subterraneum. Poo bulbosae-Trifolietum subterranei Rivas Goday 1964 *PLANTAGINION CUPANII Brullo & Grillo 1978 Note - In the original description, this alliance was framed into class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and included some mesophilous meadows that, in the light of the proposal made by Di Pietro et al. (2015), should be framed into the alliance Cirsio vallis-demonii-Nardion Giacomini & Gentile ex Di Pietro & Theurillat in Di Pietro et al. 2015. Nevertheless, some of the associations traditionally ascribed to Plantaginion cupanii consist of trampled and overgrazed hemicryptophytic acidophilous communities, dominated by rosulate and pulvinate species. Hence, in accordance with Mucina et al. (2016), they should be framed into the class Poetea bulbosae. In this sense, Plantaginion cupanii can be considered a Calabrian and Sicilian supra and oro-mediterranean alliance related to lyschoid or acidic compacted soils. Indicator species in Sicily: Plantago cupanii, Vulpia sicula, Anthemis arvensis subsp. sphacelata, Trifolium bivonae, Crepis bivoniana, Tolpis virgata subsp. sexaristata. Cynosuro cristati-Plantaginetum cupanii Raimondo 1983 Armerio nebrodensi-Plantaginetum cupanii Brullo & Marcenò in Brullo 1984 HELIANTHEMETEA GUTTATI Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. 1963 Mediterranean and submediterranean-atlantic ephemeral dry grasslands on leached or sandy substrates Indicator species in Sicily: Acinos arvensis, Alyssum minutum, A. simplex, Arenaria conimbricensis, Arenaria leptoclados, A. serpyllifolia, Asterolinon linum-stellatum, Cerastium brachypetalum, Cerastium pumilum, C. semidecandrum, Crucianella angustifolia, Erophila verna subsp. spathulata, Filago pygmaea, Galium parisiense, Helianthemum ledifolium, H. salicifolium, Herniaria cinerea, Hippocrepis ciliata, H. multisiliquosa, Lathyrus set- 309 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units ifolius, Leontodon hispidus, Medicago coronata, M. littoralis, M. minima, Minuartia hybrida, Petrorhagia dubia, Scleranthus annuus subsp. verticillatus, Sedum rubens, Silene colorata, S. conica, Trifolium campestre, T. stellatum, Valerianella dentata, Veronica praecox, V. verna, Vicia lathyroides. HELIANTHEMETALIA GUTTATI Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. & Wagner 1940 Mediterranean and submediterranean-atlantic inland ephemeral vegetation on nutrient-poor shallow acidic soils Indicator species in Sicily: Aira caryophyllea subsp. caryophyllea, A. cupaniana, A. elegantissima, Andryala integrifolia, Anthoxanthum gracile, Astragalus pelecinus, Briza maxima, Briza minor, Filago lutescens, Helianthemum aegyptiacum, Hymenocarpos circinnatus, Jasione montana, Lathyrus sphaericus, Festuca bromoides, F. myuros, Filago gallica, Filago minima, Lotus conimbricensis, Micropyrum tenellum, Moenchia erecta, Molineriella minuta, Ornithopus compressus, Psilurus incurvus, Rumex bucephalophorus, Teesdalia nudicaulis, Trifolium arvense, T. striatum, T. strictum, Tuberaria guttata. HELIANTHEMION GUTTATI Br.-Bl in Br.-Bl. & Wagner 1940 Thermo- to supramediterranean annual dry grasslands on nutrient-poor sandy soils of the central-western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Aira tenorei, Airopsis tenella, Corynephorus divaricatus, Festuca muralis, Galium divaricatum, Helianthemum sanguineum, Hypochaeris glabra, Linum trigynum, Onobrychis caput-galli, Ornithopus pinnatus, Paronychia echinulata, Plantago bellardii, Sedum caespitosum, Teesdalia coronopifolia, Tolpis umbellata. Trifolio dolichodonti-Andryaletum cosyrensis Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Tolpidetum grandilorae Brullo & Furnari in Barbagallo et al. 1982 Bupleuro semicompositi-Tuberarietum guttatae Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 Tuberario guttatae-Aphanetum microcarpae Barbagallo, Brullo & Signorello 1983 Tuberario guttatae-Senecionetum lividi Barbagallo, Brullo & Signorello 1983 310 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Coleostepho myconidi-Trisetarietum aureae Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Tuberario guttatae-Anemonetum palmatae Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 Trifolio bocconei-Tuberarietum guttatae Brullo et al. 1998 Loto conimbricensis-Tuberarietum plantagineae Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 **CRASSULO TILLAEAE-SEDION CAESPITOSI de Foucault 1999 Ephemeral microphytic vegetation with succulent plants on seasonally wet sandy or loamy debris on horizontal rocky layers Indicator species in Sicily: S. andegavense, Sedum caespitosum, S. hispanicum, Tillaea alata, T. basaltica, T. campestris T. muscosa. Crassulo tillaeae-Erodietum botrytis Ferro & Furnari 1970 Crassulo tillaeae-Sedetum cossyrensis Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Radiolo linoidis-Kickxietum cirrhosae Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Bellido annuae-Solenopsidetum laurentiae Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 Herniario cinereae-Crassuletum tilleae Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 Rumici bucephalophori-Ophioglossetum lusitanici Médail, Pavon, Lo Cascio & Pasta 2016 *VULPIETALIA Pignatti 1953 Mediterranean and Ibero-Atlantic ephemeral therophytic vegetation on coastal sand dunes under inluence of salt spray Indicator species in Sicily: Cutandia maritima, Chamaemelum fuscatum, Coronilla repanda, Corynephorus articulatus, Erodium chium, Festuca membranacea, Lotus hispidus, Ononis difusa, O. serrata. ALKANNO-MARESION NANAE Rivas Goday in Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. 1963 corr. Díez Garretas et al. 2001 Central-western-Mediterranean ephemeral therophytic vegetation on coastal dunes, under salt-spray inluence 311 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Cutandia divaricata, Malcolmia ramosissima, Maresia nana, Muscari gussonei, Ononis variegata, Pycnocomon rutifolium, Rostraria litorea, Romulea rollii, R. melitensis, Wahlenbergia nutabunda. Vulpio membranaceae-Leopoldietum gussonei Brullo & Marcenò 1974 Scabiosetum rutifoliae Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1974 Onobrychido caput-galli-Cerastietum gussonei Brullo & Grillo 1986 Anthemido tomentosae-Centaureetum conocephalae Brullo & Grillo 1986 *Malcomio africanae-Wahlenbergietum nutabundae Brullo & Grillo 1986 nom. mut. propos. Loto peregrini-Ononidetum serratae Brullo & Grillo 1986 Sileno coloratae-Ononidetum variegatae Géhu & Géhu-Franck 1986 Sileno nicaeensis-Chamaemeletum mixti Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 Cutandio maritimae-Parapholietum marginatae S. Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Bupleuro gracili-Ononidetum reclinatae Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 Vulpio membranaceae-Cutandietum divaricatae Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Vulpio membranaceae-Romuleetum rollii Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Vulpio membranaceae-Hormuzakietum aggregatae Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Centrantho calcitrapae-Catapodietum hemipoae Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 MALCOLMIETALIA Rivas Goday 1958 Mediterranean ephemeral therophytic vegetation on near-coastal and inland deep sandy soils outside the salt-spray inluence Indicator species in Sicily: Agrostis tenerrima, Avellinia festucoides, Echium arenarium, Filago asteriscilora, Lagurus ovatus subsp. nanus, Loelingia hispanica, Nonea vesicaria, Sulla spinosissima. FILAGINI ASTERISCIFLORAE-LINARION HUMILIS Minissale & Sciandrello 2015 Thermomediterranean ephemeral therophytic vegetation on fossil dunes of Southern Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Linaria multicaulis subsp. humilis, Senecio glaucus subsp. hyblaeus, Tuberaria villosissima var. sicula, Tuberaria praecox. 312 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units *Filago asteriscilorae-Tuberarietum siculae Brullo & Grillo 1986 corr. Alkanno tinctoriae-Noneetum vesicariae Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Filagini asteriscilorae-Loelingietum hispanicae Minissale & Sciandrello 2015 Rostrario litoreae-Tuberarietum villosissimae Minissale & Sciandrello 2015 Astragalo kamarinensis-Coronilletum repandae Minissale & Sciandrello 2015 STIPO-TRACHYNIETEA DISTACHYAE Brullo in Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 Mediterranean annual dry grasslands on alkaline substrates Indicator species in Sicily: Anisantha rubens, Asterolinon linum-stellatum, Campanula erinus, Crupina crupinastrum, Euphorbia falcata, Filago pygmaea, Filago pyramidata, Hedypnois rhagadioloides, Herniaria cinerea, Hippocrepis ciliata, Hymenocarpus circinnatus, Hyoseris scabra, Lathyrus sphaericus, Linaria simplex, Linum corymbulosum, L. decumbens, L. strictum, Lotus edulis, Medicago minima, Minuartia mediterranea, Neatostema apulum, Onobrychis caput-galli, Ononis reclinata, Parentucellia latifolia, Romulea columnae, Sagina apetala, Saxifraga tridactylites, Sedum caeruleum, S. caespitosum, S. rubens, Sideritis romana, Silene nocturna, S. neglecta, Stipellula capensis, Trachynia distachya, Trifolium angustifolium, T. scabrum, T. stellatum, Tripodion tetraphyllum, Valantia muralis. BRACHYPODIETALIA DISTACHYI Rivas-Mart. 1978 Central and Western Mediterranean ephemeral winter pastures on shallow sandy and loamy soils overlaying limestone, dolomite and gypsum outcrops Indicator species in Sicily: Arenaria leptoclados, Catapodium rigidum, Hypochaeris achyrophorus, Medicago minima, Minuartia mediterranea, Plantago afra, Polygala monspeliaca. **STIPION RETORTAE O. de Bolòs 1957 Central and Western Mediterranean annual dry grasslands and winter rangelands on alkaline loamy and clayey substrates Indicator species in Sicily: Asteriscus aquaticus, Bellis annua, Anisantha fasciculata, Echium parvilorum, Filago eriocephala, Moraea sisyrinchium, Lagurus ovatus, Matricaria aurea, Medicago littoralis, Ononis sieberi, Paronychia argentea, Plantago coronopus, Trigonella maritima. 313 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units *Trigonello monspeliacae-Stipetum capensis Tomaselli 1999 *Ononido brevilorae-Stipetum capensis Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 SEDO-CTENOPSION GYPSOPHILAE Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. ex Izco 1974 Note - Central and Western Mediterranean annual dry grasslands on gypsum-rich substrates. Mucina et al. (2016) state that this vegetation is restricted to the Iberian Peninsula. The possibility to include the gypsophylous annual assemblages of Sicily in a separate alliance could be considered. Indicator species in Sicily: Sedum gypsicola, Chaenorhinum rubrifolium, Erodium laciniatum, Festuca gypsophila. Filagini eriocephalae-Chaenorhinetum rubrifolii Brullo, Marcenò, Minissale & Spampinato 1989 TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE Rivas-Mart. 1978 Central-Western Mediterranean annual dry grasslands on shallow skeletal base-rich soils Indicator species in Sicily: Astragalus sesameus, Euphorbia exigua, Medicago polymorpha, M. rigidula, Melilotus neapolitanus, Sagina apetala, Trisetaria aurea. Vulpio ciliatae-Trisetarietum aureae Brullo 1975 Thero-Sedetum caerulei Brullo 1975 Astragalo sesamei-Medicaginetum rectae Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 †ONOBRYCHIDO-PTILOSTEMONION STELLATI Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 Note - According to the original description, this alliance should include markedly thermo-xerophilous annual dry grasslands on base-rich clayey, marly, conglomeratic to sandy soils in the Thermomediterranean bioclimate. Even if Brullo et al. (2001) state that rep314 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units resentatives of this alliance are found from southern Calabria to NE Sicily, no published data about these communities are so far known from the island. It has to be noted that, in the original description, this alliance was framed within the Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi, whereas Mucina et al. (2016) moved it into the Brachypodietalia distachyi. As a matter of fact, this alliance is weakly characterized by a pool of wide ranging species (such as Crucianella angustifolia, Hippocrepis ciliata, Melilotus neapolitanus, Onobrychis caput-galli). Moreover, all the Sicilian populations of Ptilostemon stellatus occur in the submontane belt under relatively mesic conditions. Therefore, the alliance at issue could be considered a synonym of Trachynion distachyae. STIPO-BUPLEURETALIA SEMICOMPOSITI Brullo in Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 Southern Mediterranean xerophilous and subhalophilous therophytic swards Indicator species in Sicily: Asteriscus aquaticus, Atractylis cancellata, Bupleurum semicompositum, Catapodium zwierleinii, Convolvulus lineatus, Desmazeria sicula, Echinaria capitata, Eryngium dichotomum, Herniaria cinerea, Hippocrepis bilora, Reichardia intermedia, R. tingitana, Scorzonera undulata subsp. deliciosa. *PLANTAGINI-CATAPODION BALEARICI Brullo 1985 nom. mut. propos. Tyrrhenian subhalophilous xerophilous therophytic swards Indicator species in Sicily: see order Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae Brullo 1985 Filagini cossyrensi-Daucetum lopadusani Brullo 1985 Sileno sedoidis-Bellietum minuti Brullo 1985 Oglifetum lojaconoi Brullo 1985 Plantagini zwierleinii-Erodietum linosae Brullo 1985 Sedo litorei-Valantietum calvae Brullo 1985 *Catapodio balearici-Sedetum litorei Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 nom. mut. propos. 315 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Paronychio longisetae-Crassuletum tillaeae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Desmazerio pignattii-Senecionetum pygmaei Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Atractylido cancellatae-Neatostemetum apuli Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 *Catapodio balearici-Valantietum intricatae Brullo & Siracusa 1996 nom. mut. propos. Anthemido secundirameae-Allietum lehmannii Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Onobrychido caput-galli-Psiluretum incurvi Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Echinarietum todaroanae Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Tomaselli 1998 Podospermo cani-Plantaginetum delexae Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Parapholido incurvae-Asphodeletum tenuifolii Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Sagino maritimae-Crassuletum tillaeae Ferro & Furnari 1970 ex Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 PEGANO HARMALAE-SALSOLETEA VERMICULATE Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Mediterranean and Macaronesian semi-desertic halo-nitrophilous scrub in hyperarid coastal habitats Indicator species in Sicily: Asparagus horridus, Lycium intricatum, Atriplex halimus, Capparis sicula, Moricandia arvensis. SALSOLO VERMICULATAE-PEGANETALIA HARMALAE Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1954 Mediterranean halo-nitrophilous scrub of semi-desertic inland regions and hyperarid seaboards Indicator species in Sicily: see class. SALSOLO OPPOSITIFOLIAE-SUAEDION FRUTICOSAE Rigual 1972 Infra and thermomediterranean halo-nitrophilous scrub on clayey soils of arid regions of the Western Mediterranean and the southern regions of the Central Mediterranean 316 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Salsola oppositifolia, Salsola vermiculata, Suaeda vera. Limonio opulenti-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo, Grillo & Scalia 1980 Limonio catanzaroi-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo, Guglielmo & Pavone 1986 Salsoletum agrigentinae Brullo, Guglielmo & Pavone 1986 Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedetum pelagicae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Suaedo verae-Limoniastretum monopetali Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Halimiono portulacoidis-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo, Guarino & Ronsisvalle 2000 Asparago albi-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo et al. 2012 Atriplici halimi-Halimionietum portulacoidis Brullo et al. 2012 Capparido siculae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo et al. 2012 Limonio calcarae-Suaedetum verae Brullo et al. 2012 Thapsio pelagicae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo et al. 2012 ARTEMISION ARBORESCENTIS Géhu & Biondi in Géhu et al. 1986 Thermo-mesomediterranean subnitrophilous coastal scrub of the Southern Apennine Peninsula and Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Artemisia arborescens, Anagyris foetida (dif.). Atriplici halimi-Artemisietum arborescentis Biondi 1988 Coronillo valentinae-Artemisietum arborescentis Brullo et al. 2012 Limonio optimae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo et al. 2012 Lycio europaei-Artemisietum arborescentis Brullo et al. 2012 Lycio intricati-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo et al. 2012 Medicagini arboreae-Salsoletum oppositifoliae Brullo et al. 2012 **NICOTIANO GLAUCAE-RICINETALIA COMMUNIS Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González & Loidi 1999 Infra-mesomediterranean halo-nitrophilous chamaephytic scrub Indicator species in Sicily: Datura innoxia, Medicago arborea, Nicotiana glauca, Ricinus communis, Parkinsonia aculeata, Solanum torvum, S. sodomaeum, Withania somnifera. 317 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units **NICOTIANO GLAUCAE-RICINION COMMUNIS Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González & Loidi 1999 Indicator species in Sicily: see order Note - Mediterranean and Canarian infra-thermomediterranean arid neophyte-dominated tall scrub. Even if there are no published data on the occurrence of this vegetation in Sicily, consortia of fast-growing pioneer thermoxerophilous tall neophytes are very common all over the thermomediterranean Sicily, especially in suburban man-made ecosystems. RUMICI-ASTRAGALETEA SICULI Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. 1980 Sicilian and Calabrian hemicryptophytic and chaemaephytic thorny cushion oromediterranean vegetation Indicator species in Sicily: Arabis rosea, Bellardiochloa variegata, Bunium petraeum, Carlina nebrodensis, Centaurea parlatoris, Cerastium tomentosum, Clinopodium alpinum subsp. aetnensis, Galium aetnicum, Herniaria nebrodensis, Pilosella hoppeana subsp. macrantha, Petrorhagia saxifraga subsp. gasparrinii, Rumex acetosella subsp. angiocarpus, Saponaria sicula, Scleranthus marginatus, Silene sicula, Tragopogon crocifolius subsp. nebrodensis, Valeriana tuberosa. RUMICI-ASTRAGALETALIA SICULI Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. 1980 Upper meso- to oromediterranean xeric scrub on siliceous volcanic substrates of Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Anthemis aetnensis, Astragalus siculus, Bellardiochloa variegata subsp. aetnensis, Centaurea giardinae, Erysimum etnense, Hypochaeris robertia, Rumex aetnensis, Senecio aetnensis, S. chrysanthemifolius, Tanacetum vulgare subsp. siculum, Viola aethnensis subsp. aetnensis. RUMICI-ASTRAGALION SICULI Poli 1965 Oromediterranean xeric pulvinate scrub on siliceous volcanic substrates of Etna (Sicily) Indicator species in Sicily: see order. 318 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Senecioni glabri-Anthemidetum aetnensis Frei 1940 Festuco circummediterraneae-Bellardiochloetum aetnensis Frei 1940 nom. mut. propos. Astragaletum siculi (Frei 1940) Gilli 1943 Phleo ambigui-Secaletum stricti Siracusa 1998 Festuco circummediterraneae-Populetum tremulae Brullo & Siracusa 2005 Cerastio tomentosi-Hieracietum pallidi Brullo & Siracusa 2005 ARMERION NEBRODENSIS Brullo 1984 Upper meso-oromediterranean silicicolous pulvinate scrub and related grasslands of Madonie Mts. (Sicily) Indicator species in Sicily: Armeria nebrodensis, Genista cupanii, Avenella lexuosa. Genistetum cupanii Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. 1980 Note - This association, designating the supra- and oromediterranean vegetation dominated by Genista cupanii, growing on quartzitic arenaceous substrata of Madonie, has been recently framed into the class Lavanduletalia stoechadis (alliance: Calicotomo villosae-Genistion tyrrhenae Biondi 1997) and re-designated as Carlino nebrodensis-Genistetum cupanii Pignatti & Nimis corr. Gianguzzi, Cusimano, Ilardi & Romano 2015. Here it is preferred to respect the original syntaxonomical framework. Plantagini humili-Armerietum nebrodensis Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. 1980 ERYSIMO-JURINEETALIA BOCCONEI Brullo 1984 Note - In the original description, this order includes the xeric calcicolous hemicrypto- chaemaephytic oromediterranean vegetation of the Madonie massif in Northern Sicily. Mucina et al. (2016) include this order within the class Festuco hystricis-Ononidetea striatae Rivas-Mart. et al. 2002. Owing to the rich number of local endemites, as well as to the remarkable regional loristic ainities between the acidophilous and basiphilous assemblages of the oro-mediterranean vegetation of Sicilian and Calabrian high mountains, it is questionable to separate this vegetation in two diferent classes. Moreover, the number of local endemites is higher in 319 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units the carbonatic part of Madonie mountains than in any other high mountain ecosystem of Sicily, so the opportunity to include the Sicilian basiphilous oromediterranean vegetation into an Iberian class and to keep the Calabrian-Sicilian silicicolous oromediterranean vegetation into an autonomous class is unacceptable from the biogeographic and phylogenetic viewpoint. Nearly all the Etnean oromediterranean endemites have their closest relatives on the Madonie Mts. and clearly derived from a recent adaptive radiation. Some edaphic indiferent species occur in both Madonie and Etna (this is the case of: Bellardiochloa violacea, Carlina nebrodensis, Centaurea parlatoris, Cerastium tomentosum, Galium aetnicum, Herniaria nebrodensis, Petrorhagia saxifraga subsp. gasparrinii and Saponaria sicula). Instead, none of the character species of Festuco hystricis-Ononidetea striatae occurs on the Sicilian and Calabrian high mountains. Indicator species in Sicily: Allium cupanii, Asperula cynanchica var. canescens, Bunium petraeum, Dianthus arrostii, Clinopodium alpinum subsp. nebrodensis, Erysimum bonannianum, Galium bernardii, Helianthemum croceum, Jurinea bocconei, Minuartia verna subsp. kabylica, Polycarpon polycarpoides, Bellardiochloa variegata subsp. nebrodensis, Lomelosia crenata, Trisetaria lavescens subsp. splendens. CERASTIO-ASTRAGALION NEBRODENSIS Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. ex Brullo 1984 Oromediterranean xeric open calciphilous grasslands on rocky soils of Sicily (Madonie Mts.) Indicator species in Sicily: Astragalus nebrodensis, Alyssum nebrodense, Avenula cincinnata, Cachrys ferulacea, Colchicum triphyllum, Euphorbia myrsinites, Helianthemum cinereum subsp. rotundifolium, Knautia calycina, Inula montana, Linum punctatum, Onosma canescens, Petrorhagia saxifraga subsp. gasparrinii, Pimpinella tragium subsp. glauca, Polycarpon polycarpoides, Sesleria nitida subsp. sicula, Sideritis sicula, Viola nebrodensis. Astragaletum nebrodensis Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. 1980 Cachryetum ferulaceae Raimondo 1983 Lino punctati-Seslieretum siculae Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti-Wikus et al. 1980 em. Brullo 1984 Carduncello pinnati-Thymetum spinulosi Brullo & Marcenò in Brullo 1984 Siderito siculae-Artemisietum albae (Raimondo 1983) Brullo & Giusso 2005 320 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Seslerio siculae-Melicetum cupanii Brullo & Giusso 2005 *Siculosciadetum nebrodensis Brullo & Giusso 2005 nom. mut. propos. Seslerio siculae-Helictotrichetum convolutae Brullo & Cormaci 2005 Festuco rubrae-Seslerietum siculae Brullo & Cormaci 2005 Helichryso-Onosmetum canescentis Brullo & Guarino 2005 *Plantagini humilis-Asperuletum peloritanae Brullo & Guarino 2005 corr. ALNO GLUTINOSAE-POPULETEA ALBAE P. Fukarek & Fabijanić 1968 Riparian gallery forests of the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean regions Indicator species in Sicily: Alnus glutinosa, Arum italicum, Carex pendula, C. remota, Equisetum telmateia, Ficus carica, Fraxinus angustifolia, Hypericum hircinum subsp. majus, Populus alba, P. nigra, Salix alba, S. pedicellata, Sambucus nigra, Solanum dulcamara, Symphytum bulbosum, Tamus communis, Ulmus minor, Vinca minor, Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris. POPULETALIA ALBAE Br.-Bl. ex Tchou 1949 Mediterranean and submediterranean riparian gallery forests Indicator species in Sicily: see class. POPULION ALBAE Br.-Bl. ex Tchou 1949 Riparian forests of the submediterranean regions of Southern France and the Iberian Peninsula Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Roso sempervirentis-Populetum nigrae Pedrotti & Gafta 1992 PLATANION ORIENTALIS I. Kárpáti & V. Kárpáti 1961 Platanus riparian gallery forests of the Eastern Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Platanus orientalis, Melissa romana, Daucus carota subsp. maximus, Myrtus communis, Rosa sempervirens, Salix gussonei. Platano orientalis-Salicetum pedicellatae Barbagallo, Brullo & Fagotto 1979 Platano orientalis-Salicetum gussonei Brullo & Spampinato 1991 321 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units OSMUNDO-ALNION GLUTINOSAE (Br.-Bl., P. Silva & Rozeira 1956) Dierschke & Rivas-Mart. in Rivas-Mart. 1975 Alder and willow riparian forests of the Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Osmunda regalis, Athyrium ilix-femina, Lonicera periclymenum. Osmundo regalis-Salicetum pedicellatae Brullo & Spampinato 1991 SALICETEA PURPUREAE Moor 1958 Eurasian hygrophilous pioneer scrub and low open forests of riverbeds, riverbanks and braided streams Indicator species in Sicily: Salix purpurea subsp. lambertiana. SALICETALIA PURPUREAE Moor 1958 Willow scrub and low open forests of riparian habitats in the temperate to arctic zones of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see class. SALICION ALBAE Soó 1951 Willow and poplar low open forests of lowland to submontane river alluvia in the nemoral zone of Europe and at high altitudes of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Salix alba subsp. vitellina, Saponaria oicinalis. Salicetum albo-purpureae (I. Karpáti & V. Karpáti 1961) Barbagallo, Brullo & Fagotto 1979 SALICION PEDICELLATAE Rivas-Mart. et al. 1984 Southern Iberian, Maghrebian and Calabro-Sicilian thermo- to supramediterranean riparian alluvial willow scrub on the alluvia of mineral-poor rivers Indicator species in Sicily: Salix pedicellata, Ulmus canescens. Salicetum albo-pedicellatae Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Ulmo canescentis-Salicetum pedicillatae Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Agropyro panormitani-Salicetum pedicellatae Brullo & Spampinato 1991 322 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units SAGINETEA MARITIMAE Westhoff, van Leeuwen & Adriani 1962 Atlantic and Mediterranean halo-subnitrophilous ephemeral vegetation on clayey or loamy substrates, seasonally wet Indicator species in Sicily: Bellis annua, Bupleurum semicompositum var. glaucum, Catapodium balearicum, C. paucilorum, Frankenia pulverulenta, Galium verrucosum subsp. halophilum, Juncus hybridus, Hordeum marinum, Hornungia procumbens subsp. revelierei, Parapholis incurva, Plantago coronopus subsp. humilis, Polypogon monspeliensis, P. subspathaceus, Sagina maritima, Senecio leucanthemifolius subsp. crassifolius and subsp. mauritanicus, Spergularia maritima, Spergularia salina, Sphenopus divaricatus. FRANKENIETALIA PULVERULENTAE Rivas-Mart. ex Castroviejo & Porta 1976 Ephemeral vegetation on clayey and silty saline soils of the Mediterranean and Macaronesia Indicator species in Sicily: see class. FRANKENION PULVERULENTAE Rivas-Mart. ex Castroviejo & Porta 1976 (incl. Polypogonion subspathacei Gamisans 1992) Ephemeral vegetation on clayey saline soils of the Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Parapholido incurvae-Frankenietum pulverulentae Rivas-Mart. ex Castroviejo & Porta 1976 Isolepido cernuae-Saginetum maritimae Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 Parapholidetum iliformis Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 Frankenio pulverulentae-Anthemidetum secundirameae Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Frankenio pulverulentae-Spergularietum bocconei Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Desmazerio pignattii-Senecionetum pygmaei Brullo & Scelsi 1998 Hordeo maritimi-Spergularietum salinae Sciandrello 2005 Sphenopo divaricati-Spergularietum maritimae Sciandrello 2007 Polypogonetum subspathacei Gamisans 1992 323 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units LIMONION AVEI Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 Note - Ephemeral aerohaline vegetation on fine-grained soils of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean seaboards. This alliance is considered by Mucina et al. (2016) a synonym of Pholiuro-Spergularion Pignatti 1952. This synonymization is unclear for two reasons: (1) on its turn, in the same paper (Mucina et al. 2016) the Pholiuro-Spergularion is listed among the synonyms of Junco ranarii-Plantaginion commutatae Horvatić 1934; (2) Limonium avei is a south-Mediterranean species, whose ecological context is quite diferent, in terms of salinity and climate, from that of the North-Adriatic coasts, where the Pignatti’s alliance was described. Indicator species in Sicily: Limonium avei, Parapholis marginata. Spergulario rubrae-Limonietum avei Brullo & Di Martino 1974 corr. Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 *Limonio avei-Hornungietum procumbentis Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 nom. mut. propos. Limonio avei-Parapholideum marginatae Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 GAUDINIO FRAGILIS-PODOSPERMION CANI Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Ephemeral vegetation on clayey saline soils of the Siculo-Calabrian badlands Indicator species in Sicily: Chamaemelum fuscatum, Gaudinia fragilis, Parapholis pycnantha, Podospermum canum, Romulea ramilora. Podospermo cani-Parapholidetum pycnanthae Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Chamaemelo fuscati-Leontodontetum muelleri Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Sphenopo divaricati-Spergularietum diandrae Brullo & Siracusa 2000 MESEMBRYANTHEMION CRYSTALLINI Rivas-Mart. et al. 1993 Ephemeral Western Mediterranean and Macaronesian subhalophilous alien succulent therophytic vegetation Indicator species in Sicily: Beta macrocarpa, Heliotropium curassavicum, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, M. nodilorum. 324 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Mesembryanthemetum crystallino-nodilori O. de Bolòs 1957 Mesembryanthemetum crystallini Sunding 1972 Mesembryanthemo crystallini-Paronychietum argenteae Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Mesembryanthemo crystallini-Hyoscyametum albi Brullo & Siracusa 1996 CRITHMO-STATICETEA Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Rupicolous vegetation of salt-sprayed coastal clifs of the Atlantic and Mediterranean seaboards of Europe, North Africa and Middle East Indicator species in Sicily: Allium commutatum, Anthemis secundiramea, Crithmum maritimum, Daucus gingidium, Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis, Frankenia hirsuta, Jacobaea maritima, Limbarda crithmoides, Limonium virgatum, Lotus cytisoides, Plantago macrorhiza, Silene sedoides. CRITHMO-STATICETALIA Molinier 1934 Rupicolous vegetation of salt-sprayed clifs of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe, North Africa and Middle East Indicator species in Sicily: see class. CRITHMO-STATICION Molinier 1934 Rupicolous dwarf-herb vegetation of salt-sprayed limestone clifs of the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian coasts Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Limonietum cosyrensis Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Limonietum secundiramei Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Limonietum bocconei Barbagallo, Brullo & Guglielmo 1979 Asparago stipulari-Limoniastretum monopetali Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 Limonietum hyblaei Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 Limonietum syracusani Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 Limonietum tenuiculi Brullo & Marcenò 1982 325 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Limonietum minutilori Barbagallo, Brullo & Signorello 1983 Crithmo maritimi-Limonietum virgati Géhu et al. 1992 Limonietum algusae Bartolo & Brullo 1993 Limonietum lagellaris Bartolo & Brullo 1993 Limonietum jonici Bartolo & Brullo 1993 Limonietum pavoniani Bartolo & Brullo 1993 Limonietum selinuntini Bartolo & Brullo 1993 Limonietum tauromenitani Bartolo & Brullo 1993 Crithmo maritimi-Limonietum melancholici Brullo, Marcenò & Romano 1997 Hyoseridetum taurinae Brullo, Minissale, Siracusa & Spampinato 1997 HELICHRYSETALIA ITALICI Biondi & Géhu in Géhu & Biondi 1994 Sub-aerohaline coastal dwarf scrub on inland edges of saltsprayed clifs of the Mediterranean seaboards Indicator species in Sicily: Camphorosma monspeliaca, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hackelii, Lotus cytisoides, Pallenis maritima, Reichardia picroides var. maritima, Sonchus asper subsp. glaucescens, Thymelaea hirsuta, T. tartonraira. CRUCIANELLION RUPESTRIS Brullo & Furnari 1990 Subaerohaline dwarf scrub on salt-sprayed clifs of the European and North African coasts of the Lybian Sea Indicator species in Sicily: Crucianella rupestris, Hypericum aegypticum, Cichorium spinosum, Frankenia hirsuta subsp. revoluta. Triadenio aegyptiacae-Chiliadenetum lopadusani Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Limonietum lopadusani Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Limonietum albidi Bartolo & Brullo 1993 Limonietum mazarae Bartolo & Brullo 1993 ANTHYLLIDION BARBAE-JOVIS Brullo & De Marco 1989 Subaerohaline coastal dwarf scrub on salt-sprayed clifs of the eastern Tyrrhenian Sea 326 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Anthyllis barba-jovis, Matthiola incana (subsp. pulchella and subsp. rupestris) Matthiolo pulchellae-Helichrysetum errerae Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Thymelaeo hirsutae-Helichrysetum conglobati Bartolo, Brullo & Marcenò 1982 corr. Minissale et al. 2011 Senecioni cinerariae-Helichrysetum messeriae Brullo & Marcenò 1983 Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum litorei Barbagallo, Brullo & Signorello 1983 Anthyllido barbae-jovis-Erucastretum virgati Brullo & Minissale 1987 Senecioni bicoloris-Lycietum intricati Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Limbardo crithmoidis-Dianthetum rupicolae Minissale, Santo & Sciandrello 2011 CAKILETEA MARITIMAE Tx. & Preising in Br.-Br. & Tx. 1952 Pioneer halo-nitrophilous short-lived vegetation in strandlines of sandy and shingle beaches of the coasts of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Indicator species in Sicily: Atriplex prostrata subsp. latifolia and subsp. triangularis), Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima, Cakile maritima, Euphorbia peplis, Glaucium lavum, Kali tragus, Kali turgidum, Xanthium strumarium subsp. italicum. THERO-ATRIPLICETALIA Pignatti 1953 Pioneer halo-nitrophilous strandline vegetation of the CantabroAtlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea coasts Indicator species in Sicily: see class. EUPHORBION PEPLIDIS Tx. ex Oberd. 1952 Pioneer halo-nitrophilous strandline vegetation of the CantabroAtlantic and the Mediterranean coasts Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum paraliae Pignatti 1952 Cakilo maritimae-Xanthietum italici Pignatti 1953 327 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Atriplicetum hastato-tornabenii O. de Bolós 1962 Glaucio lavi-Matthioletum tricuspidatae Blasi, Fascetti, Veri & Bruno 1983 Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae Costa & Mansanet 1981 corr. Rivas-Mart., Costa & Loidi 1992 Salsolo kali-Euphorbietum peplis Géhu et al. 1984 AMMOPHILETEA Br.-Bl. & Tx. ex Westhoff, Dijk & Passchier 1946 Tall-grass perennial swards on mobile coastal dunes of the seaboards of Europe, North America, Greenland, North Africa, Middle East and the Caspian Sea Indicator species in Sicily: Euphorbia terracina, Launaea fragilis, Lotus creticus, Ononis variegata, Pancratium maritimum, Polygonum maritimum, Pseudorlaya pumila, Scolymus hispanicus, Seseli tortuosum var. maritimum, Silene nicaeensis, Sonchus bulbosus, Sporobolus virginicus. AMMOPHILETALIA Br.-Bl. & Tx. ex Westhoff, Dijk & Passchier 1946 Tall-grass perennial swards on mobile white and embryonic coastal dunes of the warm-temperate to boreo-atlantic coasts of the Mediterranean and the Black and Caspian Seas Indicator species in Sicily: Achillea maritima, Ammophila arenaria subsp. arundinacea, Calystegia soldanella, Cyperus capitatus, Echinophora spinosa, Elytrigia juncea, Eryngium maritimum, Euphorbia paralias, Medicago marina, Otanthus maritimus, Pancratium maritimum. AMMOPHILION Br.-Bl. 1921 Tall-grass perennial swards on mobile white and embryonic coastal sand dunes of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: see order Cypero mucronati-Agropyretum juncei (Kühnholtz-Lordat 1923) Br.-Bl. 1933 Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum australis Br.-Bl. 1921 corr. Prieto & Diaz 1991 328 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Sporoboletum arenarii (Arènes 1924) Géhu & Biondi 1994 Pancratietum angustifolii Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Calendulo maritimae-Elytrigietum junceae Brullo, Giusso, Siracusa & Spampinato 2002 HELICHRYSO-CRUCIANELLETEA MARITIMAE Géhu, Rivas-Mart. & R.Tx 1973 in Sissingh 1974 Atlantic, Mediterranean and Euxinian dwarf scrub and grasslands on stabilized coastal grey hind dunes Indicator species in Sicily: Anthemis maritima, Crucianella maritima, Helichrysum italicum subsp. siculum, H. stoechas (subsp. stoechas and subsp. barrelieri), Pycnocomon rutifolium, Lobularia maritima subsp. maritima, Ephedra distachya. CRUCIANELLETALIA MARITIMAE Sissingh 1974 Mediterranean and Cantabro-Francoatlantic dwarf scrub and grasslands on stabilized coastal hind dunes Indicator species in Sicily: Centaurea sphaerocephala, Ononis ramosissima, Scrophularia ramosissima, Stachys arenaria. CRUCIANELLION MARITIMAE Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. 1958 Western and Central Mediterranean dwarf scrub on stabilized coastal hind dunes Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Crucianelletum maritimae Br.-Bl. 1933 Centaureo sphaerocephalae-Ononidetum ramosissimae Br.-Bl. & Frei in Frei 1937 Seselio tortuosi-Crucianelletum maritimae Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1972 ex Biondi & Géhu 1994 Seselio maritimi-Crucianelletum maritimae Brullo, Minissale & Siracusa 1998 Centaureo sphaerocephalae-Anthemidetum maritimae Brullo, Giusso, Siracusa & Spampinato 2002 329 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units ADIANTETEA Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Relict chomophytic and chasmophytic moss- and fern dominated vegetation in shaded and water-splashed habitats of the Mediterranean, the Atlantic islands, North Africa and Middle East Indicator species in Sicily: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Conocephalum conicum, Eucladium angustifolium, E. verticillatum, Pellia calycina, P. endiviifolia, Pholia wahlenbergii var. calcarea, Samolus valerandi. ADIANTETALIA Br.-Bl. ex Horvatić 1934 Relict chomophytic and chasmophytic vegetation in shaded and water-splashed habitats of the Mediterranean, the Atlantic islands, North Africa and Middle East Indicator species in Sicily: see class. ADIANTION Br.-Bl. ex Horvatić 1934 Relict fern-rich chasmophytic communities in shaded and water-splashed habitats of the Mediterranean, the Atlantic islands, North Africa and Middle East Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Eucladio verticillati-Adiantetum capilli-veneris Br.-Bl. ex Horvatić 1934 Eucladio verticillati-Didymodontetum tophacei Hébrard 1973 Adianto capilli-veneris-Cratoneuretum commutati Privitera & Lo Giudice 1986 Adianto capilli-veneris-Cratoneuretum ilicini Brullo, Lo Giudice & Privitera 1989 Adianto capilli-veneris-Osmundetum regalis Brullo, Lo Giudice & Privitera 1989 Adianto capilli-veneris-Pteridetum vittatae Brullo, Lo Giudice & Privitera 1989 Conocephalo conici-Woodwardietum radicantis Brullo, Lo Giudice & Privitera 1989 Thamnobryo alopecuri-Phyllitidetum scolopendrium Brullo, Privitera & Puglisi 1993 Homalio lusitanicae-Adiantetum capilli-veneris Puglisi 1994 330 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Polypodietea Jurko & Peciar ex Boşcaiu, Gergely & Codoreanu in Raţiu et al. 1966 Chomophytic, chasmophytic and epiphytic vegetation of fern- and moss-rich communities in crevices and rocky ledges of temperate and mediterranean Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Anogramma leptophylla, Asplenium obovatum (subsp. obovatum and subsp. lanceolatum), Cheilanthes pteridioides, Cymbalaria pubescens, Polypodium cambricum, Ranunculus rupestris, Selaginella denticulata, Umbilicus horizontalis. ANOMODONTO-POLYPODIETALIA SERRATI O. de Bolòs & Vives in O. de Bolòs 1957 Mediterranean and Madeirean-Azorean fern- and moss-rich chomophytic and chasmophytic vegetation of shaded rock faces and epiphytic on branches of old trees Indicator species in Sicily: see class. POLYPODION SERRATI Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Circum-Mediterranean fern-rich epilithic communities of shaded rock faces and crevices and epiphytic on branches of old trees within the thermo- and meso-Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Anogrammo leptophyllae-Selaginelletum denticulatae Molinier 1937 *Polypodietum cambrici Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 nom. mut. propos. *Polypodio cambrici-Ranunculetum rupestris Barbagallo, Brullo & Signorello 1983 nom. mut. propos. Homalothecio sericei - Poetum bivonae Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 Selaginello denticulatae-Cymbalarietum pubescentis Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 *Cheilantho pteridioidis-Polypodietum cambrici Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 nom. mut. propos. *Bartramio strictae-Polypodietum cambrici Brullo & Siracusa in Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 nom. mut. propos. 331 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Bartramio strictae-Dryopteridetum pallidae Brullo & Siracusa in Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 Scorpiuro circinnati-Anogrammetum leptophyllae Brullo & Siracusa in Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 POHLIO CRUDAE-ASPLENION SEPTENTRIONALIS Brullo & Siracusa in Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 Note - Fern- and moss-rich chomophytic and epilithic vegetation of siliceous rock crevices and shady and moist ledges in the supra- and oro-Mediterranean belt of Sicily and Calabria. In the original description, this alliance was ascribed to the Anomodonto-Polypodietalia serrati. Mucina et al. (2016), instead, ascribed it to the Asplenietalia septentrionalo-cuneifolii Mucina & Theurillat 2015, an order of Asplenietea trichomanis which groups the vegetation of siliceous and ultramaic rock crevices at low altitudes of temperate and boreal Europe. This proposal deserves to be adequately supported by phytogeographic and ecological evidences before being accepted. Indicator species in Sicily: Asplenium septentrionale subsp. septentrionale, Cystopteris dickieana, Pohlia cruda. Pohlio crudae-Cystopteridetum dickieanae Brullo et al. 2001 ASPLENIETEA TRICHOMANIS (Br.-Bl. in Meier & Br.Bl. 1934) Oberd. 1977 Chasmophytic vegetation of undisturbed crevices, rocky ledges and faces of rocky clifs and walls of Europe, North Africa, Middle East, the Arctic archipelagos and Greenland Indicator species in Sicily: Arabis collina, Asplenium trichomanes, Athamanta sicula, Ballota hispanica, Ceterach oicinarum, Cheilanthes acrostica, Cystopteris fragilis, Sedum dasyphyllum, Umbilicus rupestris. POTENTILLETALIA CAULESCENTIS Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. & Jenny 1926 Chasmophytic vegetation of sunny calcareous rock faces and crevices at high altitudes of the nemoral and boreal mountain ranges of Europe 332 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Asplenium ruta-muraria, Potentilla caulescens subsp. nebrodensis, Silene saxifraga subsp. parnassica. SAXIFRAGION AUSTRALIS Biondi & Ballelli ex Brullo 1984 Chasmophytic vegetation of calcareous rock faces and crevices in the subalpine and alpine belts of the Apennines and Calabrian Sicilian carbonatic massifs Indicator species in Sicily: Edraianthus graminifolius subsp. siculus, Minuartia graminifolia subsp. rosani, Saxifraga callosa. Asperulo gussonei-Potentilletum nebrodensis Raimondo 1983 ASPLENIETALIA GLANDULOSI Br.-Bl. in Meier & Br.-Bl. 1934 Thermo-mesomediterranean chasmophytic vegetation of sunny calcareous rock faces and crevices of the Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Athamanta sicula, Capparis spinosa, Ficus carica var. capriicus, Hypochaeris laevigata, Melica minuta, Lomelosia cretica, Teucrium lavum, Umbilicus horizontalis. DIANTHION RUPICOLAE Brullo & Marcenò 1979 Note - In the original description, this alliance groups the endemite-rich thermophilous chasmophytic vegetation of Calabrian, Sicilian and Maltese rock faces, dwelling conglomeratic, sedimentary, schistose and crystalline rocky outcrops, on both calcareous and siliceous matrices. As a matter of fact, in Sicily and Maltese Islands, nearly all the so far described associations are on limestone or dolomite, so it is questionable that Dianthion rupicolae groups the “chasmophytic vegetation of siliceous rock crevices of the Siculo-Calabrian Tyrrhenian coasts”, as stated by Mucina et al (2016), who improperly include this alliance within the acidophilous order Asplenietalia lanceolato-obovati (Loisel 1970) Theurillat & Mucina in Mucina & Theurillat 2015. Indicator species in Sicily: Antirrhinum siculum, Asperula rupestris, Brassica incana, B. macrocarpa, B. rupestris (subsp. rupestris and subsp. hispida), Dianthus rupicola (subsp. rupicola, subsp. aeolicus and subsp. 333 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units lopadusanus), Erucastrum virgatum, Glandora rosmarinifolia, Iberis semperlorens, Odontites bocconei (subsp. bocconei and subsp. angustifolia), Pimpinella anisoides, Phagnalon saxatile, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, Seseli bocconei, Silene fruticosa. Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae Brullo & Marcenò 1979 Bupleuro dianthifolii-Scabiosetum limonifoliae Brullo & Marcenò 1979 Anthemido cupanianae-Centauretum busambarensis Brullo & Marcenò 1979 Putorio calabricae-Micromerietum microphyllae Brullo & Marcenò 1979 Brassico tinei-Diplotaxietum crassifoliae Brullo & Marcenò 1979 Brassico rupestris-Centauretum saccensis Bazan, Raimondo & Ilardi 2006 Erucastretum virgati Brullo & Marcenò 1979 Diantho aeolici-Centauretum aeolicae Barbagallo, Brullo & Signorello 1983 CHEILANTHETALIA MARANTO-MADERENSIS Sáenz de Rivas & Rivas-Mart. 1979 Mediterranean and Macaronesian thermophilous fern-rich chasmophytic vegetation of siliceous and ultramafic rock crevices Indicator species in Sicily: Cheilanthes maderensis. PHAGNALO SAXATILIS-CHEILANTHION MADERENSIS Loisel 1970 corr. Pérez-Carro et al. 1989 Central-Western Mediterranean fern-rich chasmophytic vegetation of ultramaic rock crevices in subhumid to humid regions in the infra- to mesomediterranean belts Indicator species in Sicily: Asplenium balearicum, Cheilanthes acrostica, C. maderensis Cosentinia vellea (subsp. vellea, subsp. bivalens and subsp. rivas-martinezii). *Phagnalo saxatilis-Cheilanthetum maderensis Loisel 1970 corr. Pérez-Carro et al. 1989 *Cosentinietum bivalentis Brullo in Brullo, Marcenò & Siracusa 2004 *Sedo dasyphylli-Cheilanthetum maderensis Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 *Sedo albi-Cosentinietum velleae Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 334 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Cymbalario-Parietarietea diffusae Oberd. 1969 Thermophilous chasmo-nitrophilous vegetation of stone walls and disturbed clifs in the Mediterranean and winter-mild atlantic to subcontinental regions of Europe, Middle East and North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: Antirrhinum majus, Ceterach oicinarum, Erysimum cheiri, Cymbalaria muralis, Erigeron karvinskianus, Parietaria judaica. TORTULO-CYMBALARIETALIA Segal 1969 Thermophilous chasmophytic vegetation of walls of the Mediterranean and the winter-mild atlantic to subcontinental regions of temperate Europe, Middle East and North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: see class. CYMBALARIO-ASPLENION Segal 1969 Fern-rich chasmophytic vegetation of sunny walls of the atlantic to subcontinental regions of cool-temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Anomodon viticulosus, Barbula unguiculata, Bryum caespiticium, Ceratodon purpureus, Didymodon rigidulus var. gracilis, D. vinealis, Grimmia pulvinata, Homalothecium sericeum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Scorpiurum circinatum, Tortula muralis. Cheirantho cheiri-Parietarietum judaicae Oberd. 1957 Centrantho rubri-Parietarietum judaicae Oberd. 1957 Asplenio-Parietarietum judaicae Segal 1969 Sedo dasyphylli-Ceterachetum officinarum Hruska ex Brullo & Guarino 1998 Asplenio trichomanis-Umbilicetum horizontalis Brullo & Guarino 2002 PARIETARION JUDAICAE Segal 1969 Note - In the original description, this alliance groups the thermophilous chamaephytic and hemicryptophytic wall vegetation, poor in ferns and mosses, chiely linked to the Mediterranean bioclimate but occurring, as well, in the temperate bioclimate under edaphoxeric 335 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units conditions. In addition to the Parietarion judaicae, Biondi et al. (2014) described the alliance Artemisio arborescentis-Capparidion spinosae Biondi, Blasi & Galdenzi in Biondi et al. 2014 to outline the shrub-dominated halo-tolerant vegetation on walls and rocky slopes in thermoand infra-Mediterranean coastal districts. The decision, by Mucina et al. (2016), to lump everything together in a single central-western-Mediterranean alliance makes sense but, if so, priority should be given to the name Parietarion judaicae. Indicator species in Sicily: Anthirrhinum siculum, Centranthus ruber, Hyoseris radiata, Sonchus tenerrimus, Trachelium caeruleum. Centranthetum rubri Oberd. 1969 Cymbalario muralis-Trachelietum caerulei Rivas-Mart. 1969 Cymbalario muralis-Erigeronetum karwinskiani Segal 1969 Oxalido corniculatae-Parietarietum judaicae (Br.-Bl. 1952) Segal 1969 Cymbalario muralis-Crithmetum maritimi Segal 1969 Antirrhinetum siculi Bartolo & Brullo 1986 Centrantho rubri-Hypericetum majoris Rivas-Mart. 1969 corr. Brullo & Guarino 1999 ARTEMISIO ARBORESCENTIS-CAPPARIDION SPINOSAE Biondi, Blasi & Galdenzi in Biondi et al. 2014 Nanophanerophytic halo-tolerant vegetation on walls and rocky slopes in thermo- and infra-Mediterranean coastal districts Indicator species in Sicily: Hyosciamus albus, Capparis spinosa, Ficus carica var. capriicus, Nicotiana glauca. Capparidetum rupestris O. de Bolòs & Molinier 1958 ex O. de Bolòs 1962 Hyoscyamo albi-Parietarietum judaicae Segal 1969 DRYPIDETEA SPINOSAE Quézel 1964 Pioneer vegetation of screes and incoherent pebbly and sandy warps in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea seaboards Indicator species in Sicily: Aethionema saxatile, Artemisia campestris subsp. variabilis, Centranthus ruber, Helichrysum italicum, Lactuca viminea, Scrophularia canina subsp. bicolor. 336 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units SCROPHULARIO-HELICHRYSETALIA Brullo 1984 Vegetation of thermophilous low and mid-altitudes (sub)mediterranean screes and riverine gravel banks of Sardinia, Calabria and Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: see class. LINARION PURPUREAE Brullo 1984 Montane scree vegetation of the Southern Apennines and Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Arrhenatherum nebrodense, Linaria purpurea, L. simplex, Ptilostemon niveus, Rumex scutatus, Secale strictum. Arenario grandilorae-Rumicetum scutati Raimondo 1983 Senecionetum siculi Brullo & Marcenò in Brullo 1984 Centrantho rubri-Senecionetum ambigui Brullo & Marcenò in Brullo 1984 Rumici scutati-Cardaminetum graecae Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 1998 Scutellario rubicundae-Melicetum cupanii Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 1998 EUPHORBION RIGIDAE Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Siculo-Calabrian low-altitude pioneer vegetation on riverine gravel banks Indicator species in Sicily: Micromeria graeca, Dittrichia viscosa, Euphorbia rigida. Loto commutati-Helichrysetum italici Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Ononido ramosissimae-Helichrysetum italici Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Calendulo fulgidae-Helichrysetum italici Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Senecioni gibbosi-Helichrysetum italici Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Echinopo spinosissimi-Helichrysetum italici Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 1998 Scrophulario bicoloris-Senecionetum bicoloris Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 1998 Sedo sediformis-Centranthetum rubri Gianguzzi & La Mantia 2008 ZOSTERETEA Pignatti 1954 Perennial sea-grass meadows on muddy, sandy or gravelly submerged substrates of the Mediterranean, temperate and subarctic seas of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Zostera marina. 337 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units ZOSTERETALIA Béguinot 1941 ex Pignatti 1954 Vegetation of sea-grass meadows of the sandy-muddy sublittoral of the temperate seas surrounding Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see class. ZOSTERION MARINAE Br.-Bl. & Tx. ex Pignatti 1954 Vegetation of perennial sea-grass meadows of the sandy-muddy sea sublittoral of the cold- and cool-temperate seas surrounding Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Zosteretum marinae Harmesen 1936 NANOZOSTERION NOLTII Den Hartog ex Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 Vegetation of short-lived sea grass meadows of the sandy-muddy sea sublittoral of the cold-temperate and cool-temperate seas surrounding Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Zostera noltii. Zosteretum noltii Pignatti 1954 POSIDONIETALIA OCEANICAE Den Hartog 1976 ex Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 Perennial sea-grass meadows of sandy-rocky sublittoral of the Mediterranean Sea Indicator species in Sicily: Posidonia oceanica. POSIDONION OCEANICAE Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1960 Vegetation of perennial sea-grass meadows of the sandy-rocky sublittoral of the warm-temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Posidonietum oceanicae Funk 1927 338 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units HALODULO WRIGHTII-THALASSIETEA TESTUDINUM Den Hartog ex Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González & Loidi 1999 Mediterranean-Atlantic eel-grass swards on muddy and sandy substrates of subtropical and tropical marine shallow water Indicator species in Sicily: Cymodocea nodosa, Halophila stipulacea. THALASSIO-SYRINGODIETALIA FILIFORMIS Knapp ex Borhidi, Muñiz & Del Risco in Borhidi 1996 Vegetation of eel-grass swards on muddy and sandy substrates of the sublittoral of subtropical and tropical seas fringing Atlantic Ocean Indicator species in Sicily: see class. CYMODOCEION NODOSAE Den Hartog ex Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 Vegetation of eel-grass swards on muddy and sandy substrates of the sublittoral of the subtropical Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea Indicator species in Sicily: Cymodocea nodosa. Cymodoceetum nodosae Feldmann 1937 RUPPIETEA MARITIMAE J. Tx. 1960 ex Den Hartog & Segal 1964 Submerged rooted herbaceous vegetation of brackish waters of the world Indicator species in Sicily: Ruppia maritima. RUPPIETALIA J. Tx. 1960 ex Den Hartog & Segal 1964 Submerged rooted herbaceous vegetation of temperate brackish waters of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see class. 339 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units RUPPION MARITIMAE Br.-Bl. 1931 ex Westhoff in Bennema, Sissingh & Westhoff 1943 Submerged rooted herbaceous vegetation of temperate brackish waters of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Ruppia maritima, R. drepanensis, R. spiralis. Ruppietum maritimae (Hocq. 1927) Iversen 1934 Ruppietum spiralis Hocquette 1927 corr. Iversen 1936 *Ulvo intestinalis-Ruppietum maritimae Westhof ex Tx. & Böcklemann 1957 nom. mut. propos. Ruppietum drepanensis Brullo & Furnari 1977 Riellietum notarisii Cirujano, Velayos & P. Garcia 1993 Therosalicornietea Tx. in Tx. & Oberd. 1958 Pioneer vegetation of annual succulent halophytes on tidal mud lats and edges of the irregularly looded saline inland waters of Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: Salicornia sp. pl., Suaeda maritima, Bassia lanilora, B. scoparia, Salsola soda, Atriplex prostrata subsp. latifolia, Cressa cretica. THEROSALICORNIETALIA Pignatti 1952 Pioneer vegetation of annual succulent halophytes of tidal mud lats and edges of the irregularly flooded saline inland waters of the Mediterranean, and temperate, boreal and subarctic Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see class. THEROSALICORNION Br.-Bl. 1933 Mediterranean and thermo-atlantic pioneer vegetation of annual succulent plants of tidal flats and irregularly flooded inland depressions Indicator species in Sicily: Salicornia patula, S. emerici, Puccinellia festuciformis subsp. lagascana. Suaedetum maritimae (Conrad 1933) Pignatti 1953 Salsoletum sodae Pignatti 1953 Cressetum creticae Brullo & Furnari 1976 340 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Suaedo maritimae-Salicornietum patulae Brullo & Furnari 1977 ex Géhu & Géhu-Franck 1984 *Salicornio emerici-Arthrocnemetum glauci O. de Bolòs 1962 ex Brullo & Furnari 1977 nom. mut. propos. MICROCNEMION CORALLOIDIS Rivas-Mart. & Géhu in Rivas-Mart. 1984 Central-W-Mediterranean inland and coastal vegetation of annual succulent halophytes on solonchak soils of temporarily wet salt pans Indicator species in Sicily: Halopeplis amplexicaulis. Halopeplidetum amplexicaulis Burollet 1927 Note - Even if Mucina et al. (2016) state that this vegetation is restricted to the inland salt pans of the Iberian Peninsula, the Halopeplidetum amplexicaulis has been repeatedly recorded in Tunisia and Sicily, in coastal districts. The possibility to include this association in a separate alliance could be considered. JUNCETEA MARITIMI Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Halo-hygrophilous hemicryptophitic vegetation of brackish swamps of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans Indicator species in Sicily: Aeluropus littoralis, Juncus maritimus, Limonium narbonense. JUNCETALIA MARITIMI Br.-Bl. ex Horvatić 1934 Mediterranean and thermo-atlantic tall-rush saline wetland vegetation Indicator species in Sicily: Aeluropus littoralis, Carex extensa, Centaurium spicatum, Centaurium tenuilorum, Lotus preslii, Panicum repens, Schoenus nigricans. JUNCION MARITIMI Br.-Bl. ex Horvatić 1934 Mediterranean and thermo-atlantic coastal saline rush marsh vegetation under a prolonged flooding regime 341 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Juncus acutus, Scirpoides holoschoenus (subsp. holoschoenus and subsp. australis). Caricetum divisae Br.-Bl. 1933 Juncetum maritimo-acuti Horvatič 1934 Juncetum maritimi Rübel 1930 ex Pignatti 1953 *Sporobolo pumili-Juncetum maritimi O. de Bolòs 1962 nom. mut. propos. Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti Brullo & Di Martino ex Brullo & Furnari 1977 Juncetum subulati Caniglia et al. 1984 Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 Inulo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 PLANTAGINION CRASSIFOLIAE Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Western Tyrrhenian and Provencal saline swards of margins of lagoons and damp dune-slacks, on sandy-loamy substrata. Indicator species in Sicily: Blackstonia acuminata, Daucus carota subsp. maritimus, Tripidium ravennae, Juncus littoralis, Imperata cylindrica, Plantago crassifolia. Schoeno nigricantis-Plantaginetum crassifoliae Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Holoschoenetum globiferi Pirola 1959 Imperato cilyndricae-Juncetum littoralis Brullo & Furnari 1977 AGROPYRETALIA PUNGENTIS Géhu 1968 Halo-nitrophilous grasslands of salt-sprayed sandy-loamy shores of the winter-mild atlantic and mediterranean regions of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Carex distans AGROPYRO-ARTEMISION COERULESCENTIS Pignatti 1953 Tyrrhenian-Adriatic (sub)halo-nitrophilous salt-sprayed grassy scrub of the edges of coastal lagoons Indicator species in Sicily: Elymus elongatus. Elytrigio elongatae-Inuletum crithmoidis Br.-Bl. (1931) 1952 nom. mut. propos. 342 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units AGROSTIO-ELYTRIGION ATHERICAE Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Central-Mediterranean halo-nitrophilous grasslands of salty clayey-loamy coastal slopes and inland badlands Indicator species in Sicily: Agrostis scabriglumis, Elymus acutus, Juncus subulatus. Festuco arundinaceae-Elytrigietum athericae Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 Puccinellietum gussonei Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Festuco arundinaceae-Juncetum subulati Brullo & Siracusa 2000 Festuco arundinaceae-Caricetum divisae Brullo & Siracusa 2000 SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE Br.-Bl. & Tx. ex A. Bolòs y Vayreda & O. de Bolòs in A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950 Mediterranean and thermo-atlantic perennial halo-hygrophilous vegetation (chenopod scrub) Indicator species in Sicily: Halimione portulacoides, Puccinellia festuciformis subsp. lagascana, Sarcocornia fruticosa. SALICORNIETALIA FRUTICOSAE Br.-Bl. 1933 Mediterranean and thermo-atlantic halophilous coastal tidal and inland temporarily flooded succulent chenopod scrub Indicator species in Sicily: see class. SALICORNION FRUTICOSAE Br.-Bl. 1933 Mediterranean and thermo-atlantic intertidal succulent dwarf chenopod scrub Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae Brullo in Brullo & Furnari 1988 (=Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpinii Sciandrello 2005) **Cynomorio coccineae-Halimionetum portulacoidis Biondi 1992 Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornietum alpinii Brullo in Brullo, De Santis, Furnari, Longhitano & Ronsisvalle 1988 corr. Barbagallo et al. 1990 343 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units SUAEDION VERAE Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 nom. mut. prop. (Bas.: Suaedion brevifoliae Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958) Mediterranean and Cantabro-Atlantic subnitrophilous supratidal succulent chenopod scrub on loamy-sandy soils Indicator species in Sicily: Suaeda vera subsp. vera, Elymus elongatus. Halimiono portulacoidis-Suaedetum verae Molinier & Tallon 1970 em. Géhu in Géhu et al. 1984 ARTHROCNEMION GLAUCI Rivas-Mart. & Costa M. 1984 Mediterranean hypersaline coastal supratidal succulent chenopod scrub on sandy and rocky soils Indicator species in Sicily: Aeluropus lagopoides, Triglochin bulbosa subsp. barrelieri, Spergularia salina. Arthrocnemo glauci-Juncetum subulati Brullo & Furnari 1977 Sphenopo divaricati-Arthrocnemetum glauci Br.-Bl. 1933 em. Géhu 1977 Aeluropo lagopoidis-Limonietum intermedii Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 LIMONIASTRETALIA GUYONIANI Guinochet 1951 Mediterranean Sea-lavender hypersaline scrub in supratidal non-inundated sandy habitats of the semi-desert regions of the Southern Mediterranean islands and North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: Limonium densilorum, L. ferulaceum, L. dubium, L. glomeratum, Limoniastrum monopetalum, Lygeum spartum. LIMONIASTRION MONOPETALI Pignatti 1952 Sea-lavender hypersaline scrub in supratidal non-inundated sandy habitats of the Western and Central Mediterranean and North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Sarcocornio fruticosae-Limonietum ferulacei Pignatti 1952 Limonio dubii-Lygeetum spartii Brullo & Di Martino 1974 corr. Brullo & Furnari 1988 Limoniastro monopetali-Limonietum lilybaei Brullo & Di Martino 1974 corr. Brullo & Furnari 1988 344 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units HALOCNEMION CRUCIATI Biondi et al. 2013 Hypersaline chenopod supratidal scrub of arid and hyperarid marginal regions of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Halocnemum cruciatum *Arthrocnemo-Halocnemetum cruciati Oberd. 1952 nom. corr. hoc loco LEMNETEA O. de Bolòs & Masclans 1955 Free-loating duckweed vegetation of still and relatively nutrient-rich freshwater bodies of the Holarctic Indicator species in Sicily: Lemna minor, L. gibba, L. trisulca, Wolia arrhiza, Spirodela polyrhiza. LEMNETALIA MINORIS O. de Bolòs & Masclans 1955 Vegetation of free-floating vegetation of still and relatively nutrient-rich freshwater bodies of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Lemna minor. LEMNION MINORIS O. de Bolòs & Masclans 1955 Vegetation of free-floating duckweed vegetation of still and relatively nutrient-rich freshwater bodies of the temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Lemnetum gibbae (W. Koch 1954) Miyawaki & J. Tx. 1960 Lemnetum minoris Oberd. 1957 ex Müller & Görs 1960 Wolietum arrhizae Miyawaki & J. Tx. 1960 Lemno minoris-Spirodeletum polyrrhizae (Kelhofer 1915) W. Koch 1954 em. Müller & Görs 1960 Lemnetum trisulcae (Kelhofer 1915) Knapp & Stöfers 1962 UTRICULARION VULGARIS Passarge 1964 Vegetation of free-loating bladderworts in mesotrophic and eutrophic waters of Europe 345 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Utricularia australis, U. vulgaris. Utricularietum australis Müller & Görs 1960 Utriculario vulgaris-Potamogetonetum natanti Raimondo, Marino & Schicchi 2011 Stratiotion Den Hartog & Segal 1964 Vegetation of free-floating macrophytes in fairly nutrient-rich shallow waters of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Myriophyllum verticillatum, Zannichellia palustris, Potamogeton crispus, P. natans, Ceratophyllum demersum, C. submersum. Ceratophylletum demersi Hild 1956 POTAMOGETONETEA Klika in Klika & Novák 1941 Vegetation of rooted loating or submerged macrophytes of stagnant mesotrophic, eutrophic and brackish freshwater bodies and slowly lowing shallow streams of Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: Apium inundatum, Berula erecta, Callitriche stagnalis, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Potamogeton crispus, P. nodosus, P. pectinatus, P. polygonifolius, Ranunculus trichophyllus. POTAMOGETONETALIA Koch 1926 Vegetation of rooted floating or submerged macrophytes of mesotrophic and eutrophic freshwater bodies of Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: see class. POTAMOGETONION Libbert 1931 Vegetation of rooted and floating macrophytes of freshwater bodies at low and mid-altitudes of temperate Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: see class. Potametum pectinati Carstensen 1955 Potametum perfoliati W. Koch 1926 em. Passarge 1964 Groenlandietum densae (Oberd. 1962) Segal 1965 346 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units NYMPHAEION ALBAE Oberd. 1957 Vegetation of rooted floating-leaf macrophytes of sheltered nutrient-rich freshwaters of Western and Central Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Callitriche obtusangula, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton natans, P. pusillus, Ranunculus omiophyllus. Myriophylletum spicati Soó 1927 Myriophylletum verticillati Gaudet 1924 Polygono amphibii-Potametum natantis Soó 1964 POTAMOGETONION GRAMINEI Westhoff & Den Held 1969 Vegetation of rooted macrophytes of nutrient-poor shallow freshwaters at mid-altitudes of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Potamogeton gramineum, Myriophyllum alternilorum. Myriophylletum alternilori Lemée 1937 em. Sissingh 1943 CALLITRICHO-HAMULATAE-RANUNCULETALIA AQUATILIS Passarge ex Theurillat in Theurillat et al. 2015 Vegetation of crosswort, crowfoot and milfoil rooted macrophytes in shallow and intermittent freshwater streams of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Callitriche truncata subsp. occidentalis, C. hamulata, C. lenisulca, P. iliformis, Ranunculus aquatilis, R. peltatus. BATRACHION FLUITANTIS Neuhäusl 1959 Vegetation of crowfoot and milfoil rooted macrophytes in shallow moving freshwaters of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Ranunculus penicillatus Ranunculetum penicillati Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Ranunculion aquatilis Passarge 1964 ex Theurillat in Theurillat et al. 2015 Vegetation of crosswort rooted macrophytes in shallow stagnant freshwaters of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see order. 347 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Ranunculetum peltati Segal 1967 Ranunculetum baudotii (Br.-Bl. 1951) em. Molinier & Tallon 1969 Ranunculo saniculifolii-Callitrichetum brutiae Brullo, Grillo & Terrasi 1976 Zannichellietalia pedicellatae Schaminée, Lanjouw & Schipper ex Mucina & Theurillat in Mucina et al. 2016 Vegetation of rooted macrophytes in meso-eutrophic brackish waters of Western and Central Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Zannichellia pedunculata ZANNICHELLION PEDICELLATAE Schaminée, Lanjouw & Schipper 1990 ex Passarge 1996 Vegetation of rooted macrophytes in meso-eutrophic brackish waters of Western and Central Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Najadetum marinae Fukarek 1961 Zannichellietum obtusifoliae Brullo & Spampinato 1991 ISOETO-NANOJUNCETEA Br.-Bl. & Tx. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 Eurasian hygrophilous ephemeral microphytic pioneer vegetation of temporary ponds Indicator species in Sicily: Antinoria insularis, Gaudinia fragilis, Juncus bufonius, J. capitatus, J. hybridus, J. tenageia, Lythrum hyssopifolia, L. junceum, L. portula, L. tribracteatum, Lotus angustissimus (subsp. angustissimus and subsp. hispidus), L. parvilorus, Mentha pulegium, Myosurus minimus, Oenanthe silaifolia, Polypogon subspathaceus, Poa inirma, Pulicaria vulgaris, Veronica anagalloides, Spergularia rubra. ISOETETALIA Br.-Bl. 1935 Pioneer ephemeral dwarf-herb vegetation on periodically flooded soils of the Mediterranean 348 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Airopsis tenella, Briza minor, Catabrosa aquatica, Centaurium maritimum, C. pulchellum, Damasonium alisma (subsp. alisma and subsp. bourgaei), D. polyspermum, Isoetes velata subsp. velata, Isoetes setacea, Isolepis cernua, Juncus pygmaeus, Lythrum borysthenicum, Marsilea strigosa, Myosotis sicula, Pilularia minuta, Polypogon maritimus, Ranunculus muricatus, Romulea ramilora, Trifolium micranthum, Veronica acinifolia. ISOETION Br.-Bl. 1935 Pioneer ephemeral quillwort vegetation of temporary pools and seasonally wet depressions of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Aira elegantissima, Isoetes duriei, I. histrix, L. conimbricensis, Ranunculus trilobus. Isoetetum durieui Br.-Bl. 1936 Isoeto durieui-Ranunculetum parviflori Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 PRESLION CERVINAE Br.-Bl. ex Moor 1936 Pioneer ephemeral herb-rich vegetation of temporary pools on sandy soils of the Central Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Callitriche brutia, C. platycarpa, Baldellia ranunculoides, Ranunculus laterilorus, Veronica anagalloides. Ranunculo laterilori-Antinorietum insularis Brullo, Grillo & Terrasi 1976 Ranunculo laterilori-Callitrichetum brutiae Brullo & Minissale 1998 Callitricho brutiae-Crassuletum vaillantii Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Tomaselli 1998 Kickxio cirrhosae-Solenopsietum laurentiae Brullo & Minissale 1998 Anagallido parvilorae-Molinerielletum minutae Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Tomaselli 1998 CICENDION (Rivas Goday in Rivas Goday & Borja 1961) Br.-Bl. 1967 Pioneer ephemeral herb-rich vegetation of oligotrophic temporarily looded depressions of the Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Anagallis arvensis subsp. parvilora, Centunculus minimus, Cicendia iliformis, Hypericum australe, Kickxia cirrhosa, Ophioglossum lusitanicum, Radiola linoides, Solenopsis laurentia. 349 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Junco capitati-Isoetetum hystricis Br.-Bl. 1935 Laurentio-Juncetum capitati Rivas Goday & Borja 1968 Archidio-Isoetetum velatae Brullo & Minissale 1998 NANOCYPERETALIA Klika 1935 Pioneer ephemeral herb- and graminoid-rich late-season vegetation on periodically flooded soils of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Coronopus squamatus, Cyperus fuscus, C. michelianus, Eryngium pusillum, Hordeum marinum subsp. gussoneanum, Plantago intermedia, Ranunculus sardous subsp. xatardii. NANOCYPERION Koch 1926 Pioneer dwarf cyperaceous vegetation on moist calcium rich substrates of the submediterranean and Atlantic regions of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Pulicario graecae-Scirpetum savii Brullo & Di Martino 1974 Plantago intermediae-Cyperetum fusci Sciandrello, D’Agostino & Minissale 2013 VERBENION SUPINAE Slavnić 1951 Pioneer ephemeral herb-rich vegetation in periodically flooded nutrient-rich habitats in the nemoral zone of Central and southeastern Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Glinus lotoides, Heliotropium supinus, Sisymbrella dentata, Sporobolus alopecuroides, Teucrium campanulatum, Verbena supina. Heliotropio supini-Heleochloetum schoenoidis Rivas Goday 1956 Glino mollis- Verbenetum supini Rivas Goday 1964 Verbeno supinae-Gnaphalietum luteo-albi Rivas Goday1970 Damasonio alismatis-Crypsietum aculeatae Rivas-Mart. & Costa in Rivas-Mart. et al. 1980 Coronopo squamati-Sisymbrelletum dentatae Minissale & Spampinato 1986 Ranunculo trilobi-Lythretum tribracteati Sciandrello 2005 Cresso creticae-Damasonietum bourgaei Sciandrello 2007 Pulicario graecae-Damasonietum bourgaei Minissale, Santo & Sciandrello 2011 350 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units **ELATINO MACROPODAE-DAMASONION ALISMATIS de Foucalt 1988 Pioneer ephemeral herb-rich vegetation of temporary flooded mesotrophic depressions of the winter-mild submediterranean and atlantic regions of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Buillardia vaillantii, Elatine gussonei, E. macropoda. Elatinetum macropodae Br.-Bl. 1936 *Buillardio vaillanti-Elatinetum gussonei Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 nom. mut. propos. PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA Klika in Klika & Novák 1941 Eurasian reed swamp, sedge bed and herbland vegetation of fresh and brackish waterbodies and streams dominated by big rhizomatous helophytes Indicator species in Sicily: Agrostis stolonifera (subsp. stolonifera and subsp. scabriglumis), Alisma lanceolatum, A. plantago-aquatica, Carex acutiformis, C. ovalis, Cladium mariscus, Cyperus laevigatus subsp. laevigatus, Eleocharis palustris, Epilobium parvilorum, Galium debile, G. palustre, Glyceria luitans, Lycopus europaeus, Lythrum salicaria, Mentha aquatica, Mentha longifolia, Phragmites australis subsp. australis, Persicaria decipiens, Samolus valerandi, Rumex sanguineus. PHRAGMITETALIA W. Koch 1926 Reed swamps, sedge beds and herblands of mesotrophic and eutrophic stagnating or slowly lowing freshwater or brackish water bodies of Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: Schoenoplectus lacustris subsp. lacustris, Bolboschoenus maritimus subsp. maritimus, Typha angustifolia, T. domingensis, T. latifolia, Oenanthe aquatica, Phragmites australis subsp. australis, Schedonorus arundinaceus subsp. arundinaceus. PHRAGMITION COMMUNIS W. Koch 1926 Reed swamp vegetation of mesotrophic and eutrophic standing freshwater bodies or gently moving streams of boreo-temperate Eurasia 351 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Scirpo lacustri-Phragmitetum australis W. Koch 1926 Bolboschoenetum maritimi Eggler 1933 Phragmitetum communis (W. Koch 1926) Schmale 1939 Scirpetum, Schmale 1939 Typhetum angustifoliae (Allorge 1921) Pignatti 1953 Typho angustifoliae-Schoenoplectetum glauci Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Typhetum latifoliae (Soó 1927) Lang 1973 Iridetum pseudacori Krzywanski 1974 Polygono salicifolii-Phragmitetum communis Barbagallo, Brullo & Furnari 1979 Soncho maritimi-Cladietum marisci (Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1957) Cirujano 1980 Typho domingensis-Phragmitetum maximi Costa, Boira, Peris & Stübing 1986 Typhetum domingensis Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1994 Typho angustifoliae-Phragmitetum australis (Tx. & Preising 1942) Rivas-Mart. et al. 1991 Caricetum pendulo-panormitanae Gianguzzi, Cusimano, Ilardi & Romano 2013 NASTURTIO-GLYCERIETALIA Pignatti 1953 Herblands and sedge-beds of well-oxygenated freshwater flowing streams of the temperate and mediterranean regions of Europe and Madeira Indicator species in Sicily: Apium nodilorum, Cyperus longus (subsp. longus and subsp. badius), Glyceria notata, G. spicata, Iris pseudacorus, Nasturtium oicinale, Sparganium erectum (subsp. erectum and subsp. neglectum), Veronica anagallis-aquatica. GLYCERIO-SPARGANION Br.-Bl. & Sissingh in Boer 1942 Herbland vegetation of small freshwater streams and in shallow water bodies of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Helosciadetum nodilori Br.-Bl. (1931) 1952 352 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Nasturtietum oicinalis (Seib. 1962) Oberd. et al. 1967 Sparganietum erecti (Roll 1938) Philippi 1973 Eleocharido palustris-Alismetum lanceolati Minissale & Spampinato 1987 Apio nodilori-Glycerietum plicatae Brullo & Spampinato 1991 Eleocharido palustris-Sparganietum neglecti Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1994 MAGNOCARICETALIA Pignatti 1953 Sedge-bed marsh vegetation of boreal and temperate Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: Althaea oicinalis, Carex cuprina, C. elata, C. hispida, C. riparia (subsp. riparia and subsp. retusa), Cirsium creticum subsp. triumphettii, Cyperus longus subsp. longus, Epilobium parvilorum, Euphorbia hirsuta, Galium palustre var. elongatum, Rumex conglomeratus, Teucrium scordium subsp. scordioides. MAGNOCARICION ELATAE W. Koch 1926 Sedge-bed marsh vegetation on oligotrophic to mesotrophic organic sediments of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Cyperetum longi Micevski 1957 Cypero longi-Caricetum otrubae Tx. in Tx. & Oberd. 1958 Caricetum ripariae Knapp & Stofer 1962 Caricetum hispidae Brullo & Ronsisvalle 1975 Carici distantis-Schoenetum nigricantis Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 BOLBOSCHOENETALIA MARITIMI Hejný in Holub et al. 1967 Meso-eutrophic brackish swamp reeds of European temperate coasts and the subcontinental inland regions of Central and Southern Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Bolboschoenus maritimus subsp. maritimus, Cyperus laevigatus subsp. distachyos, Phragmites australis var. stenophylla, Scirpoides holoschoenus subsp. australis, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, S. litoralis, Sonchus maritimus subsp. maritimus. 353 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units SCIRPION MARITIMI Dahl & Hadač 1941 Meso-eutrophic brackish swamp reeds of European temperate coastal regions Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Cypero laevigati-Schoenoplectetum thermalis Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Scirpetum compacto-littoralis (Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952) O. de Bolòs 1962 corr. Rivas-Mart., Costa, Castroviejo & Valdés-Bermejo 1980 Cyperetum distachyi Barbagallo, Brullo & Furnari 1990 Scirpetum compacti van Langendonck 1931 corr. Bueno & F. Prieto in Bueno 1997 OENANTHETALIA AQUATICAE Hejný ex Balátová-Tuláčková et al. 1993 Vegetation of emergent helophytes in shallow waters with fluctuating water table of temperate and boreal Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: Alopecurus bulbosus, Oenanthe aquatica, O. istulosa, Rorippa amphibia. ALOPECURO-GLYCERION SPICATAE Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1994 Vegetation of hygrophilous herblands of shallow montane pools characterized by large water-depth fluctuations at high altitudes of Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Alopecurus aequalis, A. rendlei, Glyceria spicata, Lythrum portula. Oenantho istulosae-Glycerietum spicatae Brullo & Grillo 1978 Glycerio spicatae-Oenanthetum aquaticae Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1994 Glycerio spicatae-Callitrichetum obtusangulae Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1994 PAPAVERETEA RHOEADIS Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 Annual weed segetal vegetation of arable crops, orchards and vineyards in the temperate and boreal zones of Eurasia 354 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Papaver rhoeas, Scandix pecten-veneris (subsp. pecten-veneris and subsp. brachycarpa), Torilis nodosa subsp. nodosa, Lolium rigidum (subsp. rigidum and subsp. lepturoides), Papaver dubium. APERETALIA SPICAE-VENTI J. Tx. & Tx. in Malato-Beliz, J. Tx. & Tx. 1960 Weed vegetation of cereal fields and gardens on acidic and nutrient-poor soils in the cool-temperate and boreal zones of Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: Arenaria serpyllifolia, Bunias erucago, Cerastium glomeratum, Cladanthus mixtus, Legousia speculum-veneris, Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. landra, Veronica arvensis, Vicia sativa. SCLERANTHION ANNUI (Kruseman & Vlieger 1939) Sissingh in Westhoff, Dijk & Passchier 1946 Weed segetal vegetation of winter cereal crops on neutral to acidic loamy and sandy-loamy soils of the (sub)atlantic regions in the nemoral zone of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Anthemis arvensis subsp. arvensis, Legousia falcata, Scleranthus annuus (subsp. annuus and subsp. verticillatus). Legousio falcatae-Brizetum minoris Brullo & Furnari 1982 GLADIOLO ITALICI-RIDOLFIETALIA SEGETI Mucina ex Mucina et al. 2016 Mediterranean winter-annual weed segetal vegetation of arable crops Indicator species in Sicily: Adonis microcarpa, Coronilla scorpioides, Galium verrucosum subsp. verrucosum, Gladiolus italicus, Lathyrus cicera, L. ochrus, Muscari comosum, Nigella damascena, Papaver hybridum, Rhagadiolus stellatus, Ridolia segetum, Silene turbinata. FUMARION WIRTGENII-AGRARIAE Brullo in Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Weed segetal vegetation of vineyards, orchards and hoed crops in the thermomediterranean belt of the Western and Central Mediterranean 355 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Fumaria agraria, F. densilora, F. gaillardotii, F. oicinalis subsp. wirtgenii, F. parvilora, Linaria relexa subsp. relexa, Rumex bucephalophorus subsp. gallicus, Veronica hederifolia, Veronica cymbalaria subsp. cymbalaria. Diplotaxietum vimineo-erucoidis Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Fumario densilorae-Veronicetum hederifoliae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Fumario parvilorae-Geranietum tuberosi Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Sileno coloratae-Lobularietum libycae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Raphano raphanistri-Erucetum sativae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Ammio majoris-Torilidetum nodosae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Herniario glabrae-Sperguletum arvensis Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Loto subbilori-Anthemidetum incrassatae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Fumarietum parviloro-bastardii Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Fumario parvilorae-Resedetum luteae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 ROEMERION HYBRIDAE Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González & Loidi in Loidi et al. 1997 Weed segetal vegetation of arable crops on basic substrates in the meso- and supramediterranean belts of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Bifora testiculata, Melilotus infestus, Silene fuscata. Legousio hybridae-Biforetum testiculatae Di Martino & Raimondo1976 Adonido cupanianae-Anthemidetum incrassatae Bartolo, Brullo, Fagotto & Grillo 1983 Vicio bithynicae-Ranunculetum arvensis Bartolo, Brullo, Fagotto & Grillo 1983 Rapistro rugosi-Melilotetum infestae Bartolo, Brullo, Fagotto & Grillo 1983 Valerianello dentatae-Medicaginetum scutellatae Ferro 1988 Lolio rigidi-Raphanetum raphanistri Ferro 2005 RIDOLFION SEGETI Nègre ex Rivas-Mart., Fernández-González & Loidi 1999 Weed segetal vegetation of arable crops on neutral loamy-clayey soils in the thermo- and mesomediterranean belts of North Africa and the Southern Mediterranean 356 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Adonis annua subsp. cupaniana, Bupleurum lancifolium, Geropogon hybridus, Phalaris brachystachys. Capnophyllo peregrini-Medicaginetum ciliaris Di Martino & Raimondo 1976 Calendulo tripterocarpae-Hypecoetum procumbentis Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 CHENOPODIETEA Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 Wintergreen annual weedy and ruderal vegetation of man-made habitats of the Mediterranean, mild-winter Atlantic seaboards and Macaronesia Indicator species in Sicily: Carduus nutans subsp. siculus, C. pycnocephalus, Centaurea calcitrapa, Cichorium intybus, Erodium cicutarium, Erodium malacoides, Eryngium campestre, Hyoscyamus niger, Lactuca serriola, Marrubium vulgare, Picris hieracioides (subsp. setulosa and subsp. spinulosa), Silybum marianum, Spergula arvensis, Verbascum pulverulentum, V. sinuatum, V. thapsus. CHENOPODIETALIA MURALIS Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1936 Winter-annual ruderal herb-rich vegetation on nutrient-rich disturbed soils of the Mediterranean and the Macaronesia Indicator species in Sicily: Chenopodium murale, Chondrilla juncea, Erigeron bonariensis, E. sumatrensis, Ecballium elaterium, Emex spinosa, Heliotropium curassavicum, Sisymbrium irio, Solanum sodomaeum. CHENOPODION MURALIS Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1936 Mediterranean nutrient-demanding ruderal vegetation dominated by low-grown non-succulent herbs Indicator species in Sicily: Amaranthus delexus, A. muricatus, Atriplex rosea, A. tatarica, Carthamus lanatus, Chenopodium ambrosioides, C. murale, C. opulifolium, C. vulvaria, Cynoglossum creticum, Notobasis syriaca, Scolymus hispanicus, Silybum marianum, Xanthium spinosum. Lavateretum cretico-arboreae Br.-Bl. & Molinier 1935 Malvetum parviloro-nicaeensis Br.-Bl. & Maire ex Br.-Bl. 1936 Chenopodietum muralis Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1936 Amarantho muricati-Chenopodietum ambrosioidis O. de Bolòs 1967 357 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Amarantho viridis-Chenopodietum muralis Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Chenopodio muralis-Parietarietum difusae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a BROMETALIA RUBENTI-TECTORUM (Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. 1973) Rivas-Mart. & Izco 1977 Winter-annual ruderal vegetation of summer-dry man-made habitats of the Mediterranean, the mild-winter Atlantic seaboards and Macaronesia Indicator species in Sicily: Aegilops geniculata, Anisantha madritensis, A. rubens, A sterilis, A. tectorum, Astragalus hamosus, A. sesameus, Avena barbata, Avena sterilis, Bromus hordeaceus (subsp. hordeaceus and subsp. molliformis), Catapodium rigidum subsp. majus, Dasypyrum villosum, Galactites tomentosus, Hedypnois cretica, Lolium rigidum (subsp. rigidum and subsp. lepturoides), Lotus edulis, L. ornithopodioides, Lupinus angustifolius, Medicago ciliaris, M. doliata, M. orbicularis, M. polymorpha, M. truncatula, Stipellula capensis, Sulla coronaria, Tordylium apulum, Trifolium angustifolium, Trifolium stellatum, Vicia villosa. HORDEION MURINI Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Gajewski, Wraber & Walas 1936 Mediterranean ruderal winter-annual grasslands Indicator species in Sicily: Anacyclus clavatus, Bromus scoparius, Echium plantagineum, Erodium ciconium, Glebionis coronaria, Hirschfeldia incana, Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum, Plantago lagopus, Reseda alba, Rostraria cristata, Sisymbrium oicinale. Hordeo leporini-Sisymbrietum orientalis Oberd. 1954 Malvo parvilorae-Chrysanthemetum coronarii Ferro 1980 Hordeo leporini-Vulpietum ligusticae Brullo 1983 Carduetum australis Brullo 1983 Hypochoerido hispidae-Plantaginetum serrariae Brullo 1983 Centauretum napifoliae Brullo 1983 Hordeo leporini-Senecionetum squalidi Brullo 1983 Hordeo leporini-Erodietum acaulis Brullo 1983 Senecioni cosyrensis-Hordetum leporini Brullo 1983 358 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Hordeo leporini-Centauretum macracanthae Brullo 1983 Chrysanthemo coronarii-Silybetum mariani Brullo 1983 Hordeo leporini-Onopordetum illyrici Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Hordeo leporini-Carduetum argyroae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Filago asteriscilorae-congestae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 corr.* Volutario lippii-Hordeetum leporini Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Hordeo leporini-Sisymbrietum erysimoidis Brullo & Scelsi 1988 Lavatero creticae-Chrysanthemetum coronarii Ferro 2005 ECHIO-GALACTITION TOMENTOSAE O. de Bolòs & Molinier 1969 Mediterranean tall-herb ruderal vegetation on calcareous nutrient-rich disturbed man-made soils Indicator species in Sicily: Centaurea diluta, Hypochaeris achyrophorus, Lotus ornithopodioides, Reichardia intermedia, R. picroides, Tordylium apulum, Urospermum picroides. Hedysaro coronarii-Lavateretum trimestris Maugeri 1975 Eruco sativae-Chamaemeletum mixti Brullo 1983 Galactito tomentosae-Isatidetum canescentis Brullo 1983 Galactito tomentosae-Knautietum hybridae Brullo 1983 *Linario multicaulis-Euphorbietum terracinae Brullo 1983 nom. mut. propos. Meliloto messanensis-Hordeetum marini Brullo 1983 Senecioni delphinifolii-Stachyetum hirtae Brullo 1983 Theligono cynocrambe-Smyrnietum rotundifolii Brullo 1983 Trifolio glomerati-Vicietum bithynicae Brullo 1983 Vicio villosae-Echietum pustulati Brullo 1983 Centauretum schouwii Brullo 1983 Convolvuletum tricoloris Brullo 1983 Convolvulo pentapetaloidi-Carduetum corymbosi Brullo 1983 Plantagini afrae-Carrichteretum annuae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Hippocrepido ciliatae-Astragaletum epiglottis Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Phleo echinati-Silenetum tenuilorae Bartolo, Minissale, Sorbello & Spampinato 1990 359 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Chrysanthemo coronarii-Hippocrepidetum multisiliquosae Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Achilleo ligusticae-Galactitetum tomentosae Ferro 2005 Bromo hordeacei-Galactitetum tomentosae Ferro et al. 2003 Plantago afrae-Galactitetum tomentosae Ferro & Privitera 2010 FEDIO GRACILIFLORAE-CONVOLVULION CUPANIANI Brullo & Spampinato 1986 Weed segetal vegetation of vineyards, abandoned ields and roadsides in the thermo- and mesomediterranean belts of Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris, Cerinthe major, Convolvulus tricolor subsp. cupanianus, Fedia gracililora, Geranium dissectum, Lotus purpureus, Medicago intertexta, S. leucanthemifolius subsp. mauritanicus, Scorpiurus vermiculatus, Silene bellidifolia, Trisetaria segetum, Vicia sicula. Ononido alopecuroidi-Vicietum siculae Brullo & Marcenò 1985 Chamaemelo fuscati-Silenetum fuscatae Brullo & Spampinato 1986 Vulpio ligusticae-Tetragonolobetum bilori Brullo & Spampinato 1986 Hedysaro coronarii-Lathyretum hirsuti Brullo & Spampinato 1986 Lotetum angustissimo-conimbricensis Brullo & Spampinato 1986 GERANIO PURPUREI-CARDAMINETALIA HIRSUTAE Brullo in Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Winter-annual fringe vegetation in shaded mesic habitats of the Mediterranean, winter-mild temperate (sub)atlantic and submediterranean regions of temperate Europe and the Macaronesia Indicator species in Sicily: Cardamine hirsuta, Centranthus calcitrapae, Galium spurium, Geranium lucidum, G. purpureum, G. rotundifolium, Myosotis ramosissima, Parietaria lusitanica, Theligonum cynocrambe, Torilis nodosa subsp. nodosa. ALLION TRIQUETRI O. de Bolòs 1967 Sciaphilous subnitrophilous geophyte-rich fringe vegetation of the Central-Western Mediterranean region 360 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Indicator species in Sicily: Allium triquetrum, Cynoglossum creticum, Dephinium staphisagria, Smyrnium olusatrum, Stellaria cupaniana, Succowia balearica. Acantho mollis-Smyrnietum olusatri Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Delphinio staphisagriae-Stellarietum cupanianae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Succowio balearicae-Smyrnietum olusatri Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Fumario labellatae-Parietarietum judaicae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Succowio balearicae-Castellietum tuberculosae Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Geranio purpurei-Smyrnietum olusatri Ferro 2005 VALANTIO MURALIS-GALION MURALIS Brullo in Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Mesic subnitrophilous winter-annual fringe and wall vegetation of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Arabidopsis thaliana, Arabis verna, Arenaria leptoclados, Campanula dichotoma, C. erinus, Draba muralis, Erophila verna, Galium murale, Parietaria lusitanica, P. mauritanica, Phedimus stellatus, Sedum cepaea, Theligonum cynocrambe, Valantia muralis. Torilido nemorali-Cerastietum pentandri Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Galio muralis-Sedetum cepaeae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Cruciato pedemontanae-Buglossoidetum splitgerberi Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Parietario lusitanicae-Veronicetum cymbalariae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Sedetum litoreo-stellati Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Laguro vestiti-Erodietum maritimi Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Ranunculo parvilori-Senecionetum lividi Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Valantio murali-Polycarpetum alsinifolii Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Valerianello eriocarpae-Cerastietum glomerati Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Valerianello carinatae-Cerastietum luridi Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Geranio purpurei-Saxifragetum bulbiferae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Galio murali-Catapodietum zwierleinii Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Valantio murali-Solenopsidetum annuae Brullo, Scelsi & Siracusa 1994 Valerianello puberulae-Galietum calvescentis Brullo & Siracusa 1996 361 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units VERONICO-URTICION URENTIS Brullo in Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Mesic subnitrophilous sciaphilous weed vegetation of fertilized and irrigated citrus groves on alluvial soils of the Central Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Stellaria neglecta, Urtica urens, Veronica persica. Fumario parvilorae-Stellarietum neglectae Maugeri ex Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Bromo sterili-Brassicetum sylvestris Brullo & Marcenò 1985a DIGITARIO SANGUINALIS-ERAGROSTIETEA MINORIS Mucina, Lososová & Šilc in Mucina et al. 2016 Thermophilous grass-rich anthropogenic vegetation rich in summer-annual C4 species in the southern nemoral, Mediterranean, steppe and semi-desert zones of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Amaranthus albus, A. blitoides, A. blitum, A. graecizans subsp. sylvestris, A. viridis, Bassia scoparia, Corispermum intermedium, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria ischaemum, D. sanguinalis, Diplotaxis muralis, D. tenuifolia, Dysphania ambrosioides, Echinochloa colona, E. crus-galli, Eleusine indica, Eragrostis barrelieri, E. minor, Erigeron bonariensis, Euphorbia chamaesyce, E. humifusa, E. maculata, E. prostrata, Heliotropium europaeum, Lepidium densilorum. ERAGROSTIETALIA J. Tx. ex Poli 1966 Thermophilous grass-rich anthropogenous vegetation rich in C4 species on summer-dry sandy soils of Southern and Central Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Amaranthus cruentus, A. hybridus, A. hypocondriacus, A. retrolexus, Aristolochia clematitis, Chenopodium opulifolium, Cyperus rotundus, Eragrostis E. cilianensis, E. pilosa, Euphorbia segetalis, Galinsoga parvilora, Misopates orontium, Persicaria maculosa, P. lapathifolia, Portulaca oleracea, Setaria adhaerens, S. verticillata, Solanum villosum, Sorghum halepense, Tribulus terrestris. ERAGROSTION Tx. in Oberd. 1954 Thermophilous late-summer weed vegetation on sandy soils of southeastern Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula Indicator species in Sicily: see order. 362 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Setario glaucae-Echinochloëtum coloni A. Bolòs y Vayreda & O. de Bolòs ex O. de Bolòs 1956 Setario ambiguae-Cyperetum rotundi Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 Amarantho graecizantis-Setarietum verticillatae Ferro 2005 DIPLOTAXION ERUCOIDIS Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Gajewski, Wraber & Walas 1936 Weed vegetation on neutral to basic soils in the thermo- and mesomediterrannean belts of the Central and Western Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Visnaga daucoides, Diplotaxis erucoides, Chrozophora tinctoria, Euphorbia chamaesyce subsp. massiliensis, Helminthotheca echioides, Hypericum triquetrifolium, Silene turbinata. Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Kickxietum integrifoliae Brullo & Marcenò 1980 Amarantho lividi-Eragrostietum barrelieri Brullo & Marcenò 1985 Chrozophoro tinctoriae-Heliotropietum dolosi Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 CHENOPODION BOTRYOS Brullo & Marcenò 1980 Weed vegetation on sandy acidic and nutrient-poor soils in the thermo- and mesomediterrannean belts of Sicily Indicator species in Sicily: Brassica fruticulosa, Dysphania botrys, D. multiida, Heliotropium suaveolens subsp. bocconei. Heliotropietum bocconei Brullo & Marcenò 1980 Heliotropietum dolosi Brullo & Marcenò 1980 Heliotropio dolosi-Brassicetum fruticulosae Ferro 2005 POLYGONO-POETEA ANNUAE Rivas-Mart. 1975 Subcosmopolitan therophytic nitrophilous dwarf vegetation of trampled areas Indicator species in Sicily: Poa annua, Polygonum arenastrum, Sclerochloa dura POLYGONO ARENASTRI-POETALIA ANNUAE Tx. in Géhu, Richard & Tx. 1972 corr. Rivas-Mart. et al. 1991 Subcosmopolitan therophyte-rich dwarf-herb vegetation of trampled habitats Indicator species in Sicily: Amaranthus delexus. 363 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units POLYCARPION TETRAPHYLLI Rivas-Mart. 1975 Herb-rich vegetation in trampled sunny habitats of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Coronopus didymus, Polycarpon tetraphyllum, Plantago coronopus subsp. humilis, Sagina apetala, Spergularia rubra. Euphorbio chamaesyci-Oxalidetum corniculatae Lorenzoni 1964 Crassulo tillaeae-Saginetum apetalae Rivas-Mart. 1975 Polycarpo tetraphylli-Spergularietum rubrae Brullo & Marcenò 1976 em. Brullo 1980 Trisetario aureae-Crepidetum bursifoliae Brullo 1980 Arabidopsio thalianae-Cardaminetum hirsutae Brullo 1980 ARTEMISIETEA VULGARIS Lohmeyer, Preising & R. Tx in Tx. ex von Rochow 1951 Perennial (sub)xerophilous geophytic and hemicryptophytic ruderal eutrophilic vegetation of the temperate and Mediterranean regions of Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Arctium minus, Ballota nigra, Barbarea bracteosa, Carduus nutans subsp. nutans, Cerinthe minor subsp. auriculata, Chaerophyllum, Cirsium vulgare subsp. vulgare, Conium maculatum, Dipsacus fullonum, Geranium pyrenaicum, Lapsana communis, Malva moschata, Rumex obtusifolius, Silene latifolia, Sinapis pubescens, Smyrnium perfoliatum, Taraxacum gasparrinii. CARTHAMETALIA LANATI Brullo in Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Thistle-dominated ruderal vegetation on disturbed calcareous substrates of the submediterranean regions of Southern Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Carthamus lanatus, Centaurea aspera, Cynoglossum cheirifolium, C. creticum, Echium vulgare subsp. pustulatum, Nicotiana glauca, Notobasis syriaca, Picnomon acarna, Scolymus hispanicus, S. maculatus. SILYBO MARIANI-URTICION PILULIFERAE Sissing ex Br.-Bl. & O. de Bolòs 1958 Hypernitrophilous thistle-dominated vegetation of the Mediterranean sheepfolds and manure heaps Indicator species in Sicily: Carduus tenuilorus, C. acicularis, C. argyroa, Cirsium vulgare subsp. crinitum, Notobasis syriaca, Silybum marianum, Urtica pilulifera. Silybo mariani-Urticetum piluliferae Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1936 364 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units ONOPORDION ILLYRICI Oberd. 1954 Thistle-dominated ruderal xerophilous vegetation of Sicily, Mediterranean and submediterranean regions of the Balkan and Italian peninsulas Indicator species in Sicily: Carthamus caeruleus subsp. caeruleus, Carlina gummifera, Cirsium echinatum, Cynara cardunculus, Eryngium campestre, Onopordum illyricum (subsp. illyricum and subsp. horridum), Phlomis herba-venti, Scolymus hispanicus, Tyrimnus leucographus. Scolymetum maculato-grandilori Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Onopordo illyrici-Cirsietum scabri Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Pteridio aquilini-Tanacetum siculi Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Bonannietum graecae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Phlomido herba-venti-Salvietum sclareae Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Phlomido herba-venti-Nepetetum apuleii Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Glaucio lavi-Onopordetum horridi Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Glaucio lavi-Scolymetum hispanici Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 ELYTRIGIO REPENTIS-DITTRICHIETALIA VISCOSAE Mucina in Mucina et al. 2016 Anthropogenic sub-ruderal and ruderal grasslands and herblands of submediterranean and mediterranean Southern Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Boerhavia repens, Dittrichia viscosa, Euphorbia ceratocarpa, Lepidium graminifolium, Piptatherum miliaceum subsp. miliaceum, Plumbago europaea. BROMO-ORYZOPSION MILIACEAE O. de Bolòs 1970 Thermomediterranean sub-ruderal perennial grasslands on disturbed road verges of the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: see order. Dauco maximi-Oryzopsietum miliaceae O. de Bolòs & Vigo 1972 Boerhraavio viscosae-Oryzopsietum miliaceae Brullo 1984 Centrantho rubri-Euphorbietum ceratocarpae Brullo 1984 Diplotaxio tenuifoliae-Oryzopsietum miliaceae Brullo 1984 Dittrichio graveolentis-Ferulaginetum campestris Brullo 1984 Euphorbietum cupanii Brullo 1984 Sinapio pubescenti-Oryzopsietum miliaceae Brullo 1984 365 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Tricholaeno tenerifae-Oryzopsietum miliaceae Brullo 1984 Mantisalco salmanticae-Oryzopsietum miliaceae Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1990 Lathyro sphaerici-Oryzopsietum miliaceae Brullo & Siracusa 1996 Centauretum sonchifoliae Brullo & Siracusa 2005 *ARUNDION PLINII Brullo, Giusso, Guarino & Sciandrello in C. Brullo et al. 2010 nom. mut. propos. Thermomediterranean sub-ruderal perennial terrestrial reed on wet clayey soils of the Southern Apennine Peninsula, Sicily, Hellas and Crete Indicator species in Sicily: Arundo plinii. *Euphorbio ceratocarpae-Arundinetum plinii Brullo, Giusso, Guarino & Sciandrello 2010 nom. mut. propos. EPILOBIETEA ANGUSTIFOLII R.Tx. & Preising ex von Rochow 1951 Tall-herb semi-natural perennial vegetation on disturbed forest edges, nutrient-rich riparian fringes and forest clearings of Eurasia Indicator species in Sicily: Anthriscus nemorosa, Chaerophyllum temulum, Epilobium angustifolium, Galium aparine, Geranium robertianum, Heracleum sphondylium subsp. elegans, Lamium lexuosum, Poa trivialis, Sambucus ebulus. CONVOLVULETALIA SEPIUM Tx. ex Moor 1958 Semi-natural fringe vegetation on banks of rivers and other water bodies of temperate Europe and the Mediterranean Indicator species in Sicily: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Calystegia sepium, Pastinaca sativa subsp. urens. CYNANCHO-CONVOLVULION SEPIUM Rivas Goday & Rivas-Mart. ex Rivas-Mart. 1977 Western Mediterranean tall-herb vegetation in nutrient-rich riparian habitats Indicator species in Sicily: Arundo donax, Cynanchum acutum. Calystegio sylvaticae-Arundinetum donacis Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 366 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units **DORYCNIO RECTI-RUMICION CONGLOMERATI Gradstein & Smittenberg 1977 Central and Eastern Mediterranean tall-herb vegetation in nutrient-rich riparian habitats Indicator species in Sicily: Lotus rectus, Mentha suaveolens, Petasites hybridus, Rumex conglomeratus. Rubo ulmifolii-Dorycnietum recti Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 Cirsio cretici-Dorycnietum recti (Brullo & Ronsisvalle 1975) J.M. Géhu & Biondi 1988 BALLOTO-CONION MACULATI Brullo in Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Tall-herb perennial ruderal vegetation in mesic habitats in the submontane and montane belts of submediterranean Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Artemisia verlotiorum, Ballota nigra subsp. uncinata, Chelidonium majus, Conium maculatum, Melissa romana, Silene latifolia, Urtica dioica. Urtico dioicae-Sambucetum ebuli (Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1936) Br.Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Galio aparines-Conietum maculati Rivas-Mart. ex Lopez 1978 Angelico sylvestris-Urticetum dioicae Minissale & Spampinato 1991 Balloto uncinatae-Melissetum romanae Brullo, Minissale, Scelsi & Spampinato 1993 GALIO APARINES-ALLIARIETALIA PETIOLATAE Oberd. in Görs & T. Müller 1969 Ruderal and semi-natural thermophilous fringe vegetation of shortlived herbs on nutrient-rich soils in the submontane and montane belts of submediterranean Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Alliaria petiolata, Bryonia cretica subsp. dioica, Cruciata laevipes, Galium aparine, Glechoma hirsuta. 367 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units ANTHRISCION NEMOROSAE Brullo in Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Ruderal and semi-natural thermophilous fringe vegetation of shortlived herbs on nutrient-rich soils in the submontane and montane belts of submediterranean Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Allium ursinum, Anthriscus nemorosa, Lamium biidum, Ranunculus lanuginosus var. umbrosus, Symphytum bulbosum, Thlaspi alliaceum. Anthrisco nemorosae-Chaerophylletum temuli (Hruska 1981) Brullo, Scelsi & Spampinato 2001 Lepidio nebrodensis-Smyrnietum perfoliati Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Anthrisco nemorosae-Heracletum cordati Brullo & Marcenò 1985a ARCTIO LAPPAE-ARTEMISIETALIA VULGARIS Dengler 2002 Ruderal vegetation dominated by short-lived perennials on mesic loamy soils of the low-altitude cool-temperate Europe and mountains of Mediterranean Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Carduus nutans subsp. nutans, Cerinthe minor subsp. auriculata, Chaerophyllum temulum, Malva moschata, Rumex obtusifolius, Sinapis pubescens, Urtica dioica. ARCTION LAPPAE Tx. 1937 Ruderal vegetation of short-lived perennials on mesic loamy soils of cool-temperate Europe mountains of Mediterranean Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Arctium minus, Chenopodium bonus-henricus, Geranium pyrenaicum, Verbascum rotundifolium. Urtico dioicae-Arrhenatheretum elatioris Raimondo 1983 em. Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Cerintho auriculatae-Chenopodietum boni-henrici Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Verbasco rotundifolii-Sambucetum ebuli Brullo & Marcenò 1985a Urtico dioicae-Cirsietum italici Brullo & Marcenò 1985a 368 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units BIDENTETEA Tx., Lohmeyer & Preising ex von Rochow 1951 Summer-annual pioneer vegetation of seasonally looded nutrient-rich riverbeds, lacustrine banks and heavily nutrient-loaded anthropogenic habitats of Europe and North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: Bidens aurea, B. frondosa, B. tripartita. BIDENTETALIA Br.-Bl. & Tx. ex Klika & Hadač 1944 Summer-annual pioneer vegetation of seasonally flooded nutrient-rich riverbeds, lacustrine banks and heavily nutrientloaded anthropogenic habitats of boreo-temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Bidens tripartita, Echinochloa crus-galli, Persicaria hydropiper. BIDENTION TRIPARTITAE Nordhagen ex Klika & Hadač 1944 Summer-annual pioneer vegetation of periodically nutrient-rich river banks and drained muddy bottoms of eutrophic lakes of boreo-temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Cyperus fuscus, Paspalum distichum, Polypogon viridis. Bidentetum tripartitae Koch 1926 CHENOPODION RUBRI (Tx. in Poli & J. Tx. 1960) Hilbig & Jage 1972 Summer-annual pioneer vegetation in heavily nutrient-loaded and saline ruderal habitats of temperate Europe Indicator species in Sicily: Amaranthus retrolexus, Cyperus fuscus, Persicaria lapathifolia, Polypogon viridis, Xanthium strumarium subsp. italicum. Polygono lapathifolii-Xanthietum italici Pirola & Rossetti 1974 Polygono orientalis-Chenopodietum rubri Sciandrello 2009 PASPALO-HELEOCHLOETALIA Br.-Bl. ex Rivas Goday 1956 Summer-annual pioneer vegetation of periodically looded nutrient-rich river alluvia of the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: Corrigiola littoralis, Dysphania anthelmintica, Panicum repens, Persicaria lapathifolia, Sporobolus schoenoides,, Tagetes minuta. 369 Syntaxonomic list of the vegetation units Paspalo-Agrostion SEMIverticillati Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Summer-annual pioneer vegetation of periodically flooded subsaline nutrient-rich river alluvia of the mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa Indicator species in Sicily: see order Paspalo-Polypogonetum viridis Br.-Bl. 1936 Lippio nodilorae-Panicetum repentis O. Bolòs 1957 370 FLORAE SICULAE SYNOPSIS RiccaRdo GuaRino & maRco la RoSa The lora of Sicily counts 3111 species: around 40% of our national lora. The tables included here illustrate 3081 of these species. Tables are taken from the Flora d’Italia Digitale (Digital Flora of Italy), which will bundle the second edition of Pignatti’s Flora d’Italia. It will include more than 90000 pics of 7620 species, a data base on plant traits and an interactive identiication tool. We committed ourselves to the lora because we would like to inspire a true love for the plant life, for their ecosystems. We wanted to show everyone the colourful variety of our lowering plants, we wanted to invite everyone to go hiking to see and experience what is shown in our photographs. Plant are a marvellous synthesis of discreet beauty and laborious productivity. They ofer those who sufer from the depletion of vital energies the reward of an aesthetic catharsis, the exhilaration of contemplative stunning. In short: a botanical excursion cheers up! Plants invite us to take the measures of ourselves and to resize our problems. If you think that the quality of life is not determined by what you have, but by what you know, the ability to recognize and name the organisms that make possible our very existence, is a way to live better. Plants have an essential smartness, a simplicity lived with serene grace. Silently passing their time on the earth, they glamorize without clamour, they give without demanding. He who loves plants can see how gross it is to hoard without limits; how illusory it is to claim pre-emption over what, in reality, belongs to everyone; how vain it is to spend time just to satisfy needless needs, believing that this is the right way to escape from a status that looks like “poverty” to our blinded eyes. He who really loves plants realizes that we are getting poorer and poorer while we continue this vast and violent exploitation of our planet. Florae siculae synopsis 375 Florae siculae synopsis 376 Florae siculae synopsis 377 Florae siculae synopsis 378 Florae siculae synopsis 379 Florae siculae synopsis 380 Florae siculae synopsis 381 Florae siculae synopsis 382 Florae siculae synopsis 383 Florae siculae synopsis 384 Florae siculae synopsis 385 Florae siculae synopsis 386 Florae siculae synopsis 387 Florae siculae synopsis 388 Florae siculae synopsis 389 Florae siculae synopsis 390 Florae siculae synopsis 391 Florae siculae synopsis 392 Florae siculae synopsis 393 Florae siculae synopsis 394 Florae siculae synopsis 395 Florae siculae synopsis 396 Florae siculae synopsis 397 Florae siculae synopsis 398 Florae siculae synopsis 399 Florae siculae synopsis 400 Florae siculae synopsis 401 Florae siculae synopsis 402 Florae siculae synopsis 403 Florae siculae synopsis 404 Florae siculae synopsis 405 Florae siculae synopsis 406 Florae siculae synopsis 407 Florae siculae synopsis 408 Florae siculae synopsis 409 Florae siculae synopsis 410 Florae siculae synopsis 411 Florae siculae synopsis 412 Florae siculae synopsis 413 Florae siculae synopsis 414 Florae siculae synopsis 415 Florae siculae synopsis 416 Florae siculae synopsis 417 Florae siculae synopsis 418 Florae siculae synopsis 419 Florae siculae synopsis 420 Florae siculae synopsis 421 Florae siculae synopsis 422 Florae siculae synopsis 423 Florae siculae synopsis 424 Florae siculae synopsis 425 Florae siculae synopsis 426 Florae siculae synopsis 427 Florae siculae synopsis 428 Florae siculae synopsis 429 Florae siculae synopsis 430 Florae siculae synopsis 431 Florae siculae synopsis 432 Florae siculae synopsis 433 Florae siculae synopsis 434 Florae siculae synopsis 435 Florae siculae synopsis 436 Florae siculae synopsis 437 Florae siculae synopsis 438 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synopsis 507 Florae siculae synopsis 508 Florae siculae synopsis 509 Florae siculae synopsis 510 Florae siculae synopsis 511 Florae siculae synopsis 512 Florae siculae synopsis 513 Florae siculae synopsis 514 Florae siculae synopsis 515 Florae siculae synopsis 516 Florae siculae synopsis 517 Florae siculae synopsis 518 Florae siculae synopsis 519 Florae siculae synopsis 520 Florae siculae synopsis 521 Florae siculae synopsis 522 Florae siculae synopsis 523 Florae siculae synopsis 524 Florae siculae synopsis 525 Florae siculae synopsis 526 Florae siculae synopsis 527 Florae siculae synopsis 528 Florae siculae synopsis 529 Florae siculae synopsis 530 Florae siculae synopsis 531 Florae siculae synopsis 532 Florae siculae synopsis 533 Florae siculae synopsis 534 Florae siculae synopsis 535 Florae siculae synopsis 536 Florae siculae synopsis 537 Florae siculae synopsis 538 Florae siculae synopsis 539 Florae siculae synopsis 540 Florae siculae synopsis 541 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Bluf et Fingerh. 533 Adenostyles hybrida Guss. 533 Adenostyles macrocephala Huter, Porta et Rigo 533 Adiantum capillus-veneris L. 376 Adonis annua L. 419 Adonis microcarpa DC. 419 Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. 414 Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl. 414 Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb et Berthel. 424 Aeonium decorum Webb ex Bolle 424 Aeonium gomerense (Praeger) Praeger 424 Aeonium haworthii Salm-Dyck ex Webb et Berthel. 424 Aeonium simsii (Sweet) Stearn 424 Aesculus hippocastanum L. 492 Aetheorhiza bulbosa (L.) Cass. 544 Aethionema saxatile (L.) R. Br. 484 Agave americana L. 385 Agave salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dyck 385 Agave sisalana Perrine 385 Agave vivipara L. 385 Agrimonia eupatoria L. 472 Agrimonia procera Wallr. 472 Agrostemma githago L. 436 Agrostis castellana Boiss. et Reut. 409 Agrostis pourretii Willd. 408 Agrostis scabriglumis Boiss. et Reut. 408 Agrostis stolonifera L. 408 Agrostis tenerrima Trin. 408 Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle 491 Aira caryophyllea L. 409 Aira cupaniana Guss. 409 Aira elegantissima Schur 409 Aira intermedia Guss. 409 Aira tenorei Guss. 409 Airopsis tenella (Cav.) Coss. et Durieu 409 Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreb. 500 Ajuga iva (L.) Schreb. 500 Ajuga orientalis L. 500 Ajuga reptans L. 500 Ajuga tenorei C. Presl 500 Albizia julibrissin Durazz. 452 Alcea rosea L. 490 Alisma lanceolatum With. 380 Alisma plantago-aquatica L. 380 Alkanna tinctoria Tausch 497 Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara et Grande 479 Allium aetnense Brullo, Pavone et Salmeri 388 Allium agrigentinum Brullo et Pavone 388 Allium amethystinum Tausch 388 Allium ampeloprasum L. 388 Allium castellanense (Garbari, Miceli et Raimondo) Brullo, Guglielmo, Pavone et Salmeri 388 Allium cepa L. 387 Index of species Allium chamaemoly L. subsp. chamaemoly 387 Allium commutatum Guss. 388 Allium cupanii Raf. 387 Allium dentiferum Webb et Berthel. 388 Allium lavum L. 388 Allium franciniae Brullo et Pavone 387 Allium hemisphaericum (Sommier) Brullo 388 Allium lehmannii Lojac. 388 Allium lopadusanum Bartolo, Brullo et Pavone 388 Allium moschatum L. 387 Allium neapolitanum Cirillo 387 Allium nebrodense Guss. 388 Allium nigrum L. 389 Allium obtusilorum DC. 387 Allium oleraceum L. 388 Allium pallens L. 388 Allium panormitanum Brullo, Pavone et Salmeri 387 Allium pelagicum Brullo, Pavone et Salmeri 388 Allium pendulinum Ten. 387 Allium permixtum Guss. 387 Allium roseum L. 387 Allium sardoum Moris 389 Allium sativum L. 388 Allium senescens L. subsp. montanum (Fr.) Holub 387 Allium sphaerocephalon L. 388 Allium subhirsutum L. 387 Allium trifoliatum Cirillo 387 Allium triquetrum L. 387 Allium ursinum L. 387 Allium vernale Tineo 387 Allium vineale L. 388 Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Desf. 469 Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. 469 Aloe succotrina All. 390 Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. 390 Alopecurus aequalis Sobol. 407 Alopecurus bulbosus Gouan 407 Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. 407 Alopecurus pratensis L. 407 Alopecurus rendlei Eig 407 Althaea cannabina L. 490 Althaea hirsuta L. 490 Althaea oicinalis L. 490 Althenia iliformis F. Petit 381 Alyssum minutum Schltdl. ex DC. 482 568 Alyssum nebrodense Tineo 482 Alyssum siculum Jord. 482 Alyssum simplex Rudolphi 482 Amaranthus albus L. 439 Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson 439 Amaranthus blitum L. 439 Amaranthus caudatus L. 439 Amaranthus cruentus L. 440 Amaranthus delexus L. 439 Amaranthus emarginatus Salzm. ex Uline et W.L. Bray 439 Amaranthus graecizans L. 439 Amaranthus hybridus L. 440 Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. 440 Amaranthus muricatus (Gillies ex Moq.) Hieron. 439 Amaranthus retrolexus L. 440 Amaranthus tricolor L. 439 Amaranthus viridis L. 439 Amaryllis bella-donna L. 389 Ambrosia maritima L. 530 Ambrosina bassii L. 380 Amelanchier cretica (Willd.) DC. 474 Amelanchier ovalis Medik. 474 Ammi majus L. 521 Ammoides pusilla (Brot.) Breistr. 521 Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link subsp. australis (Mabille) Laínz 407 Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) T. Durand et Schinz 414 Anacamptis collina (Banks et Sol. ex Russell) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 392 Anacamptis coriophora (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 392 Anacamptis laxilora (Lam.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 392 Anacamptis longicornu (Poir.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 392 Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 392 Anacamptis palustris (Jacq.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 392 Anacamptis papilionacea (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 392 Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich. 392 Anacyclus clavatus (Desf.) Pers. 531 Anacyclus radiatus Loisel. 531 Index of species Anagallis arvensis L. 493 Anagallis foemina Mill. 493 Anagallis monelli L. 493 Anagyris foetida L. 452 Anchusa azurea Mill. 498 Anchusa undulata L. 498 Anchusella cretica (Mill.) Bigazzi, E. Nardi et Selvi 498 Andrachne telephioides L. 448 Andropogon distachyos L. 417 Androsace elongata L. subsp. breistroferi (Charpin et Greuter) Molero et J.M. Monts. 492 Andryala cossyrensis Guss. 543 Andryala dentata Sm. 542 Andryala integrifolia L. 542 Andryala tenuifolia (Tineo) DC. 542 Anemone apennina L. 418 Anemone coronaria L. 418 Anemone hortensis L. 418 Anemone palmata L. 418 Angelica sylvestris L. 521 Anisantha diandra (Roth) Tutin ex Tzvelev 411 Anisantha fasciculata (C. Presl) Nevski 411 Anisantha madritensis (L.) Nevski 411 Anisantha rigida (Roth) Nevski 411 Anisantha rubens (L.) Nevski 411 Anisantha sterilis (L.) Nevski 411 Anisantha tectorum (L.) Nevski 411 Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link 375 Anthemis aetnensis Schouw 531 Anthemis arvensis L. 532 Anthemis chia L. 532 Anthemis cotula L. 532 Anthemis cretica L. 531 Anthemis cupaniana Tod. ex Nyman 532 Anthemis ismelia Lojac. 532 Anthemis maritima L. 532 Anthemis muricata (DC.) Guss. 532 Anthemis peregrina L. subsp. peregrina 532 Anthemis pignattiorum Guarino, Raimondo et Domina 532 Anthemis rigida Heldr. 532 Anthemis secundiramea Biv. 532 Anthemis urvilleana (DC.) Sommier et Caruana 532 Anthoxanthum gracile Biv. 407 Anthoxanthum odoratum L. 407 Anthoxanthum ovatum Lag. 407 Anthriscus nemorosa (M. Bieb.) Spreng. 518 Anthyllis barba-jovis L. 465 Anthyllis busambarensis (Lojac.) Pignatti 466 Anthyllis hermanniae L. 465 Anthyllis maura Beck 465 Anthyllis praepropera (A. Kern.) Beck 465 Antinoria insularis Parl. 409 Antirrhinum majus L. 509 Antirrhinum siculum Mill. 509 Antirrhinum tortuosum Bosc 509 Aphanes arvensis L. 473 Aphanes loribunda (Murb.) Rothm. 473 Aphanes inexspectata W. Lippert 473 Aphanes pusilla (Pomel) Batt. 473 Apium graveolens L. 520 Aptenia cordifolia (L. f.) Schwantes 443 Aquilegia sicula (Strobl) E. Nardi 421 Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. 479 Arabis alpina L. 482 Arabis auriculata Lam. 482 Arabis caucasica Willd. 482 Arabis collina Ten. 481 Arabis hirsuta (L.) Scop. 482 Arabis madonia C. Presl 481 Arabis pseudoturritis Boiss. et Heldr. 481 Arabis rosea DC. 481 Arabis sagittata (Bertol.) DC. 482 Arabis turrita L. 482 Arabis verna (L.) R. Br. 482 Araujia sericifera Brot. 496 Arbutus unedo L. 493 Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. 535 Arctium nemorosum Lej. 535 Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns 535 Aremonia agrimonoides (L.) DC. 472 Arenaria bertolonii Fiori et Paol. 432 Arenaria grandilora L. 431 Arenaria leptoclados (Rchb.) Guss. 431 Arenaria serpyllifolia L. 432 Argyrolobium zanonii (Turra) P.W. Ball 453 Arisarum vulgare Targ. Tozz. 380 Aristella bromoides (L.) Bertol. 413 Aristida adscensionis L. 415 Aristolochia clematitis L. 379 Aristolochia clusii Lojac. 379 Aristolochia lutea Desf. 379 Aristolochia navicularis E. Nardi 379 569 Index of species Aristolochia rotunda L. 379 Aristolochia sempervirens L. 379 Aristolochia sicula Tineo 379 Armeria gussonei Boiss. 427 Armeria nebrodensis (Guss.) Boiss. 427 Arrhenatherum bulbosum (Willd.) C. Presl 408 Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. Presl et C. Presl 408 Arrhenatherum nebrodense Brullo, Miniss. et Spamp. 408 Artemisia alba Turra subsp. alba 531 Artemisia annua L. 531 Artemisia arborescens L. 531 Artemisia campestris L. 531 Artemisia dracunculus L. 531 Artemisia verlotiorum Lamotte 531 Artemisia vulgaris L. 531 Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) K. Koch 442 Arum cylindraceum Gasp. 379 Arum italicum Mill. 379 Arundo donax L. 410 Asclepias fruticosa L. 496 Asparagus acutifolius L. 384 Asparagus aethiopicus฀ L 384 Asparagus aetnensis Tornab. 384 Asparagus albus L. 384 Asparagus aphyllus L. 384 Asparagus horridus L. 384 Asparagus maritimus Mill. 384 Asparagus oicinalis L. 384 Asparagus pastorianus Webb et Berthel. 384 Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop 384 Asparagus tenuifolius Lam. 384 Asperugo procumbens L. 498 Asperula aristata L. f. 493 Asperula arvensis L. 494 Asperula cynanchica L. 494 Asperula gussonei Boiss. 494 Asperula laevigata L. 494 Asperula peloritana C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso et Scuderi 494 Asperula rupestris Tineo 494 Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb. 390 Asphodelus istulosus L. 389 Asphodelus macrocarpus Parl. 389 Asphodelus ramosus L. subsp. ramosus 389 Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. 390 570 Asplenium balearicum Shivas 377 Asplenium lepidum C. Presl subsp. lepidum 377 Asplenium marinum L. 376 Asplenium obovatum Viv. 376 Asplenium onopteris L. 377 Asplenium petrarchae (Guérin) DC. subsp. petrarchae 376 Asplenium ruta-muraria L. 377 Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hofm. subsp. septentrionale 377 Asplenium trichomanes L. 376 Asteriscus aquaticus (L.) Less. 529 Asterolinon linum-stellatum (L.) Duby 492 Astragalus boeticus L. 454 Astragalus caprinus L. subsp. huetii (Bunge) Podlech 454 Astragalus depressus L. 454 Astragalus echinatus Murray 454 Astragalus epiglottis L. 454 Astragalus hamosus L. 454 Astragalus kamarinensis C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Miniss. et Sciandr. 454 Astragalus monspessulanus L. 454 Astragalus nebrodensis (Guss.) Strobl 454 Astragalus pelecinus (L.) Barneby subsp. pelecinus 454 Astragalus peregrinus Vahl subsp. warionis (Gand.) Maire 454 Astragalus raphaelis G. Ferro 454 Astragalus sesameus L. 454 Astragalus siculus Biv. 454 Athamanta sicula L. 519 Athyrium ilix-femina (L.) Roth 376 Atractylis cancellata L. 540 Atriplex glauca L. 441 Atriplex halimus L. 441 Atriplex hortensis L. 441 Atriplex patula L. 441 Atriplex prostrata Boucher ex DC. 441 Atriplex rosea L. 441 Atriplex sagittata Borkh. 441 Atriplex tatarica L. 441 Atriplex tornabenei Tineo ex Guss. 441 Atropa bella-donna L. 515 Aubrieta deltoidea (L.) DC. subsp. sicula (Strobl) Phitos 482 Index of species Austrocylindropuntia subulata (Muehlenpf.) Backeb. 444 Avellinia festucoides (Link) Valdés et H. Scholz 406 Avena barbata Pott ex Link 408 Avena brevis Roth 408 Avena byzantina K. Koch 408 Avena fatua L. 408 Avena sativa L. 408 Avena saxatilis (Lojac.) Rocha Afonso 408 Avena sterilis L. 408 Avena wiestii Steud. 408 Avenella lexuosa (L.) Drejer 408 Azolla iliculoides Lam. 378 Baldellia ranunculoides (L.) Parl. 380 Ballota hispanica (L.) Benth. 502 Ballota nigra L. 502 Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. 502 Barbarea bracteosa Guss. 481 Barbarea sicula C. Presl 481 Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. 481 Barlia robertiana (Loisel.) Greuter 393 Bartsia trixago L. 507 Bassia lanilora (S.G. Gmel.) A.J. Scott 442 Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott 442 Bellardiochloa variegata (Lam.) Kerguélen 403 Bellevalia dubia (Guss.) Kunth 386 Bellevalia pelagica C. Brullo, Brullo et Pasta 385 Bellevalia romana (L.) Sweet 385 Bellis annua L. subsp. annua 527 Bellis margaritifolia Huter 527 Bellis perennis L. 527 Bellis sylvestris Cirillo 527 Bellium minutum (L.) L. 527 Berberis aetnensis C. Presl 417 Berula erecta (Huds.) Coville 518 Beta macrocarpa Guss. 440 Beta vulgaris L. 440 Betula etnensis Raf. 469 Biarum tenuifolium (L.) Schott 380 Bidens aurea (Aiton) Sherf 529 Bidens bipinnata L. 530 Bidens frondosa L. 530 Bidens pilosa L. 529 Bidens subalternans DC. 530 Bidens tripartita L. 530 Bifora radians M. Bieb. 518 Bifora testiculata (L.) Spreng. 518 Biscutella maritima Ten. 484 Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirt. 454 Bivonaea lutea (Biv.) DC. 483 Blackstonia grandilora (Viv.) Pau 496 Blackstonia imperfoliata (L. f.) Samp. 496 Blackstonia perfoliata (L.) Huds. 496 Blechnum spicant (L.) Roth 377 Blitum bonus-henricus (L.) Rchb. 441 Boerhavia repens L. 443 Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla 400 Bombycilaena erecta (L.) Smoljan. 527 Bonannia graeca (L.) Halácsy 521 Borago oicinalis L. 498 Bothriochloa insculpta (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) A. Camus subsp. panormitana Giardina et Raimondo 417 Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng 417 Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw. 375 Boussingaultia cordifolia Ten. 444 Brachypodium phoenicoides (L.) Roem. et Schult. 411 Brachypodium retusum (Pers.) P. Beauv. 411 Brachypodium rupestre (Host) Roem. et Schult. 411 Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P. Beauv. 411 Brahea edulis H. Wendl. ex S. Watson 395 Brassica drepanensis (Caruel) Damanti 485 Brassica fruticulosa Cirillo 486 Brassica incana Ten. 485 Brassica insularis Moris 485 Brassica macrocarpa Guss. 485 Brassica napus L. 486 Brassica nigra (L.) W.D.J. Koch 486 Brassica oleracea L. 485 Brassica raimondoi Sciandr., C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Miniss. et Salmeri 485 Brassica rapa L. 486 Brassica rupestris Raf. 485 Brassica souliei Batt. subsp. amplexicaulis (Desf.) Greuter et Burdet 486 Brassica tournefortii Gouan 486 Brassica trichocarpa C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso et Ilardi 485 Brassica villosa Biv. 485 Brimeura amethystina (L.) Salisb. 385 571 Index of species Briza maxima L. 402 Briza minor L. 402 Bromopsis benekenii (Lange) Holub 411 Bromopsis erecta (Huds.) Fourr. 410 Bromopsis ramosa (Huds.) Holub 410 Bromus alopecuros Poir. 411 Bromus hordeaceus L. 411 Bromus intermedius Guss. 411 Bromus lanceolatus Roth 411 Bromus racemosus L. 411 Bromus scoparius L. 411 Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. 468 Bryonia acuta Desf. 469 Bryonia dioica Jacq. 469 Buglossoides arvensis (L.) I.M. Johnst. 497 Buglossoides incrassata (Guss.) I.M. Johnst. 497 Buglossoides minima (Moris) R. Fern. 497 Buglossoides purpurocaerulea (L.) I.M. Johnst. 497 Buglossoides tenuilora (L. f.) I.M. Johnst. 497 Buillardia vaillantii (Willd.) DC. 423 Bunias erucago L. 480 Bunium bulbocastanum L. 518 Bunium petraeum Ten. 518 Bupleurum baldense Turra 520 Bupleurum dianthifolium Guss. 520 Bupleurum elatum Guss. 520 Bupleurum fruticosum L. 520 Bupleurum gerardi All. 520 Bupleurum lancifolium Hornem. 520 Bupleurum odontites L. 520 Bupleurum praealtum L. 520 Bupleurum rigidum L. subsp. rigidum 520 Bupleurum rollii (Montel.) Moraldo 520 Bupleurum rotundifolium L. 520 Bupleurum semicompositum L. 520 Bupleurum subovatum Spreng. 520 Bupleurum tenuissimum L. 520 Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc. 396 Cachrys cristata DC. 520 Cachrys ferulacea (L.) Calest. 519 Cachrys libanotis L. 519 Cachrys pungens Jan ex Guss. 519 Cachrys sicula L. 519 Cakile maritima Scop. subsp. maritima 486 Calamagrostis arundinacea (L.) Roth 409 Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth 409 Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. 535 572 Calendula incana Willd. subsp. maritima (Guss.) Ohle 535 Calendula oicinalis L. 535 Calendula stellata Cav. 535 Calendula sufruticosa Vahl subsp. fulgida (Raf.) Guadagno 535 Calendula tripterocarpa Rupr. 535 Calepina irregularis (Asso) Thell. 486 Callitriche ×vigens K. Martinsson 512 Callitriche brutia Petagna 513 Callitriche cophocarpa Sendtn. 512 Callitriche lenisulca Clavaud 512 Callitriche obtusangula Le Gall 512 Callitriche platycarpa Kütz. 512 Callitriche stagnalis Scop. 512 Callitriche truncata Guss. 513 Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br. 514 Calystegia silvatica (Kit.) Griseb. 514 Calystegia soldanella (L.) R. Br. 514 Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz 483 Campanula dichotoma L. 525 Campanula erinus L. 525 Campanula marcenoi Brullo 526 Campanula trachelium L. 525 Camphorosma monspeliaca L. subsp. monspeliaca 442 Canna glauca L. 417 Canna indica L. 417 Cannabis sativa L. 468 Capparis sicula Veill. in Duhamel 479 Capparis spinosa L. 479 Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. 483 Capsella rubella Reut. 483 Caralluma europaea (Guss.) N.E. Br. 496 Cardamine chelidonia L. 481 Cardamine dubia Nicotra 481 Cardamine lexuosa With. 481 Cardamine glauca Spreng. ex DC. 481 Cardamine graeca L. 481 Cardamine hirsuta L. 481 Cardamine monteluccii Brilli-Catt. et Gubellini 481 Cardiospermum grandilorum Sw. 492 Cardiospermum halicacabum L. 492 Cardopatium corymbosum Pers. 539 Carduus acicularis Bertol. 536 Carduus argyroa Biv. 535 Carduus cephalanthus Viv. 536 Index of species Carduus corymbosus Ten. 536 Carduus nutans L. 535 Carduus pycnocephalus L. 536 Carduus tenuilorus Curtis 536 Carex acuta L. 398 Carex acutiformis Ehrh. 399 Carex caryophyllea Latourr. 398 Carex cuprina (Sandor ex Heufel) Nendtwich ex A. Kern. 398 Carex demissa Hornem. 399 Carex depauperata Gooden. 399 Carex digitata L. 398 Carex distachya Desf. 398 Carex distans L. 399 Carex divisa Huds. 398 Carex divulsa Stokes 398 Carex echinata Murray 398 Carex elata All. 398 Carex extensa Gooden. 399 Carex lacca Schreb. 399 Carex grioletii Roem. 398 Carex halleriana Asso 399 Carex hispida Willd. 400 Carex illegitima Ces. 399 Carex intricata Tineo 398 Carex laevigata Sm. 399 Carex leporina L. 398 Carex nigra (L.) Reichard 398 Carex olbiensis Jord. 399 Carex pallescens L. 399 Carex paniculata L. 398 Carex panormitana Guss. 398 Carex pendula Huds. 399 Carex pseudocyperus L. 399 Carex punctata Gaudin 399 Carex remota L. 398 Carex riparia Curtis 399 Carex spicata Huds. 398 Carex sylvatica Huds. 399 Carex vesicaria L. 399 Carex viridula Michx. 399 Carlina corymbosa L. 539 Carlina gummifera (L.) Less. 540 Carlina hispanica Lam. subsp. globosa (Arcang.) Meusel et Kästner 539 Carlina involucrata Poir. 540 Carlina lanata L. 540 Carlina nebrodensis Guss. ex DC. 540 Carlina sicula Ten. 540 Caroxylon agrigentinum (Guss.) C.Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Guarino et Iamonico 443 Carpinus orientalis Mill. 470 Carpobrotus acinaciformis (L.) L. Bolus 443 Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br. 443 Carrichtera annua (L.) DC. 486 Carthamus caeruleus L. 539 Carthamus creticus L. 539 Carthamus dentatus Vahl subsp. dentatus 539 Carthamus lanatus L. subsp. lanatus 539 Carthamus pinnatus Desf. 539 Castanea sativa Mill. 470 Castellia tuberculosa (Moris) Bor 403 Catabrosa aquatica (L.) P. Beauv. 410 Catananche lutea L. 540 Catapodium balearicum (Willk.) H. Scholz 403 Catapodium hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) M. Laínz 403 Catapodium paucilorum (Merino) Brullo, Giusso, Miniss. et Spamp. 403 Catapodium rigidum (L.) C.E. Hubb. 403 Catapodium zwierleinii (Lojac.) Brullo 403 Celosia argentea L. 439 Celosia cristata L. 439 Celtis australis L. 468 Celtis tournefortii Lam. 468 Cenchrus ciliaris L. 416 Cenchrus longisetus M.C. Johnst. 416 Cenchrus setaceus (Forssk.) Morrone 416 Centaurea acaulis L. 537 Centaurea aeolica Guss. ex Lojac. 538 Centaurea ambigua Guss. 538 Centaurea aspera L. subsp. aspera 538 Centaurea busambarensis Guss. 538 Centaurea calcitrapa L. 539 Centaurea cineraria L. 538 Centaurea deusta Ten. 538 Centaurea diluta Aiton 538 Centaurea erycina Raimondo et Bancheva 538 Centaurea giardinae Raimondo et Spadaro 538 Centaurea gussonei Raimondo et Spadaro 538 Centaurea hyalolepis Boiss. 539 Centaurea iberica Trevir. ex Spreng. 538 Centaurea jacea L. 538 Centaurea macroacantha Guss. 539 573 Index of species Centaurea melitensis L. 539 Centaurea napifolia L. 538 Centaurea panormitana Lojac. 538 Centaurea parlatoris Heldr. 538 Centaurea saccensis Raimondo, Bancheva et Ilardi 537 Centaurea seridis L. subsp. sonchifolia (L.) Greuter 538 Centaurea sicana Raimondo et Spadaro 538 Centaurea sicula L. 539 Centaurea solstitialis L. 539 Centaurea sphaerocephala L. subsp. sphaerocephala 538 Centaurea tauromenitana Guss. 537 Centaurium erythraea Rafn 496 Centaurium maritimum (L.) Fritsch 496 Centaurium pulchellum (Sw.) Druce 496 Centaurium spicatum (L.) Fritsch 496 Centaurium tenuilorum (Hofmanns. et Link) Fritsch 496 Centranthus calcitrapae (L.) Dufr. 524 Centranthus ruber (L.) DC. 524 Cephalanthera damasonium (Mill.) Druce 394 Cephalanthera longifolia (L.) Fritsch 394 Cephalanthera rubra (L.) Rich. 394 Cephalaria joppica (Spreng.) Bég. 524 Cephalaria syriaca (L.) Schrad. ex Roem. et Schult. 524 Cephalaria transsylvanica (L.) Schrad. ex Roem. et Schult. 524 Cerastium arvense L. 433 Cerastium brachypetalum Desp. ex Pers. 433 Cerastium difusum Pers. 433 Cerastium dubium (Bastard) Guépin 433 Cerastium glomeratum Thuill. 433 Cerastium glutinosum Fr. 433 Cerastium gussonei Tod. et Lojac. 433 Cerastium holosteoides Fr. 433 Cerastium lacaitae Barberis, Bechi et Miceli 433 Cerastium ligusticum Viv. 433 Cerastium pumilum Curtis 433 Cerastium semidecandrum L. 433 Cerastium siculum Guss. 433 Cerastium tauricum Spreng. 433 Cerastium tenoreanum Ser. 433 Cerastium tomentosum L. 433 Ceratochloa cathartica (Vahl) Herter 410 Ceratonia siliqua L. 451 574 Ceratophyllum demersum L. 379 Ceratophyllum submersum L. 379 Cercis siliquastrum L. 451 Cerinthe major L. 497 Cerinthe minor L. 497 Cestrum parqui L’Hér. 516 Ceterach oicinarum Willd. 377 Chaenorhinum minus (L.) Lange 509 Chaenorhinum rubrifolium (Robill. et Castagne ex DC.) Fourr. 509 Chaenorhinum rupestre (Guss.) Speta 509 Chaerophyllum temulum L. 517 Chamaemelum fuscatum (Brot.) Vasc. 533 Chamaerops humilis L. 395 Charybdis pancration (Steinh.) Speta 386 Cheilanthes acrostica (Balb.) Tod. 376 Cheilanthes guanchica Bolle 376 Cheilanthes maderensis Lowe 376 Cheilanthes tinaei Tod. 376 Cheirolophus crassifolius (Bertol.) Susanna 537 Chelidonium majus L. 421 Chenopodiastrum hybridum (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila et Borsch 441 Chenopodiastrum murale (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila et Borsch 441 Chenopodium album L. 440 Chenopodium opulifolium Schrad. ex W. D.J. Koch et Ziz 440 Chenopodium vulvaria L. 440 Chiliadenus lopadusanus Brullo 529 Chloris gayana Kunth 415 Chondrilla juncea L. 543 Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) A. Juss. 446 Chrysanthemoides monilifera (L.) Norl. 535 Chrysanthemum indicum L. 531 Cicendia iliformis (L.) Delarbre 495 Cicer arietinum L. 454 Cichorium endivia L. 540 Cichorium intybus L. 540 Cichorium pumilum Jacq. 540 Cichorium spinosum L. 540 Circaea lutetiana L. 477 Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. 536 Cirsium creticum (Lam.) d’Urv. 536 Cirsium echinatum (Desf.) DC. 536 Cirsium italicum DC. 536 Index of species Cirsium scabrum (Poir.) Bonnet et Barratte 536 Cirsium vallis-demonis Lojac. 536 Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. 536 Cistus clusii Dunal 487 Cistus creticus L. 487 Cistus crispus L. 487 Cistus eriocephalus Viv. 487 Cistus monspeliensis L. 487 Cistus parvilorus Lam. 487 Cistus salviifolius L. 487 Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. 469 Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai 469 Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. 491 Citrus reticulata Blanco 491 Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck 491 Cladanthus mixtus (L.) Chevall. 533 Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl 401 Cleistogenes serotina (L.) Keng 414 Clematis cirrhosa L. 418 Clematis lammula L. 418 Clematis vitalba L. 418 Clinopodium acinos (L.) Kuntze 504 Clinopodium alpinum (L.) Kuntze 504 Clinopodium glandulosum (Req.) Kuntze 504 Clinopodium grandilorum (L.) Kuntze 504 Clinopodium menthifolium (Host) Stace 504 Clinopodium nepeta (L.) Kuntze 504 Clinopodium raimondoi Spadaro, Faqi et Mazzola 504 Clinopodium vulgare L. 504 Clypeola jonthlaspi L. 482 Coix lacryma-jobi L. 417 Colchicum alpinum Lam. et DC. 382 Colchicum bivonae Guss. 382 Colchicum cupanii Guss. 382 Colchicum neapolitanum Ten. 382 Colchicum triphyllum Kunze 382 Coleostephus myconis (L.) Rchb. f. 532 Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott 380 Colutea arborescens L. 453 Commelina benghalensis L. 417 Commelina communis L. 417 Conium maculatum L. 519 Conringia orientalis (L.) Dumort. 485 Consolida ajacis (L.) Schur 418 Consolida hispanica (Costa) Greuter et Burdet 418 Consolida pubescens (DC.) Soó 418 Convolvulus althaeoides L. 515 Convolvulus arvensis L. 514 Convolvulus cantabrica L. 514 Convolvulus cneorum L. 514 Convolvulus elegantissimus Mill. 515 Convolvulus farinosus L. 514 Convolvulus humilis Jacq. 514 Convolvulus lineatus L. 514 Convolvulus meonanthus Hofmanns. et Link 514 Convolvulus pentapetaloides L. 514 Convolvulus sabatius Viv. 514 Convolvulus siculus L. 514 Convolvulus tricolor L. 514 Coriandrum sativum L. 518 Coris monspeliensis L. 493 Corispermum intermedium Schweigg. 442 Cornus mas L. 492 Cornus sanguinea L. 492 Coronilla repanda (Poir.) Guss. 466 Coronilla scorpioides (L.) Koch 466 Coronilla valentina L. 466 Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. 484 Coronopus squamatus (Forssk.) Asch. 484 Corrigiola litoralis L. 434 Cortaderia selloana (Schult. et Schult. f.) Asch. et Graebn. 414 Corydalis intermedia (L.) Mérat 422 Corydalis solida (L.) Clairv. 422 Corylus avellana L. 470 Corynephorus articulatus (Desf.) P. Beauv. 409 Corynephorus canescens (L.) P. Beauv. 410 Corynephorus divaricatus (Pourr.) Breistr. 409 Cosentinia vellea (Aiton) Tod. 375 Cota tinctoria (L.) J. Gay 532 Cota triumfettii (L.) J. Gay 532 Cotoneaster nebrodensis (Guss.) K. Koch 474 Crambe hispanica L. 486 Crassula muscosa L. 423 Crassula tetragona L. 423 Crataegus azarolus L. 475 Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC. 475 Crataegus monogyna Jacq. 475 Crataegus orientalis M. Bieb. subsp. presliana K.I. Chr. 475 575 Index of species Crataegus rhipidophylla Gand. 475 Crepis bivoniana (Rchb.) Soldano et F. Conti 544 Crepis bursifolia L. 545 Crepis foetida L. 544 Crepis gussonei Greuter 545 Crepis leontodontoides All. 544 Crepis neglecta L. 544 Crepis sancta (L.) Babc. subsp. nemausensis (P. Fourn.) Babc. 544 Crepis vesicaria L. 544 Crepis zacintha (L.) Loisel. 544 Cressa cretica L. 514 Crithmum maritimum L. 519 Crocus bilorus Mill. 390 Crocus longilorus Raf. 390 Crocus siculus Tineo 390 Crucianella angustifolia L. 493 Crucianella latifolia L. 493 Crucianella maritima L. 493 Crucianella rupestris Guss. 493 Cruciata glabra (L.) Ehrend. 495 Cruciata laevipes Opiz 495 Cruciata pedemontana (Bellardi) Ehrend. 495 Crupina crupinastrum (Moris) Vis. 537 Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. Don 378 Cucubalus baccifer L. 438 Cucumis melo L. 469 Cucumis sativus L. 469 Cucurbita maxima Duchesne 469 Cucurbita moschata Duchesne 469 Cucurbita pepo L. 469 Cullen americanum (L.) Rydb. 454 Cuminum cyminum L. 520 Cupressus arizonica Greene 378 Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw. 378 Cupressus sempervirens L. 378 Cuscuta approximata Bab. 513 Cuscuta brevistyla A. Braun ex A. Rich. 513 Cuscuta campestris Yunck. 513 Cuscuta cesatiana Bertol. 513 Cuscuta epilinum Weihe 513 Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. 513 Cuscuta europaea L. 513 Cuscuta kotschyi Des Moul. 514 Cuscuta palaestina Boiss. 513 Cuscuta planilora Ten. 514 Cuscuta scandens Brot. 513 576 Cutandia divaricata (Desf.) Benth. 404 Cutandia maritima (L.) Barbey 403 Cyanus depressus (M. Bieb.) Soják 539 Cyanus segetum Hill 539 Cyanus triumfetti (All.) Dostál ex Á. Löve et D. Löve 539 Cyclamen hederifolium Aiton 492 Cyclamen repandum Sm. subsp. repandum 492 Cycloloma atriplicifolium (Spreng.) J.M. Coult. 441 Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague ex Britton et P. Wilson 521 Cydonia oblonga Mill. 474 Cymbalaria muralis G. Gaertn., B. Mey. et Scherb. 510 Cymbalaria pubescens (J. Presl) Cufod. 510 Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Asch. 381 Cynanchum acutum L. 496 Cynara cardunculus L. 536 Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. 415 Cynoglossum cheirifolium L. 499 Cynoglossum clandestinum Desf. 499 Cynoglossum columnae Biv. 499 Cynoglossum creticum Mill. 499 Cynoglossum nebrodense Guss. 499 Cynomorium coccineum L. 492 Cynosurus cristatus L. 402 Cynosurus echinatus L. 402 Cynosurus efusus Link 402 Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb. 401 Cyperus badius Desf. 401 Cyperus brevifolioides Thieret et Delahouss. 402 Cyperus capitatus Vand. 401 Cyperus diformis L. 401 Cyperus eragrostis Lam. 401 Cyperus esculentus L. 401 Cyperus lavescens L. 402 Cyperus fuscus L. 401 Cyperus glaber L. 401 Cyperus involucratus Rottb. 401 Cyperus laevigatus L. 402 Cyperus longus L. 401 Cyperus michelianus (L.) Delile 401 Cyperus papyrus L. subsp. papyrus 401 Cyperus rotundus L. 401 Cyperus serotinus Rottb. 401 Cyrtomium falcatum (L. f.) C. Presl 377 Index of species Cystopteris alpina (Lam.) Desv. 376 Cystopteris dickieana R. Sim 376 Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. 376 Cytinus hypocistis (L.) L. 492 Cytinus ruber (Fourr.) Kom. 492 Cytisus aeolicus Guss. 452 Cytisus infestus (C. Presl) Guss. 452 Cytisus lanigerus (Desf.) DC. 452 Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link 452 Cytisus villosus Pourr. 452 Dactylis glomerata L. 402 Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) K. Richt. 414 Dactylorhiza insularis (Sommier) Landwehr 392 Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó 392 Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó 391 Damasonium alisma Mill. 380 Damasonium polyspermum Coss. 380 Daphne gnidium L. 487 Daphne laureola L. 487 Daphne oleoides Schreb. 487 Daphne sericea Vahl subsp. sericea 487 Dasypyrum villosum (L.) Borbás 413 Datura ferox L. 516 Datura innoxia Mill. 516 Datura stramonium L. 516 Daucus aureus Desf. 523 Daucus carota L. 523 Daucus foliosus Guss. 523 Daucus gingidium L. 523 Daucus lopadusanus Tineo 523 Daucus muricatus (L.) L. 523 Daucus pumilus (L.) Hofmanns. et Link 523 Delphinium emarginatum C. Presl 418 Delphinium halteratum Sm. 418 Delphinium longipes Moris 418 Delphinium peregrinum L. 418 Delphinium staphisagria L. 418 Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. 408 Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl 479 Desmazeria pignattii Brullo et Pavone 405 Desmazeria sicula (Jacq.) Dumort. 405 Dianthus armeria L. 439 Dianthus arrosti C. Presl 438 Dianthus balbisii Ser. 439 Dianthus busambrae Soldano et F. Conti 438 Dianthus carthusianorum L. 439 Dianthus deltoides L. 439 Dianthus gasparrinii Guss. 438 Dianthus graminifolius C. Presl 438 Dianthus rupicola Biv. 438 Dianthus siculus C. Presl 438 Dianthus sylvestris Wulfen 439 Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf 416 Dichondra micrantha Urb. 514 Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. 415 Diospyros kaki L. f. 492 Diplachne fusca (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. et Schult. 414 Diplotaxis crassifolia (Raf.) DC. 485 Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC. 485 Diplotaxis muralis (L.) DC. 485 Diplotaxis scaposa DC. 485 Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC. 485 Diplotaxis viminea (L.) DC. 485 Dipsacus fullonum L. 524 Dittrichia graveolens (L.) Greuter 529 Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter subsp. viscosa 529 Doronicum orientale Hofm. 533 Draba muralis L. 483 Draba praecox Steven 483 Draba turgida A. Huet ex Nyman 482 Draba verna L. s.s. 483 Dracunculus vulgaris Schott 379 Drosanthemum hispidum Schwantes 443 Drymochloa drymeja (Mert. et W. D.J. Koch) Holub subsp. exaltata (C. Presl) Foggi et Signorini 404 Dryopteris ainis (Lowe) Fraser-Jenk. subsp. ainis 377 Dryopteris borreri (Newman) Newman ex Oberh. et Tavel 377 Dryopteris cambrensis (Fraser-Jenk.) Beitel et W.R. Buck subsp. insubrica (Oberh. et Tavel ex Fraser-Jenk.) Fraser-Jenk. 377 Dryopteris ilix-mas (L.) Schott 377 Dryopteris pallida (Bory) C. Chr. ex Maire et Petitm. subsp. pallida 377 Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin et Clemants 440 Dysphania anthelmintica (L.) Mosyakin et Clemants 440 Dysphania botrys (L.) Mosyakin et Clemants 440 Dysphania multiida (L.) Mosyakin et Clemants 440 577 Index of species Dysphania pumilio (R. Br.) Mosyakin et Clemants 440 Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich. 469 Echinaria capitata (L.) Desf. 405 Echinochloa colona (L.) Link 415 Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. 415 Echinophora spinosa L. 517 Echinophora tenuifolia L. subsp. tenuifolia 517 Echinops ritro L. 540 Echinops spinosissimus Turra 540 Echium arenarium Guss. 498 Echium italicum L. 497 Echium parvilorum Moench 498 Echium plantagineum L. 497 Echium sabulicola Pomel 497 Echium vulgare L. 497 Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. 530 Edraianthus graminifolius (L.) A. DC. 526 Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms 417 Elaeoselinum asclepium (L.) Bertol. 522 Elatine alsinastrum L. 446 Elatine gussonei (Sommier) Brullo, Lanfr., Pavone et Ronsisv. 446 Elatine macropoda Guss. 446 Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) C. Presl 400 Eleocharis nebrodensis Parl. 400 Eleocharis ovata (Roth) Roem. et Schult. 400 Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. et Schult. 400 Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. 414 Elide asparagoides (L.) Kerguélen 384 Elymus acutus (DC.) M.-A. Thiébaud 412 Elymus caninus (L.) L. 412 Elymus farctus (Viv.) Runemark ex Melderis 412 Elymus laccidifolius (Boiss. et Heldr.) Melderis 412 Elymus hispidus (Opiz) Melderis 412 Elymus panormitanus (Parl.) Tzvelev 412 Elymus repens (L.) Gould 412 Emerus major Mill. 466 Emex spinosa (L.) Campd. 430 Eokochia saxicola (Guss.) Freitag et G. Kadereit 442 Ephedra distachya L. 379 Ephedra fragilis Desf. 379 Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo in Guss. 379 578 Epilobium angustifolium L. 478 Epilobium dodonaei Vill. 478 Epilobium hirsutum L. 478 Epilobium lanceolatum Sebast. et Mauri 478 Epilobium montanum L. 478 Epilobium parvilorum Schreb. 478 Epilobium tetragonum L. 478 Epipactis cupaniana C. Brullo, D’Emerico and Pulv. 395 Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz 394 Epipactis meridionalis H. Baumann et R. Lorenz 395 Epipactis microphylla (Ehrh.) Sw. 394 Epipactis palustris (L.) Crantz 394 Epipactis placentina Bongiorni et Grünanger 395 Epipactis schubertiorum Bartolo, Pulv. et Robatssch 395 Equisetum arvense L. 375 Equisetum palustre L. 375 Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. 375 Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. 375 Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau 414 Eragrostis capillaris (L.) Nees 414 Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo ex Janch. 414 Eragrostis minor Host 414 Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees 414 Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv. 414 Erica arborea L. 493 Erica multilora L. 493 Erica sicula Guss. subsp. sicula 493 Erigeron annuus (L.) Desf. 526 Erigeron bonariensis L. 526 Erigeron canadensis L. 526 Erigeron karvinskianus DC. 526 Erigeron sumatrensis Retz. 526 Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. 474 Erodium acaule (L.) Bech. et Thell. 477 Erodium alnifolium Guss. 477 Erodium botrys (Cav.) Bertol. 477 Erodium chium (L.) Willd. 477 Erodium ciconium (L.) L’Hér. 477 Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér. 477 Erodium gruinum (L.) L’Hér. 477 Erodium laciniatum (Cav.) Willd. 477 Erodium malacoides (L.) L’Hér. 477 Erodium maritimum (L.) L’Hér. 477 Index of species Erodium moschatum (L.) L’Hér. 477 Erodium nervulosum L’Hér. 476 Erodium neuradifolium Delile var. linosae (Sommier) Brullo 477 Erodium soluntinum Tod. 477 Eruca sativa Mill. 486 Erucastrum virgatum C. Presl subsp. virgatum 486 Eryngium amethystinum L. 517 Eryngium campestre L. 517 Eryngium crinitum C. Presl 517 Eryngium dichotomum Desf. 517 Eryngium maritimum L. 517 Eryngium pusillum L. 517 Eryngium tricuspidatum L. 517 Eryngium triquetrum Vahl 517 Erysimum bonannianum C. Presl 480 Erysimum brulloi G. Ferro 480 Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz 480 Erysimum etnense Jord. 480 Erysimum metlesicsii Polatschek 480 Eschscholzia californica Cham. in Nees 421 Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. 478 Eucalyptus globulus Labill. 478 Eucalyptus occidentalis Endl. 479 Euonymus europaeus L. 449 Eupatorium cannabinum L. 526 Euphorbia akenocarpa Guss. 447 Euphorbia aleppica L. 448 Euphorbia amygdaloides L. 447 Euphorbia berteroana Balb. ex Spreng. 446 Euphorbia biumbellata Poir. 448 Euphorbia bivonae Steud. 447 Euphorbia ceratocarpa Ten. 447 Euphorbia chamaesyce L. 446 Euphorbia characias L. 447 Euphorbia corallioides L. 446 Euphorbia cuneifolia Guss. 447 Euphorbia cupanii Guss. ex Bertol. 448 Euphorbia dendroides L. 447 Euphorbia exigua L. 448 Euphorbia falcata L. 448 Euphorbia gasparrinii Boiss. 447 Euphorbia helioscopia L. 447 Euphorbia hirsuta L. 447 Euphorbia humifusa Willd. 446 Euphorbia lagascae Spreng. 447 Euphorbia maculata L. 446 Euphorbia melapetala Gasp. 447 Euphorbia meuselii Mazzola et Raimondo 447 Euphorbia myrsinites L. 448 Euphorbia nutans Lag. 446 Euphorbia papillaris (Boiss.) Rafaelli et Ricceri 447 Euphorbia paralias L. 448 Euphorbia peplis L. 446 Euphorbia peploides Gouan 448 Euphorbia peplus L. 448 Euphorbia pinea L. 448 Euphorbia pithyusa L. 448 Euphorbia platyphyllos L. 447 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton 446 Euphorbia pterococca Brot. 447 Euphorbia rigida M. Bieb. 448 Euphorbia segetalis L. 448 Euphorbia serrata L. 447 Euphorbia stricta L. 447 Euphorbia terracina L. 448 Fagonia cretica L. 449 Fagopyrum esculentum Moench 430 Fagus sylvatica L. 470 Fallopia baldschuanica (Regel) Holub 430 Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á. Löve 430 Fallopia dumetorum (L.) Holub 430 Fedia gracililora Fisch. et C.A. Mey. subsp. Gracililora 524 Ferula communis L. 521 Ferula glauca L. 521 Ferulago campestris (Besser) Grecescu 522 Ferulago nodosa (L.) Boiss. subsp. rigida (Ten.) Troìa et Raimondo 521 Festuca bromoides L. 405 Festuca ciliata Gouan 404 Festuca circummediterranea Patzke 404 Festuca fasciculata Forssk. 405 Festuca geniculata L.) Lag. et Rodr. 404 Festuca gypsophila Hack. 404 Festuca heterophylla Lam. 404 Festuca humifusa Brullo et Guarino 404 Festuca incurva (Gouan) Gutermann 404 Festuca lachenalii (J.F. Gmel.) Spenn. 404 Festuca ligustica (All.) Bertol. 404 Festuca morisiana Parl. 404 Festuca muralis Kunth 405 Festuca myuros L 405 579 Index of species Festuca rivularis Boiss. subsp. rivularis 404 Festuca rubra L. 404 Festuca sicula C. Presl 404 Festuca trichophylla (Ducros ex Gaudin) K. Richt. 404 Ficaria verna Huds. 419 Ficus carica L. 468 Filago arvensis L. 527 Filago asteriscilora (Lam.) Sweet 527 Filago carpetana (Lange) Chrtek et Holub 527 Filago congesta Guss. ex DC. 527 Filago cossyrensis Lojac. 527 Filago discolor (DC.) Andrés-Sánchez et Galbany 527 Filago eriocephala Guss. 527 Filago germanica (L.) Huds. 527 Filago lutescens Jord. subsp. lutescens 527 Filago prostrata Parl, non DC 527 Filago pygmaea L. 527 Filago pyramidata L. 527 Fimbristylis annua (All.) Roem. et Schult. 401 Fimbristylis bisumbellata (Forssk.) Bubani 400 Foeniculum vulgare Mill. 519 Fontanesia phillyreoides Labill. 499 Forsythia europaea Degen et Bald. 499 Forsythia viridissima Lindl. 499 Fragaria vesca L. 472 Frankenia hirsuta L. 426 Frankenia pulverulenta L. 426 Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl 500 Fraxinus excelsior L. 499 Fraxinus ornus L. 499 Freesia refracta (Jacq.) Ecklon ex Klatt 390 Fritillaria imperialis L. 384 Fritillaria messanensis Raf. 383 Fumana arabica (L.) Spach 489 Fumana ericifolia Wallr. 489 Fumana juniperina (Lag. ex Dunal) Pau 489 Fumana laevipes (L.) Spach 489 Fumana laevis (Cav.) Pau 489 Fumana procumbens (Dunal) Gren. et Godr. 489 Fumana scoparia Pomel 489 Fumana thymifolia (L.) Spach 489 Fumaria agraria Lag. 422 Fumaria barnolae Sennen et Pau 422 Fumaria bastardii Boreau 422 Fumaria bicolor Sommier 422 580 Fumaria capreolata L. subsp. capreolata 422 Fumaria densilora DC. 422 Fumaria labellata Gasp. 422 Fumaria gaillardotii Boiss. 422 Fumaria judaica Boiss. 422 Fumaria oicinalis L. 422 Fumaria parvilora Lam. 422 Fumaria vaillantii Loisel. 422 Gagea amblyopetala Boiss. et Heldr. 383 Gagea apulica Peruzzi et J.-M. Tison 383 Gagea bohemica (Zauschn.) Schult. et Schult. f. 383 Gagea chrysantha Schult. et Schult. f. 383 Gagea foliosa (J. Presl et C. Presl) Schult. et Schult. f. 383 Gagea fragifera (Vill.) Ehr. Bayer et G. López 383 Gagea granatellii (Parl.) Parl. 383 Gagea lacaitae A. Terracc. 383 Gagea lojaconoi Peruzzi 383 Gagea lutea (L.) Ker Gawl. 383 Gagea pratensis (Pers.) Dumort. 383 Gagea ramulosa A. Terracc. 383 Gagea sicula Lojac. 383 Gagea trinervia (Viv.) Greuter 382 Gagea villosa (M. Bieb.) Sweet 383 Galactites tomentosus Moench 537 Galanthus reginae-olgae Orph. 389 Galeopsis angustifolia Hofm. 502 Galinsoga parvilora Cav. 530 Galinsoga quadriradiata Ruiz et Pav. 530 Galium aetnicum Biv. 494 Galium aparine L. 494 Galium corrudifolium Vill. 494 Galium debile Desv. 494 Galium divaricatum Lam. 495 Galium elongatum C. Presl 494 Galium litorale Guss. 494 Galium lucidum All. 494 Galium murale (L.) All. 495 Galium odoratum (L.) Scop. 494 Galium parisiense L. 495 Galium rotundifolium L. 494 Galium setaceum Lam. 495 Galium spurium L. 494 Galium tricornutum Dandy 495 Galium tunetanum Lam. 494 Galium verrucosum Huds. 495 Index of species Galium verticillatum Danthoine 495 Galium verum L. 494 Gamochaeta antillana (Urb.) Anderb. 528 Gastridium phleoides (Nees et Meyen) C.E. Hubb. 406 Gastridium scabrum C. Presl 406 Gastridium ventricosum (Gouan) Schinz et Thell. 406 Gaudinia fragilis (L.) P. Beauv. 406 Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn. 535 Genista aetnensis (Biv.) DC. 452 Genista aristata C. Presl 453 Genista aspalathoides Lam. 453 Genista cupanii Guss. 453 Genista demarcoi Brullo, Scelsi et Siracusa 452 Genista gasparrinii (Guss.) C. Presl 452 Genista madoniensis Raimondo 453 Genista tyrrhena Vals. 452 Geocaryum capillifolium (Guss.) Coss. 518 Geocaryum cynapioides (Guss.) Engstrand 518 Geranium asphodeloides Burm. f. 476 Geranium brutium Gasp. 476 Geranium columbinum L. 476 Geranium dissectum L. 476 Geranium lanuginosum Lam. 476 Geranium lucidum L. 476 Geranium molle L. 476 Geranium purpureum Vill. 476 Geranium pyrenaicum Burm. f. 476 Geranium robertianum L. 476 Geranium rotundifolium L. 476 Geranium sanguineum L. 475 Geranium tuberosum L. 476 Geranium versicolor L. 476 Geropogon hybridus (L.) Sch. Bip. 541 Geum urbanum L. 472 Gladiolus byzantinus Mill. 390 Gladiolus dubius Guss. 390 Gladiolus italicus Mill. 390 Gladiolus vexillare Martelli 391 Glandora rosmarinifolia (Ten.) D.C. Thomas 497 Glaucium corniculatum (L.) Rudolph 421 Glaucium lavum Crantz 421 Glebionis coronaria (L.) Cass. ex Spach 533 Glebionis segetum (L.) Fourr. 533 Glechoma hirsuta Waldst. et Kit. 503 Gleditsia triacanthos L. 451 Glinus lotoides L. 443 Globularia alypum L. 513 Glyceria luitans (L.) R. Br. 410 Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holmb. 410 Glyceria notata Chevall. 410 Glyceria spicata Guss. 410 Glycyrrhiza glabra L. 454 Gnaphalium uliginosum L. subsp. uliginosum 528 Gossypium herbaceum L. 490 Gossypium hirsutum L. 490 Graptopetalum paraguayense (N.E. Br.) E. Walther subsp. Paraguayense 425 Groenlandia densa (L.) Fourr. 382 Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass. 530 Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br. 391 Gypsophila arrostii Guss. 438 Hainardia cylindrica (Willd.) Greuter 410 Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen 441 Halocnemum cruciatum (Forssk.) Tod. 442 Halopeplis amplexicaulis (Vahl) Ces., Pass. et Gibelli 442 Halophila stipulacea (Forssk.) Asch. 380 Hedera canariensis Willd. 517 Hedera helix L. 517 Hedypnois rhagadioloides (L.) F.W. Schmidt 541 Helianthemum aegyptiacum (L.) Mill. 488 Helianthemum allionii Tineo 488 Helianthemum apenninum (L.) Mill. 488 Helianthemum canum (L.) Baumg. 488 Helianthemum cinereum (Cav.) Pers. subsp. rotundifolium (Dunal) Greuter et Burdet 488 Helianthemum croceum (Desf.) Pers. 488 Helianthemum ledifolium (L.) Mill. 488 Helianthemum nebrodense Heldr. in Guss. 488 Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Mill. 488 Helianthemum salicifolium (L.) Mill. 488 Helianthemum sanguineum (Lag.) Lag. 488 Helianthemum sessiliflorum (Desf.) Pers. 488 Helianthemum sicanorum Brullo, Giusso et Sciandr. 488 Helianthus annuus L. 530 Helianthus paucilorus Nutt. subsp. paucilorus 530 Helianthus tuberosus L. 530 581 Index of species Helichrysum barrelieri (Ten.) Greuter 528 Helichrysum conglobatum (Viv.) Steud. 528 Helichrysum errerae Tineo 528 Helichrysum hyblaeum Brullo 528 Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don 529 Helichrysum litoreum Guss. 529 Helichrysum nebrodense Heldr. 528 Helichrysum panormitanum Tineo ex Guss. 528 Helichrysum pendulum (C. Presl) C. Presl 528 Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench 528 Helictochloa cincinnata (Ten.) Romero Zarco 407 Helictochloa praetutiana (Parl. ex Arcang.) Bartolucci, F. Conti, Peruzzi et Bani 407 Helictotrichon convolutum (C. Presl) Henrard 407 Heliosperma pusillum (Waldst. et Kit.) Hofmanns. 436 Heliotropium amplexicaule Vahl 497 Heliotropium curassavicum L. 496 Heliotropium europaeum L. 496 Heliotropium suaveolens M. Bieb. 497 Heliotropium supinum L. 497 Helleborus bocconei Ten. 417 Helminthotheca aculeata (Vahl) Lack subsp. aculeata 542 Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub 542 Helosciadium crassipes W.D.J. Koch ex Rchb. 521 Helosciadium inundatum (L.) W.D.J. Koch 521 Helosciadium nodiflorum (L.) W.D.J. Koch 521 Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf et C.E. Hubb. 416 Heracleum sphondylium L. 522 Herminium monorchis (L.) R. Br. in W.T. Aiton 391 Hermodactylus tuberosus (L.) Mill. 391 Herniaria cinerea DC. 435 Herniaria fontanesii J. Gay subsp. empedocleana (Lojac.) Brullo 435 Herniaria glabra L. 434 Herniaria hirsuta L. 434 Herniaria nebrodensis Jan 434 Herniaria permixta Guss. 435 Hesperis cupaniana Guss. 480 Hesperis laciniata All. 480 582 Hesperis matronalis L. 480 Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. 417 Hibiscus syriacus L. 490 Hibiscus trionum L. 490 Hieracium busambarense Caldarella, Gianguzzi et Gottschl. 545 Hieracium cophanense Lojac. 545 Hieracium lucidum Guss. 545 Hieracium murorum L. 545 Hieracium pallidum Biv. 545 Hieracium schmidtii Tausch 545 Hieracium symphytifolium Froel. 545 Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Spreng. 393 Hippocrepis bilora Spreng. 466 Hippocrepis ciliata Willd. 466 Hippocrepis glauca Ten. 466 Hippocrepis multisiliquosa L. 466 Hirschfeldia incana (L.) Lagr.-Foss. 486 Holandrea carvifolium-chabraei (Crantz) Soldano, Galasso et Bani 522 Holcus lanatus L. 408 Holosteum umbellatum L. 432 Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Harz 412 Hordeum bulbosum L. 412 Hordeum distichon L. 412 Hordeum hexasticon L. 412 Hordeum marinum Huds. 412 Hordeum murinum L. 412 Hordeum secalinum Schreb. 412 Hordeum vulgare L. 412 Hordeum zeocriton L. 412 Hormuzakia aggregata (Lehm.) Gușul. 498 Hornungia paucilora (W.D.J. Koch) Soldano, F. Conti, Bani et Galasso 483 Hornungia petraea (L.) Rchb. 483 Hornungia procumbens (L.) Hayek 483 Hornungia revelierei (Jord.) Soldano, F. Conti, Bani et Galasso 483 Humulus lupulus L. 468 Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L. f. 517 Hydrocotyle vulgaris L. 517 Hylocereus triangularis (L.) Britton et Rose 444 Hymenocarpos circinnatus (L.) Savi 465 Hyoscyamus albus L. 515 Hyoscyamus niger L. 515 Index of species Hyoseris baetica Sch.Bip. ex Nyman 541 Hyoseris radiata L. 541 Hyoseris scabra L. 541 Hyoseris taurina (Pamp.) Martinoli 541 Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf 417 Hyparrhenia sinaica (Delile) Llauradó ex G. López 417 Hypecoum imberbe Sm. 422 Hypecoum procumbens L. 422 Hypecoum torulosum Å.E. Dahl 422 Hypericum aegypticum L. subsp. webbii (Spach) N. Robson 445 Hypericum androsaemum L. 445 Hypericum australe Ten. 445 Hypericum hircinum L. 445 Hypericum perfoliatum L. 445 Hypericum perforatum L. 446 Hypericum pubescens Boiss. 445 Hypericum tetrapterum Fr. 446 Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra 446 Hypochaeris achyrophorus L. 542 Hypochaeris glabra L. 542 Hypochaeris laevigata (L.) Ces., Pass. et Gibelli 541 Hypochaeris radicata L. 542 Hypochaeris robertia (Sch. Bip.) Fiori 541 Hypopitys hypophegea (Wallr.) G. Don f. 493 Hypopitys monotropa Crantz 493 Iberis pinnata L. 484 Iberis semperlorens L. 484 Iberis umbellata L. 484 Iberis violacea W.T. Aiton 484 Ilex aquifolium L. 516 Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. var. europaea (Pers.) Andersson 416 Inula conyzae (Griess.) Meikle 529 Inula montana L. 529 Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb. 515 Ipomoea purpurea Roth 515 Ipomoea sagittata Poir. 515 Iris lorentina L. 391 Iris foetidissima L. 391 Iris germanica L. 391 Iris juncea Poir. 391 Iris pallida Lam. 391 Iris planifolia (Mill.) T. Durand et Schinz 391 Iris pseudacorus L. 391 Iris pseudopumila Tineo 391 Iris sicula Tod. 391 Iris statellae Tod. 391 Isatis canescens DC. 479 Isoetes duriei Bory 375 Isoetes histrix Bory 375 Isoetes todaroana Troìa et Raimondo 375 Isoetes velata A. Braun 375 Isolepis cernua (Vahl) Roem. et Schult. 400 Jacobaea ambigua (Biv.) Pelser et Veldkamp 533 Jacobaea aquatica (Hill) G. Gaertn., B. Mey et Scherb. 534 Jacobaea candida (C. Presl) B. Nord. et Greuter 534 Jacobaea delphiniifolia (Vahl) Pelser et Veldkamp 534 Jacobaea erratica (Bertol.) Fourr. 534 Jacobaea gibbosa (Guss.) B. Nord. et Greuter 533 Jacobaea lycopifolia (Poir.) Greuter et B. Nord. 534 Jasione echinata Boiss. et Reut. 526 Jasione montana L. 526 Jasminum fruticans L. 499 Jasminum humile L. 499 Jonopsidium albilorum Durieu 483 Jubaea chilensis (Molina) Baillon 396 Juglans regia L. 471 Juncus acutilorus Ehrh. ex Hofm. 397 Juncus acutus L. 396 Juncus ambiguus Guss. 397 Juncus articulatus L. 397 Juncus bufonius L. 397 Juncus capitatus Weigel 396 Juncus compressus Jacq. 397 Juncus conglomeratus L. 396 Juncus efusus L. 396 Juncus foliosus Desf. 397 Juncus fontanesii J. Gay 397 Juncus gerardii Loisel. 397 Juncus heterophyllus Dufour 397 Juncus hybridus Brot. 397 Juncus inlexus L. 396 Juncus littoralis C.A. Mey. 396 Juncus maritimus Lam. 396 Juncus multibracteatus Tineo 396 Juncus pygmaeus Rich. ex Thuill. 397 583 Index of species Juncus rigidus Desf. 396 Juncus sorrentinii Parl. 397 Juncus striatus Schousb. ex E. Mey. 397 Juncus subnodulosus Schrank 397 Juncus subulatus Forssk. 397 Juncus tenageia Ehrh. 397 Juniperus communis L. 378 Juniperus hemisphaerica C. Presl 378 Juniperus macrocarpa Sm. 378 Juniperus phoenicea L. 378 Jurinea bocconii (Guss.) DC. 537 Justicia adhatoda L. 513 Kalanchoë daigremontiana Raym.-Hamet et H. Perrier 424 Kalanchoë delagoensis Eckl. et Zeyh. 424 Kali basalticum C. Brullo, Brullo, Gaskin, Giusso, Hrusa et Salmeri 443 Kali macrophyllum (R. Br.) Galasso et Bartolucci 443 Kali tragus (L.) Scop. 443 Kali turgidum (Dumort.) Gutermann 442 Katapsuxis silaifolia (Jacq.) Reduron, Charpin et Pimenov 521 Kickxia cirrhosa (L.) Fritsch 510 Kickxia commutata (Bernh. ex Rchb.) Fritsch 510 Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. 510 Kickxia lanigera (Desf.) Hand.-Mazz. 510 Kickxia spuria (L.) Dumort. 510 Klasea lavescens (L.) Holub 537 Kleinia icoides (L.) Haw. 535 Kleinia mandraliscae Tineo 535 Knautia calycina (C. Presl) Guss. 525 Knautia integrifolia (L.) Bertol. 525 Knautia purpurea (Vill.) Borbás 525 Koeleria splendens C. Presl 406 Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. 492 Krubera peregrina (L.) Hofm. 521 Kundmannia sicula (L.) DC. 519 Laburnum anagyroides Medik. 452 Lactuca muralis (L.) Gaertn. 544 Lactuca saligna L. 544 Lactuca sativa L. 544 Lactuca serriola L. 544 Lactuca viminea (L.) J. Presl et C. Presl 544 Lactuca virosa L. 544 Lagurus ovatus L. 406 584 Lamarckia aurea (L.) Moench 402 Lamium amplexicaule L. 502 Lamium biidum Cirillo 502 Lamium lexuosum Ten. 502 Lamium garganicum L. 502 Lantana camara L. 500 Laphangium luteoalbum (L.) Tzvelev 528 Lappula patula (Lehm.) Gürke 499 Lapsana communis L. 540 Laserpitium siler L. 522 Lathraea squamaria L. 508 Lathyrus amphicarpos L. 458 Lathyrus annuus L. 457 Lathyrus aphaca L. 457 Lathyrus articulatus L. 457 Lathyrus cicera L. 458 Lathyrus clymenum L. 457 Lathyrus gorgoni Parl. 458 Lathyrus grandilorus Sibt. et Sm. 457 Lathyrus hirsutus L. 458 Lathyrus latifolius L. 457 Lathyrus niger (L.) Bernh. 457 Lathyrus nissolia L. 457 Lathyrus ochrus (L.) DC. 457 Lathyrus odoratus L. 458 Lathyrus pratensis L. 457 Lathyrus sativus L. 458 Lathyrus saxatilis (Vent.) Vis. 457 Lathyrus setifolius L. 457 Lathyrus sphaericus Retz. 457 Lathyrus sylvestris L. 457 Lathyrus venetus (Mill.) Wohlf. 457 Launaea fragilis (Asso) Pau 543 Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook. f. 543 Laurus nobilis L. 379 Lavandula angustifolia Mill. 505 Lavandula dentata L. 505 Lavandula latifolia Medik. 505 Lavandula multiida L. 505 Lavandula stoechas L. 505 Lavatera agrigentina Tineo 490 Lavatera bryoniifolia Mill. 490 Lavatera olbia L. 490 Lavatera punctata All. 490 Lavatera trimestris L. 490 Legousia falcata (Ten.) Janch. 525 Legousia hybrida (L.) Delarbre 525 Index of species Legousia speculum-veneris (L.) Chaix 525 Lemna gibba L. 380 Lemna minor L. 380 Lemna minuta Kunth 380 Lemna trisulca L. 380 Lens culinaris Medik. 457 Lens ervoides (Brign.) Grande 457 Lens nigricans (M. Bieb.) Godr. 457 Leontodon hispidus L. 542 Leontodon intermedius Porta 542 Leontodon siculus (Guss.) Nyman 542 Leontodon tuberosus L. 542 Lepidium campestre (L.) R. Br. 484 Lepidium densilorum Schrad. 484 Lepidium draba L. 484 Lepidium graminifolium L. 484 Lepidium hirtum (L.) Sm. 484 Lepidium latifolium L. 484 Lepidium nebrodense (Raf.) Guss. 484 Lepidium sativum L. 484 Lepidium virginicum L. 484 Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit subsp. glabrata (Rose) Zárate 452 Leucanthemum vulgare (Vaill.) Lam. 533 Leucojum autumnale L. 389 Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton 500 Ligustrum vulgare L. 500 Lilium candidum L. 384 Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. 529 Limodorum abortivum (L.) Sw. 395 Limodorum trabutianum Batt. 395 Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. 429 Limonium aegusae Brullo 428 Limonium albidum (Guss.) Pignatti 428 Limonium algusae (Brullo) Greuter 429 Limonium avei (De Not.) Brullo et Erben 429 Limonium bocconei (Lojac.) Litard. 427 Limonium calcarae (Tod. ex Janka) Pignatti 427 Limonium catanense (Tineo ex Lojac.) Brullo 428 Limonium catanzaroi Brullo 429 Limonium cophanense C. Brullo, Brullo, Cambria, Giusso et Ilardi 427 Limonium cosyrense (Guss.) Kuntze 427 Limonium densilorum (Guss.) Kuntze 428 Limonium dubium (Andrz. ex Guss.) Litard. 428 Limonium lagellare (Lojac.) Brullo 427 Limonium furnarii Brullo 427 Limonium halophilum Pignatti ex Brullo 428 Limonium hyblaeum Brullo 428 Limonium intermedium (Guss.) Brullo 428 Limonium ionicum Brullo 427 Limonium lilybaeum Brullo 428 Limonium lojaconoi Brullo 427 Limonium lopadusanum Brullo 428 Limonium mazarae Pignatti 428 Limonium melancholicum Brullo, Marcenò et S. Romano 428 Limonium minutilorum (Guss.) Kuntze 427 Limonium narbonense Mill. 427 Limonium optimae Raimondo 429 Limonium opulentum (Lojac.) Brullo 429 Limonium pachynense Brullo 428 Limonium panormitanum (Tod.) Pignatti 428 Limonium parvifolium (Tineo) Pignatti 427 Limonium pavonianum Brullo 428 Limonium poimenum Ilardi, Brullo, D. Cusimano et Giusso 429 Limonium ponzoi (Fiori et Bég.) Brullo 427 Limonium secundirameum (Lojac.) Brullo 428 Limonium selinuntinum Brullo 428 Limonium sibthorpianum (Guss.) Kuntze 429 Limonium sinuatum (L.) Mill. 427 Limonium syracusanum Brullo 427 Limonium tauromenitanum Brullo 427 Limonium tenuiculum (Tineo ex Guss.) Pignatti 427 Limonium todaroanum Raimondo et Pignatti 429 Limonium virgatum (Willd.) Fourr. 428 Linaria arvensis (L.) Desf. 510 Linaria chalepensis (L.) Mill. 510 Linaria multicaulis (L.) Mill. 510 Linaria pelisseriana (L.) Mill. 510 Linaria pseudolaxilora Lojac. 510 Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill. 510 Linaria relexa (L.) Desf. 509 Linaria sibthorpiana Boiss. Heldr. ex Boiss. 509 585 Index of species Linaria simplex (Willd.) DC. 510 Linaria triphylla (L.) Mill. 509 Linaria vulgaris Mill. 510 Linum bienne Mill. 451 Linum collinum Guss. 451 Linum corymbulosum Rchb. 451 Linum decumbens Desf. 451 Linum maritimum L. 450 Linum narbonense L. 451 Linum punctatum C. Presl 451 Linum strictum L. 450 Linum tenuifolium L. 451 Linum trigynum L. 450 Linum usitatissimum L. 451 Lipandra polysperma (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila et Borsch 441 Lippia triphylla (L’Hér.) Kuntze 500 Listera cordata (L.) R. Br. 395 Listera ovata (L.) R. Br. 395 Lithospermum oicinale L. 497 Livistona australis (R. Br.) Mart. 395 Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. 396 Lobularia libyca (Viv.) Meisn. 482 Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. 482 Loelingia hispanica L. 435 Logia gallica (L.) Coss. 528 Logia heterantha (Raf.) Holub 528 Logfia lojaconoi (Brullo) C. Brullo et Brullo 528 Lolium multilorum Lam. 405 Lolium perenne L. 405 Lolium rigidum Gaudin 405 Lolium siculum Parl. 405 Lolium temulentum L. 405 Lomelosia argentea (L.) Greuter et Burdet 525 Lomelosia crenata (Cirillo) Greuter et Burdet 525 Lomelosia cretica (L.) Greuter et Burdet 525 Lonas annua (L.) Vines et Druce 533 Loncomelos narbonensis (L.) Raf. 387 Lonicera etrusca Santi 523 Lonicera implexa Aiton 523 Lonicera xylosteum L. 523 Loranthus europaeus Jacq. 423 Lotus angustissimus L. 465 Lotus bilorus Desr. 465 Lotus conimbricensis Brot. 465 Lotus conjugatus L. 465 586 Lotus corniculatus L. 464 Lotus creticus L. 464 Lotus cytisoides L. 464 Lotus dorycnium L. 465 Lotus edulis L. 465 Lotus halophilus Boiss. et Spruner 464 Lotus herbaceus (Vill.) Peruzzi 465 Lotus hirsutus L. 465 Lotus longisiliquosus R. Roem. 464 Lotus ornithopodioides L. 464 Lotus parvilorus Desf. 465 Lotus peregrinus L. 465 Lotus preslii Ten. 464 Lotus rectus L. 465 Lotus subbilorus Lag. 465 Lotus tenuis Waldst. et Kit. ex Willd. 464 Lotus tetragonolobus L. 465 Lunaria annua L. 482 Lunaria rediviva L. 482 Lupinus albus L. 453 Lupinus angustifolius L. 453 Lupinus cosentinii Guss. 453 Lupinus graecus Boiss. et Spruner 453 Lupinus gussoneanus J. Agardh 453 Lupinus luteus L. 453 Luzula campestris (L.) DC. 398 Luzula forsteri (Sm.) DC. 397 Luzula sicula Parl. 397 Lychnis chalcedonica L. 436 Lychnis los-cuculi L. 436 Lycium europaeum L. 515 Lycium intricatum Boiss. 515 Lycopus europaeus L. 505 Lygeum spartum L. 415 Lysimachia nemorum L. 492 Lysimachia vulgaris L. 492 Lythrum acutangulum Lag. 478 Lythrum hyssopifolia L. 478 Lythrum junceum Banks et Sol. 478 Lythrum salicaria L. 478 Lythrum tribracteatum Salzm. ex Ten. 478 Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. 468 Magydaris pastinacea (Lam.) Paol. 520 Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. 417 Malcolmia africana (L.) R. Br. 480 Malcolmia littorea (L.) R. Br. 480 Malcolmia maritima (L.) R. Br. 480 Malcolmia nana (DC.) Boiss. 480 Index of species Malcolmia ramosissima (Desf.) Thell 480 Malephora crocea (Jacq.) Schwantes 443 Malope malacoides L. 489 Malus crescimannoi Raimondo 474 Malus domestica Borkh. 474 Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. 474 Malva cretica Cav. 489 Malva moschata L. 489 Malva multilora (Cav.) Soldano, Bani et Galasso 489 Malva neglecta Wallr. 489 Malva nicaeensis All. 489 Malva oxyloba Boiss. 489 Malva parvilora L. 489 Malva sylvestris L. 489 Malva veneta (Mill.) Soldano, Bani et Galasso 489 Mandragora autumnalis Bertol. 516 Mantisalca duriaei (Spach) Briq. et Cavill. 537 Mantisalca salmantica (L.) Briq. et Cavill. 537 Marrubium alysson L. 501 Marrubium incanum Desr. 501 Marrubium vulgare L. 501 Matricaria aurea (Loel.) Sch. Bip. 531 Matricaria chamomilla L. 531 Matthiola fruticulosa (L.) Maire 480 Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br. 480 Matthiola sinuata (L.) R. Br. subsp. ligurica (Conti) Vierh. 480 Matthiola tricuspidata (L.) R. Br. 480 Mauranthemum paludosum (Poir.) Vogt et Oberpr. 533 Medicago aculeata Willd. 461 Medicago arabica (L.) Huds. 461 Medicago arborea L. 460 Medicago ciliaris (L.) All. 461 Medicago coronata (L.) Bartal. 460 Medicago disciformis DC. 460 Medicago falcata L. 460 Medicago intertexta (L.) Mill. 461 Medicago italica (Mill.) Grande 461 Medicago littoralis Rohde ex Loisel. 461 Medicago lupulina L. 460 Medicago marina L. 460 Medicago minima (L.) Bartal. 460 Medicago murex Willd. 461 Medicago muricoleptis Tineo 461 Medicago orbicularis (L.) Bartal. 460 Medicago polymorpha L. 461 Medicago rigidula (L.) All. 461 Medicago rugosa Desr. 460 Medicago sativa L. 460 Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. 460 Medicago secundilora Durieu 460 Medicago tenoreana Ser. 461 Medicago truncatula Gaertn. 461 Medicago turbinata (L.) All. 461 Megathyrsus bivonianus (Brullo, Miniss., Scelsi et Spamp.) Verloove 415 Melia azedarach L. 491 Melica ciliata L. 410 Melica cupanii Guss. 410 Melica minuta L. 410 Melica unilora Retz. 410 Melilotus albus Medik. 459 Melilotus altissimus Thuill. 459 Melilotus elegans Salzm. ex Ser. 460 Melilotus indicus (L.) All. 459 Melilotus infestus Guss. 459 Melilotus italicus (L.) Lam. 459 Melilotus messanensis (L.) All. 459 Melilotus neapolitanus Ten. 459 Melilotus segetalis (Brot.) Ser. 459 Melilotus sulcatus Desf. 459 Melissa oicinalis L. 503 Melissa romana Mill. 503 Melittis albida Guss. 502 Melomphis arabica (L.) Raf. 386 Mentha aquatica L. 505 Mentha arvensis L. 505 Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. 505 Mentha microphylla K. Koch 505 Mentha pulegium L. 505 Mentha spicata L. 505 Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. 505 Mercurialis annua L. 446 Mercurialis perennis L. 446 Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. 443 Mesembryanthemum nodilorum L. 443 Mespilus germanica L. 475 Micromeria canescens (Guss.) Benth. 503 Micromeria consentina (Ten.) N. Terracc. 504 Micromeria fruticulosa (Bertol.) Šilić 504 Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb. 503 587 Index of species Micromeria juliana (L.) Benth. ex Rchb. 503 Micromeria microphylla (d’Urv.) Benth. 503 Micromeria nervosa (Desf.) Benth. 503 Microthlaspi perfoliatum (L.) F.K. Mey. 484 Middendoria borysthenica (Schrank) Trautv. 478 Milium efusum L. 410 Milium vernale M. Bieb. 410 Minuartia clandestina (Port.) Trinajstić 432 Minuartia graminifolia Jáv. 432 Minuartia hybrida (Vill.) Schischk. 432 Minuartia mediterranea (Link) K. Malý 432 Minuartia recurva (All.) Schinz et Thell. 432 Minuartia verna (L.) Hiern 432 Mirabilis jalapa L. 443 Mirabilis longilora L. 443 Misopates calycinum (Lam.) Rothm. 509 Misopates orontium (L.) Raf. 509 Moehringia muscosa L. 432 Moehringia pentandra J. Gay 432 Moehringia trinervia (L.) Clairv. 432 Moenchia erecta (L.) G. Gaertn., B. Mey. et Scherb. 433 Molineriella minuta (L.) Rouy 409 Moluccella spinosa L. 502 Montia fontana L. 444 Moorochloa eruciformis (Sm.) Veldkamp 415 Moraea sisyrinchium Ker Gawl. 391 Moricandia arvensis (L.) DC. 485 Moricandia longirostris Pomel 485 Morus alba L. 468 Morus nigra L. 468 Muscari commutatum Guss. 386 Muscari comosum (L.) Mill. 386 Muscari gussonei (Parl.) Tod. 386 Muscari lafarinae (Lojac.) Garbari 386 Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten. 386 Muscari parvilorum Desf. 386 Muscarimia macrocarpa (Sweet) Garbari 386 Muscarimia muscari (L.) Losinsk. 386 Myagrum perfoliatum L. 479 Myoporum insulare R. Br. 513 Myoporum tetrandrum (Labill.) Domin 513 Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill 498 Myosotis congesta Shuttlew. 498 Myosotis discolor Pers. 498 588 Myosotis incrassata Guss. 498 Myosotis nemorosa Besser 499 Myosotis ramosissima Rochel ex Schult. 498 Myosotis sicula Guss. 499 Myosotis stricta Link ex Roem. et Schult. 498 Myosotis sylvatica Hofm. 499 Myosurus minimus L. 421 Myriolimon ferulaceum (L.) Lledó, Erben et M.B. Crespo 429 Myriophyllum alternilorum DC. 425 Myriophyllum spicatum L. 425 Myriophyllum verticillatum L. 425 Myrrhoides nodosa (L.) Cannon 517 Myrtus communis L. 478 Najas marina L. 381 Narcissus obsoletus (Haw.) Steud. 389 Narcissus papyraceus Ker Gawl. 389 Narcissus tazetta L. 389 Nardus stricta L. 415 Nasturtium oicinale R. Br. 481 Neatostema apulum (L.) I.M. Johnst. 497 Nectaroscordum siculum (Ucria) Lindl. subsp. siculum 389 Neotinea commutata (Tod.) R.M. Bateman 393 Neotinea lactea (Poir.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon et M.W. Chase 393 Neotinea maculata (Desf.) Stearn 392 Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich. 395 Nepeta apuleii Ucria 503 Nepeta cataria L. 503 Nepeta tuberosa L. 503 Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C. Presl 377 Nerium oleander L. 496 Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv. 483 Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn. 515 Nicotiana glauca Graham 516 Nicotiana tabacum L. 516 Nigella arvensis L. 418 Nigella damascena L. 418 Nigella papillosa G. López subsp. atlantica (Murb.) Amich ex G. López 418 Noccaea rivalis (C. Presl) F.K. Mey. 483 Nonea vesicaria (L.) Rchb. 498 Nopalea dejecta (Salm-Dyck) Salm-Dyck 444 Nothoscordum inodorum (Aiton) G. Nicholson 389 Notobasis syriaca (L.) Cass. 536 Index of species Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. 379 Nymphaea alba L. 379 Odontites bocconei (Guss.) Walp. 507 Odontites luteus (L.) Clairv. 507 Odontites rigidifolius (Biv.) Benth. 507 Odontites vulgaris Moench 507 Oenanthe aquatica (L.) Poir. 519 Oenanthe istulosa L. 519 Oenanthe globulosa L. 519 Oenanthe lachenalii C.C. Gmel. 519 Oenanthe pimpinelloides L. 519 Oenanthe silaifolia M. Bieb. 519 Oenothera biennis L. 477 Oenothera glazioviana Micheli 477 Oenothera indecora Cambess. 478 Oenothera rosea L’Her. ex Aiton 477 Oenothera stricta Ledeb. ex Link 477 Olea europaea L. 500 Oloptum miliaceum (L.) Röser et Hamasha 413 Oloptum thomasii (Duby) Banfi et Galasso 413 Oncostema cerulea (Raf.) Speta 385 Oncostema dimartinoi (Brullo et Pavone) F. Conti et Soldano 385 Oncostema elongata (Parl.) Speta 385 Oncostema hughii (Tineo ex Guss.) Speta 385 Oncostema sicula (Tineo ex Guss.) Speta 385 Onobrychis aequidentata (Sm.) d’Urv. 467 Onobrychis caput-galli (L.) Lam. 467 Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. 467 Ononis alopecuroides L. 459 Ononis bilora Desf. 458 Ononis brevilora DC. 458 Ononis dentata Sol. ex Löwe 458 Ononis difusa Ten. 459 Ononis hispida Desf. 459 Ononis minutissima L. 459 Ononis mitissima L. 459 Ononis oligophylla Ten. 459 Ononis ornithopodioides L. 458 Ononis pendula Desf. 458 Ononis pubescens L. 458 Ononis pusilla L. 458 Ononis ramosissima Desf. 458 Ononis reclinata L. 458 Ononis serrata Forssk. 459 Ononis sicula Guss. 458 Ononis sieberi Besser ex DC. 458 Ononis spinosa L. 459 Ononis variegata L. 459 Onopordum horridum Viv. 537 Onopordum illyricum L. 537 Ophioglossum lusitanicum L. 375 Ophioglossum vulgatum L. 375 Ophrys apifera Huds. 394 Ophrys bertolonii Moretti 394 Ophrys bombylilora Link 393 Ophrys exaltata Ten. 394 Ophrys fusca Link 393 Ophrys holosericea (Burm. f.) Greuter 394 Ophrys incubacea Bianca 394 Ophrys lacaitae Lojac. 394 Ophrys lunulata Parl. 394 Ophrys lutea Cav. 393 Ophrys mirabilis Geniez et Melki 393 Ophrys oxyrrhynchos Tod. 394 Ophrys pallida Raf. 393 Ophrys passionis Sennen ex Devillers-Tersch. et Devillers 394 Ophrys scolopax Cav. 394 Ophrys speculum Link 393 Ophrys sphegodes Mill. 394 Ophrys subfusca (Rchb. f.) Hausskn. (pro hybr.) 393 Ophrys tenthredinifera Willd. 394 Opopanax chironium (L.) W.D.J. Koch 522 Opuntia amyclaea Ten. 444 Opuntia dillenii Haw. 444 Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. 444 Opuntia icus-indica (L.) Mill. 444 Opuntia lindheimeri Engelm. 444 Opuntia monacantha (Willd.) Haw. 444 Opuntia robusta H.L. Wendl. ex Pfeif. 444 Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. 444 Orchis anthropophora (L.) All. 392 Orchis brancifortii Biv. 392 Orchis italica Poir. 392 Orchis mascula (L.) L. 392 Orchis patens Desf. 392 Orchis provincialis Balb. ex Lam. et DC. 392 Orchis simia Lam. 392 Oreopteris limbosperma (Bellardi ex All.) Holub 376 Origanum heracleoticum L. 504 589 Index of species Origanum majorana L. 504 Origanum onites L. 504 Origanum vulgare L. 504 Orlaya daucoides (L.) Greuter 523 Ornithogalum collinum Guss. subsp. collinum 386 Ornithogalum comosum L. 386 Ornithogalum divergens Boreau 386 Ornithogalum exscapum Ten. 386 Ornithogalum gussonei Ten. 386 Ornithogalum montanum Cirillo 386 Ornithogalum refractum Kit. ex Willd. 386 Ornithopus compressus L. 466 Ornithopus pinnatus (Mill.) Druce 466 Orobanche alba Stephan ex Willd. 508 Orobanche amethystea Thuill. 508 Orobanche artemisiae-campestris Gaudin 508 Orobanche canescens C. Presl 509 Orobanche caryophyllacea Sm. 508 Orobanche cernua Loel. 508 Orobanche chironii Lojac. 509 Orobanche crenata Forssk. 508 Orobanche gracilis Sm. 509 Orobanche hederae Duby 508 Orobanche lavandulacea Rchb. 508 Orobanche litorea Guss. 509 Orobanche lutea Baumg. 508 Orobanche minor Sm. 509 Orobanche mutelii F.W. Schultz 508 Orobanche nana (Reut.) Beck 508 Orobanche oxyloba Beck 508 Orobanche pubescens d’Urv. 508 Orobanche purpurea Jacq. 508 Orobanche ramosa L. 508 Orobanche rapum-genistae Thuill. 508 Orobanche sanguinea C. Presl 509 Orobanche schultzii Mutel 508 Orobanche variegata Wallr. 509 Osmunda regalis L. 375 Ostrya carpinifolia Scop. 470 Osyris alba L. 423 Oxalis articulata Savigny 449 Oxalis corniculata L. 448 Oxalis latifolia Kunth 449 Oxalis pes-caprae L. 449 Oxalis purpurata Jacq. 449 Oxalis purpurea L. 448 590 Oxybasis rubra (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila et Borsch 441 Oxybasis urbica (L.) S. Fuentes, Uotila et Borsch 441 Paeonia mascula (L.) Mill. 423 Paeonia morisii Cesca, Bernardo et N.G. Passal. 423 Paeonia sandrae Camarda 423 Paliurus spina-christi Mill. 467 Pallenis maritima (L.) Greuter 529 Pallenis spinosa (L.) Cass. subsp. spinosa 529 Pancratium linosae Soldano et F. Conti 389 Pancratium maritimum L. 389 Panicum miliaceum L. 415 Panicum repens L. 415 Papaver apulum Ten. 421 Papaver dubium L. 421 Papaver hybridum L. 421 Papaver pinnatiidum Moris 421 Papaver rhoeas L. 421 Papaver setigerum DC. 421 Papaver somniferum L. 421 Parapholis iliformis (Roth) C.E. Hubb. 406 Parapholis incurva (L.) C.E. Hubb. 405 Parapholis marginata Runemark 406 Parapholis pycnantha (Hack.) C.E. Hubb. 406 Parapholis strigosa (Dumort.) C.E. Hubb. 406 Paraserianthes lophantha (Willd.) I.C. Nielsen 452 Parentucellia latifolia (L.) Caruel 507 Parentucellia viscosa (L.) Caruel 507 Parietaria cretica L. 469 Parietaria judaica L. 468 Parietaria lusitanica L. 468 Parietaria mauritanica Durieu 469 Parkinsonia aculeata L. 451 Paronychia arabica (L.) DC. subsp. longiseta Batt. 434 Paronychia argentea Lam. 434 Paronychia echinulata Chater 434 Paronychia macrosepala Boiss. 434 Paronychia polygonifolia (Vill.) DC. 434 Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. 445 Paspalum dilatatum Poir. 415 Index of species Paspalum distichum L. 416 Passilora coerulea L. 450 Pastinaca sativa L. 522 Patellifolia procumbens (C. Sm.) A.J. Scott., Ford-Lloyd et J.T. Williams 440 Patzkea coerulescens (Desf.) H. Scholz 404 Pelargonium inquinans (L.) L’Hér. 476 Pelargonium peltatum (L.) L’Hér. 476 Pelargonium radula (Cav.) L’Hér. 476 Pelargonium zonale (L.) Aiton 476 Periploca angustifolia Labill. 496 Persicaria amphibia (L.) Delarbre 430 Persicaria capitata (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) H. Gross 430 Persicaria decipiens (R. Br.) K.L. Wilson 430 Persicaria dubia (Stein) Fourr. 430 Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre 430 Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) Delarbre 430 Persicaria maculosa Gray 430 Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach 430 Petagnaea gussonei (Spreng.) Rauschert 517 Petasites hybridus (L.) G. Gaertn., B. Mey. et Scherb. subsp. hybridus 533 Petasites pyrenaicus (L.) G. López 533 Petrorhagia dubia (Raf.) G. López et Romo 438 Petrorhagia illyrica (Ard.) P.W. Ball et Heywood subsp. haynaldiana (F.N. Williams) P.W. Ball et Heywood 438 Petrorhagia prolifera (L.) P.W. Ball et Heywood 438 Petrorhagia saxifraga (L.) Link 438 Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss 521 Petunia atkinsiana D. Don ex Loudon 516 Phagnalon metlesicsii Pignatti 528 Phagnalon rupestre (L.) DC. 528 Phagnalon saxatile (L.) Cass. 528 Phagnalon sordidum (L.) Rchb. 528 Phalaris aquatica L. 402 Phalaris brachystachys Link 402 Phalaris canariensis L. 402 Phalaris coerulescens Desf. 402 Phalaris minor Retz. 402 Phalaris paradoxa L. 402 Phalaris truncata Guss. 402 Phedimus stellatus (L.) Raf. 424 Phillyrea angustifolia L. 500 Phillyrea latifolia L. 500 Phleum arenarium L. subsp. caesium H. Scholz 407 Phleum echinatum Host 407 Phleum nodosum L. 407 Phleum paniculatum Huds. 407 Phleum pratense L. 407 Phleum subulatum (Savi) Asch. et Graebn. 407 Phlomis fruticosa L. 502 Phlomis herba-venti L. 502 Phoenix canariensis Chabaud 395 Phoenix dactylifera L. 395 Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. 410 Phyla nodilora (L.) Greene 500 Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. 448 Phyllitis sagittata (DC.) Guinea et Heywood 377 Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newman subsp. scolopendrium 377 Phyllostachys aurea Carrière ex Rivière et C. Rivière 417 Physalis peruviana L. 515 Physospermum verticillatum (Waldst. et Kit.) Vis. 519 Phytolacca americana L. 443 Phytolacca dioica L. 443 Picnomon acarna (L.) Cass. 536 Picris hieracioides L. 542 Pilosella leucopsilon (Arv.-Touv.) Gottschl. 545 Pilularia minuta Durieu ex A. Braun 378 Pimpinella anisoides V. Brig. 518 Pimpinella lutea Desf. 518 Pimpinella peregrina L. 518 Pimpinella tragium Vill. 518 Pinus calabrica Hort. ex Gordon 378 Pinus canariensis Sweet 378 Pinus halepensis Mill. 378 Pinus pinaster Aiton 378 Pinus pinea L. 378 Piptatherum coerulescens (Desf.) P. Beauv. 413 Pistacia lentiscus L. 491 Pistacia terebinthus L. 491 Pistacia vera L. 491 Pisum sativum L. 458 591 Index of species Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T. Aiton 516 Plantago afra L. 512 Plantago albicans L. 512 Plantago bellardii All. 512 Plantago coronopus L. 511 Plantago crassifolia Forssk. 511 Plantago cupanii Guss. 512 Plantago humilis Guss. 512 Plantago intermedia Gilib. 511 Plantago lagopus L. 512 Plantago lanceolata L. 512 Plantago macrorhiza Poir. 512 Plantago major L. 511 Plantago peloritana Lojac. 512 Plantago serraria L. 512 Plantago subulata L. 512 Plantago weldenii Rchb. 512 Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb. 391 Platanus hispanica Ten. 423 Platanus orientalis L. 423 Platycapnos spicatus (L.) Bernh. 422 Plocama calabrica (L. f.) M Backlund et Thulin 493 Plumbago europaea L. 426 Poa annua L. 402 Poa bivonae Parl. 403 Poa bulbosa L. 403 Poa compressa L. 403 Poa inirma Kunth 403 Poa nemoralis L. 403 Poa pratensis L. 403 Poa sylvicola Guss. 403 Poa trivialis L. 403 Podospermum canum C.A. Mey. 541 Podospermum laciniatum (L.) DC. 541 Polycarpon alsinifolium (Biv.) DC. 435 Polycarpon diphyllum Cav. 435 Polycarpon polycarpoides (Biv.) Zodda 435 Polycarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L. 435 Polycnemum arvense L. 440 Polygala monspeliaca L. 467 Polygala myrtifolia L. 467 Polygala preslii Spreng. 467 Polygala vulgaris L. 467 Polygonatum multilorum (L.) All. 384 Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce 384 592 Polygonum arenastrum Boreau 429 Polygonum aviculare L. 429 Polygonum bellardii All. 429 Polygonum equisetiforme Sm. 429 Polygonum maritimum L. 429 Polygonum robertii Loisel. 429 Polygonum rurivagum Jord. ex Boreau 429 Polygonum tenorei C. Presl 429 Polypodium cambricum L. 376 Polypodium interjectum Shivas 376 Polypodium vulgare L. 376 Polypogon maritimus Willd. 409 Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. 409 Polypogon subspathaceus Req. 409 Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr. 409 Polystichum setiferum (Forssk.) Moore ex Woyn. 377 Populus alba L. 450 Populus canadensis Moench 450 Populus canescens (Aiton) Sm. 450 Populus deltoides Marshall 450 Populus nigra L. 450 Populus tremula L. 450 Portulaca cypria Danin 445 Portulaca grandilora Hook. 445 Portulaca granulatostellulata (Poelln.) Ricceri et Arrigoni 444 Portulaca nitida (Danin et H.G. Baker) Ricceri et Arrigoni 444 Portulaca oleracea L. 445 Portulaca papillatostellulata (Danin et H.G. Baker) Danin 445 Portulaca rausii Danin 445 Portulaca sativa Haw. 445 Portulaca sicula Danin, Domina et Raimondo 444 Portulaca trituberculata Danin, Domina et Raimondo 445 Portulaca zafranii Danin 444 Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile 381 Potamogeton coloratus Hornem. 381 Potamogeton crispus L. 382 Potamogeton iliformis Pers. 382 Potamogeton gramineus L. 382 Potamogeton lucens L. 382 Potamogeton natans L. 381 Potamogeton nodosus Poir. 381 Potamogeton pectinatus L. 382 Index of species Potamogeton perfoliatus L. 382 Potamogeton polygonifolius Pourr. 381 Potamogeton pusillus L. 382 Potamogeton sublavus Loret et Barrandon 382 Potamogeton trichoides Cham. et Schltdl. 382 Potentilla argentea L. 472 Potentilla calabra Ten. 473 Potentilla caulescens L. 473 Potentilla detommasii Ten. 473 Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. 473 Potentilla hirta L. 473 Potentilla inclinata Vill. 473 Potentilla micrantha Ramond ex DC. 473 Potentilla recta L. 473 Potentilla reptans L. 473 Prasium majus L. 501 Primula vulgaris Huds. 492 Prospero autumnale (L.) Speta 385 Prospero hierae C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Pavone et Salmeri 385 Prospero obtusifolium (Poir.) Speta subsp. intermedium (Guss.) Soldano et F. Conti 385 Prunella laciniata (L.) L. 503 Prunella vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris 503 Prunus avium (L.) L. 475 Prunus cerasus L. 475 Prunus cocomilia Ten. 475 Prunus cupaniana Guss. ex Nyman 475 Prunus domestica L. 475 Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb 475 Prunus mahaleb L. 475 Prunus persica (L.) Batsch 475 Prunus spinosa L. 475 Prunus webbii (Spach) Vierh. 475 Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia (Vahl) Devesa 525 Pteranthus dichotomus Forssk. 435 Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn subsp. aquilinum 376 Pteris cretica L. 375 Pteris vittata L. 375 Ptilostemon greuteri Raimondo et Domina 536 Ptilostemon niveus (C. Presl) Greuter 536 Ptilostemon stellatus (L.) Greuter 536 Puccinellia fasciculata (Torr.) E.P. Bicknell 403 Pulicaria clausonis Pomel 529 Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Bernh. 529 Pulicaria odora (L.) Rchb. 529 Pulicaria sicula (L.) Moris 529 Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. 529 Punica granatum L. 478 Pycnocomon rutifolium (Vahl) Hofmanns. et Link 525 Pyracantha coccinea M. Roem. 475 Pyrola secunda L. 493 Pyrus castribonensis Raimondo, Schicchi et Mazzola 474 Pyrus ciancioi P. Marino, G. Castellano, Raimondo et Spadaro 473 Pyrus communis L. 473 Pyrus pyraster Burgsd. 473 Pyrus sicanorum Raimondo, Schicchi et P. Marino 473 Pyrus spinosa Forssk. 473 Pyrus vallis-demonis Raimondo et Schicchi 474 Quercus amplifolia Guss. 470 Quercus calliprinos Webb 470 Quercus cerris L. 470 Quercus congesta C. Presl 470 Quercus dalechampii Ten. 470 Quercus fontanesii Guss. 470 Quercus gussonei (Borzí) Brullo 470 Quercus ilex L. 470 Quercus leptobalanos Guss. 470 Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. 470 Quercus suber L. 470 Quercus trojana Webb 470 Quercus virgiliana (Ten.) Ten. 470 Radiola linoides Roth 451 Ranunculus angulatus C. Presl 419 Ranunculus aquatilis L. 420 Ranunculus arvensis L. 419 Ranunculus aspromontanus Huter 420 Ranunculus baudotii Godr. 420 Ranunculus bulbosus L. 419 Ranunculus bullatus L. 420 Ranunculus circinatus Sibth. 421 Ranunculus lammula L. 420 Ranunculus fontanus C. Presl 420 Ranunculus garganicus Ten. 420 593 Index of species Ranunculus gracilis E.D. Clarke 420 Ranunculus isthmicus Boiss. 420 Ranunculus lanuginosus L. 419 Ranunculus laterilorus DC. 420 Ranunculus lingua L. 420 Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. 419 Ranunculus millefoliatus Vahl 420 Ranunculus monspeliacus L. 419 Ranunculus muricatus L. 419 Ranunculus neapolitanus Ten. 419 Ranunculus omiophyllus Ten. 420 Ranunculus ophioglossifolius Vill. 420 Ranunculus paludosus Poir. 420 Ranunculus parvilorus L. 419 Ranunculus peltatus Schrank 420 Ranunculus penicillatus (Dumort.) Bab. 421 Ranunculus pratensis C. Presl 419 Ranunculus repens L. 419 Ranunculus rupestris Guss. 420 Ranunculus saniculifolius Viv. 420 Ranunculus sardous Crantz 419 Ranunculus sceleratus L. 419 Ranunculus trichophyllus Chaix 421 Ranunculus trilobus Desf. 419 Ranunculus velutinus Ten. 419 Raphanus raphanistrum L. 487 Raphanus sativus L. 487 Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All. 486 Reaumuria vermiculata L. 426 Reichardia intermedia Sch. Bip. 544 Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth 544 Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth 544 Reseda alba L. 479 Reseda lutea L. 479 Reseda luteola L. 479 Retama raetam (Forssk.) Webb et Berthel. subsp. gussonei (Webb) Greuter 453 Rhagadiolus edulis Gaertn. 541 Rhagadiolus stellatus (L.) Gaertn. 541 Rhamnus alaternus L. 467 Rhamnus cathartica L. 467 Rhamnus lojaconoi Raimondo 467 Rhamnus oleoides L. 467 Rhamnus saxatilis Jacq. 467 Rhapis excelsa (Thunb.) A. Henry 395 Rhaponticoides africana (Lam.) M.V. Agab. et Greuter 537 594 Rhaponticum coniferum (L.) Greuter subsp. coniferum 537 Rhodalsine geniculata (Poir.) F.N. Williams 432 Rhus coriaria L. 491 Rhus pentaphylla (Jacq.) Desf. 491 Rhus tripartita (Ucria) Grande 491 Rhynchocorys elephas (L.) Griseb. 507 Ribes uva-crispa L. 425 Ricinus communis L. 446 Ridolia segetum (Guss.) Moris 521 Robinia pseudoacacia L. 453 Roldana petasitis (Sims) H. Rob. et Brettel 535 Romulea bulbocodium (L.) Sebast. et Mauri 390 Romulea columnae (L.) Sebast. et Mauri 390 Romulea linaresii Parl. subsp. linaresii 390 Romulea melitensis Bég. 390 Romulea ramilora Ten. 390 Romulea rollii Parl. 390 Rorippa amphibia (L.) Besser 481 Rorippa sylvestris (L.) Besser 481 Rosa agrestis Savi 471 Rosa arvensis Huds. 471 Rosa canina L. 472 Rosa corymbifera Borkh. 472 Rosa dumalis Bechst. 472 Rosa elliptica Tausch 471 Rosa gallica L. 471 Rosa heckeliana Tratt. 472 Rosa montana Chaix 472 Rosa pouzinii Tratt. 472 Rosa pulverulenta M. Bieb. 471 Rosa rubiginosa L. 471 Rosa sempervirens L. 471 Rosa serainii Viv. 472 Rosa sicula Tratt. 472 Rosa spinosissima L. 471 Rosa squarrosa (A. Rau) Boreau 472 Rosa tomentosa Sm. 472 Rosmarinus oicinalis L. 505 Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev 406 Rostraria hispida (Savi) Doğan 406 Rostraria litorea (All.) Holub 406 Rubia peregrina L. 495 Rubia tinctorum L. 495 Rubus acheruntinus Ten. 471 Index of species Rubus aetnicus Tineo ex Nyman 471 Rubus caesius L. 471 Rubus canescens DC. 471 Rubus henrici-egonis Holub 471 Rubus idaeus L. 471 Rubus montanus Libert ex Lej. 471 Rubus odoratus L. 471 Rubus ulmifolius Schott 471 Rumex ×pratensis Mert. et W.D.J. Koch 431 Rumex acetosa L. 430 Rumex acetosella L. 430 Rumex bucephalophorus L. 431 Rumex conglomeratus Murray 431 Rumex crispus L. 431 Rumex cristatus DC. 431 Rumex dentatus L. 431 Rumex intermedius DC. 431 Rumex lunaria L. 431 Rumex maritimus L. 431 Rumex nebroides Campd. 430 Rumex obtusifolius L. 431 Rumex palustris Sm. 431 Rumex patientia L. 431 Rumex pulcher L. 431 Rumex sanguineus L. 431 Rumex scutatus L. 431 Rumex thyrsoides Desf. 430 Rumex tuberosus L. 430 Rumex vesicarius L. 431 Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande 381 Ruppia drepanensis Tineo 381 Ruppia maritima L. 381 Ruscus aculeatus L. 384 Ruscus hypoglossum L. 384 Ruta angustifolia Pers. 490 Ruta chalepensis L. 490 Sabal palmetto (Walter) Lodd. 395 Saccharum bilorum Forssk. 416 Saccharum oicinarum L. 416 Sagina apetala Ard. 434 Sagina maritima G. Don 434 Sagina procumbens L. 434 Sagina subulata (Sw.) C. Presl 433 Salicornia emerici Duval-Jouve 442 Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve 442 Salix alba L. 450 Salix babylonica L. 450 Salix caprea L. 450 Salix fragilis L. 450 Salix gussonei Brullo et Spamp. 450 Salix pedicellata Desf. 450 Salix purpurea L. 450 Salpichroa origanifolia (Lam.) Baill. 515 Salsola oppositifolia Pall. 443 Salsola soda L. 442 Salvia argentea L. 506 Salvia canariensis L. 506 Salvia clandestina L. 506 Salvia fruticosa Mill. 505 Salvia grahami Benth. 506 Salvia multiida Sm. 506 Salvia oicinalis L. 505 Salvia pinnata L. 506 Salvia sclarea L. 506 Salvia splendens Sellow 506 Salvia verbenaca L. 506 Salvia viridis L. 506 Sambucus ebulus L. 523 Sambucus nigra L. 523 Samolus valerandi L. 492 Sanguisorba minor Scop. 472 Sanicula europaea L. 517 Santolina marchii Arrigoni 533 Saponaria oicinalis L. 438 Saponaria sicula Raf. 438 Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J. Scott 442 Sarcocornia perennis (Mill.) A.J. Scott 442 Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach 472 Satureja hortensis L. 503 Saxifraga adscendens L. 426 Saxifraga bulbifera L. 425 Saxifraga callosa Sm. p.p. 426 Saxifraga granulata L. 425 Saxifraga hederacea L. 425 Saxifraga rotundifolia L. 425 Saxifraga tridactylites L. 426 Scabiosa parvilora Desf. 525 Scandix australis L. 518 Scandix pecten-veneris L. 518 Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort. 405 Schedonorus interruptus (Desf.) Tzvelev 405 Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv. 405 Schinus molle L. 491 Schismus arabicus Nees 414 595 Index of species Schoenoplectus ×carinatus (Sm.) Palla 400 Schoenoplectus lacustris (L.) Palla 400 Schoenoplectus litoralis (Schrad.) Palla 400 Schoenoplectus mucronatus (L.) Palla 400 Schoenoplectus pungens (Vahl) Palla 400 Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (C.C. Gmel.) Palla 400 Schoenoplectus triqueter (L.) Palla 400 Schoenus ferrugineus L. 401 Schoenus nigricans L. 401 Scilla bifolia L. 385 Scirpoides holoschoenus (L.) Soják 400 Scirpoides romanus (L.) Soják 400 Scirpus sylvaticus L. 400 Scleranthus aetnensis Strobl 434 Scleranthus annuus L. 434 Scleranthus marginatus Guss. 434 Scleranthus perennis L. 434 Scleranthus polycarpos L. 434 Scleranthus vulcanicus Strobl 434 Sclerochloa dura (L.) P. Beauv. 405 Scolymus grandilorus Desf. 540 Scolymus hispanicus L. 540 Scolymus maculatus L. 540 Scorpiurus muricatus L. 466 Scorpiurus subvillosus L. 466 Scorpiurus vermiculatus L. 466 Scorzonera hirsuta L. 541 Scorzonera undulata Vahl subsp. deliciosa (DC.) Maire 541 Scorzonera villosa Scop. 541 Scorzoneroides autumnalis (L.) Moench 542 Scorzoneroides cichoracea (Ten.) Greuter 542 Scorzoneroides muelleri (Sch. Bip.) Greuter et Talavera subsp. muelleri 542 Scrophularia auriculata L. 507 Scrophularia canina L. 507 Scrophularia frutescens L. 507 Scrophularia peregrina L. 507 Scrophularia scopolii Hoppe ex Pers. 507 Scrophularia umbrosa Dumort. 507 Scrophularia vernalis L. 507 Scutellaria columnae All. 501 Scutellaria rubicunda Hornem. 501 Secale cereale L. 413 Secale strictum (C. Presl) C. Presl subsp. strictum 413 596 Sechium edule Sw. 469 Securigera securidaca (L.) Degen et Dörl. 466 Sedum acre L. 424 Sedum aetnense Tineo in Guss. 424 Sedum album L. 425 Sedum amplexicaule DC. 425 Sedum caeruleum L. 425 Sedum caespitosum (Cav.) DC. 424 Sedum cepaea L. 425 Sedum dasyphyllum L. 425 Sedum gypsicola Boiss. et Reut. 425 Sedum hispanicum L. 424 Sedum litoreum Guss. 424 Sedum nussbaumerianum Bitter 424 Sedum ochroleucum Chaix 425 Sedum praealtum A. DC. 424 Sedum rubens L. 425 Sedum sediforme (Jacq.) Pau 425 Sedum sexangulare L. 424 Selaginella denticulata (L.) Spring 375 Selaginella kraussiana (Kunze) A. Braun 375 Senecio aethnensis Jan ex DC. 534 Senecio angulatus L. f. 534 Senecio chrysanthemifolius Poir. 534 Senecio doria L. subsp. doria 535 Senecio gallicus Chaix 534 Senecio glaber Ucria 534 Senecio glaucus L. subsp. coronopifolius (Maire) C. Alexander 534 Senecio inaequidens DC. 535 Senecio leucanthemifolius Poir. 534 Senecio lividus L. 534 Senecio pygmaeus DC. 534 Senecio rupestris Waldst. et Kit. 534 Senecio siculus All. 534 Senecio squalidus L. 534 Senecio vulgaris L. 534 Senegalia visco (Lorentz ex Griseb.) Seigler et Ebinger 452 Serapias bergonii E.G. Camus 393 Serapias cordigera L. 393 Serapias lingua L. 393 Serapias nurrica Corrias 393 Serapias orientalis E. Nelson 393 Serapias parvilora Parl. 393 Serapias vomeracea (Burm. f.) Briq. 393 Index of species Serratula tinctoria L. 537 Sesamum indicum L. 513 Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth. 453 Seseli bocconei Guss. 519 Seseli tortuosum L. 519 Sesleria nitida Ten. 405 Setaria adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov. 416 Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. 416 Setaria parvilora (Poir.) Kerguélen 416 Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. et Schult. 416 Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv. 416 Sherardia arvensis L. 493 Siculosciadium nebrodense (Guss.) C. Brullo, Brullo, S.R. Downie et Giusso 522 Sicyos angulatus L. 469 Sida spinosa L. 490 Sideritis italica (Mill.) Greuter et Burdet 501 Sideritis romana L. 502 Sideritis sicula Ucria 502 Silene annulata Thore 437 Silene apetala Willd. 437 Silene arghireica Vals. 437 Silene behen L. 437 Silene bellidifolia Jacq. 437 Silene coeli-rosa (L.) Godr. 436 Silene colorata Poir. 437 Silene commutata Guss. 436 Silene conica L. 438 Silene crassiuscula Brullo, C. Brullo, Cambria, Bacchetta, Giusso et Ilardi 437 Silene cretica L. 436 Silene dioica (L.) Clairv. 436 Silene fruticosa L. 436 Silene fuscata Link ex Brot. 437 Silene gallica L. 437 Silene glareosa Jord. 436 Silene hicesiae Brullo et Signor. 436 Silene italica (L.) Pers. 436 Silene kemoniana C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Ilardi et Sciandr. 437 Silene latifolia Poir. 436 Silene muscipula L. 437 Silene nefelites C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso et Ilardi 437 Silene neglecta Ten. 437 Silene nicaeensis All. 437 Silene nocturna L. 437 Silene peloritana C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Miniss. et Sciandr. 437 Silene pendula L. 437 Silene saxifraga L. 436 Silene sedoides Poir. 438 Silene sicula Ucria 436 Silene subconica Friv. 438 Silene turbinata Guss. 437 Silene viridilora L. 436 Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke 436 Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. 537 Simethis mattiazzi (Vand.) Sacc. 390 Sinapis alba L. 486 Sinapis arvensis L. 486 Sinapis pubescens L. 486 Sison amomum L. 521 Sisymbrella dentata (L.) O.E. Schulz 481 Sisymbrium altissimum L. 479 Sisymbrium erysimoides Desf. 479 Sisymbrium irio L. 479 Sisymbrium oicinale (L.) Scop. 479 Sisymbrium orientale L. 479 Sisymbrium polyceratium L. 479 Sixalix atropurpurea (L.) Greuter et Burdet 525 Smilax aspera L. 382 Smyrnium dimartinoi Raimondo, Mazzola et Spadaro 518 Smyrnium olusatrum L. 518 Smyrnium rotundifolium Mill. 518 Solanum bonariense L. 516 Solanum dulcamara L. 516 Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. 516 Solanum lanceolatum Cav. 516 Solanum linnaeanum Hepper et P.-M.L. Jaeger 516 Solanum lycopersicum L. 516 Solanum melongena L. 515 Solanum nigrum L. 515 Solanum pseudocapsicum L. 516 Solanum rostratum Dunal 516 Solanum tuberosum L. 515 Solanum villosum Mill. 515 Soleirolia soleirolii (Req.) Dandy 469 Solenanthus apenninus (L.) Fisch. et C.A. Mey. 499 Solenopsis bivonae (Tineo) M.B. Crespo, Serra et Juan 526 Solenopsis laurentia (L.) C. Presl 526 597 Index of species Solenopsis minuta (L.) C. Presl subsp. minuta 526 Solenopsis mothiana C. Brullo, Brullo et Giusso 526 Soliva stolonifera (Brot.) R. Br. 531 Sonchus asper (L.) Hill 543 Sonchus maritimus L. 544 Sonchus oleraceus L. 543 Sonchus tenerrimus L. 543 Sophora japonica L. 452 Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz 474 Sorbus aucuparia L. 474 Sorbus busambarensis G. Castellano, P. Marino, Raimondo et Spadaro 474 Sorbus domestica L. 474 Sorbus graeca (Spach) Kotschy 474 Sorbus madoniensis Raimondo, G. Castellano, Bazan et Schicchi 474 Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz 474 Sorbus umbellata (Desf.) Fritsch 474 Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench 416 Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. 416 Sparganium emersum Rehmann 396 Sparganium erectum L. 396 Spartium junceum L. 453 Spergula arvensis L. 435 Spergula laccida (Roxb.) Asch. 435 Spergula pentandra L. 435 Spergularia bocconei (Scheele) Graebn. 435 Spergularia diandra (Guss.) Boiss. 435 Spergularia madoniaca Lojac. 436 Spergularia media (L.) C. Presl 435 Spergularia rubra (L.) J. Presl et C. Presl 435 Spergularia salina J. Presl et C. Presl 435 Spergularia segetalis (L.) G. Don 435 Spinacia oleracea L. 441 Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall. 391 Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schleid. 380 Sporobolus aculeatus (L.) P.M. Peterson 414 Sporobolus alopecuroides (Piller et Mitterp.) P.M. Peterson 415 Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. 414 Sporobolus pumilus (Roth) P.M. Peterson et Saarela 415 Sporobolus schoenoides (L.) P.M. Peterson 415 Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth 414 Stachys annua (L.) L. 503 598 Stachys arenaria Vahl 503 Stachys arvensis (L.) L. 503 Stachys byzantina K. Koch 502 Stachys germanica L. 502 Stachys ocymastrum (L.) Briq. 503 Stachys salviifolia Ten. 502 Stachys sylvatica L. 502 Stellaria aquatica (L.) Scop. 432 Stellaria cupaniana (Jord. et Fourr.) Bég. 432 Stellaria media (L.) Vill. 432 Stellaria neglecta Weihe 432 Stellaria pallida (Dumort.) Piré 432 Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze 415 Sternbergia colchicilora Waldst. et Kit. 389 Sternbergia lutea (L.) Ker Gawl. ex Spreng. 389 Sternbergia sicula Tineo ex Guss. 389 Stipa austroitalica Martinovský 413 Stipa barbata Desf. 413 Stipa crassiculmis Smirn. subsp. picentina Martinovský, Moraldo et Caputo 413 Stipa gussonei Moraldo 413 Stipa sicula Moraldo, la Valva, Ricciardi et Caputo 413 Stipellula capensis (Thunb.) Röser et Hamasha 413 Suaeda kocheri Guss. ex C. Brullo, Brullo, et Giusso 442 Suaeda pelagica Bartolo, Brullo et Pavone 442 Suaeda spicata (Willd.) Moq. 442 Suaeda vera J.F. Gmel. 442 Succowia balearica (L.) Medik. 486 Sulla capitata (Desf.) B.H. Choi et H. Ohashi 467 Sulla coronaria (L.) Medik. 466 Sulla spinosissima (L.) B.H. Choi et H. Ohashi 466 Syagrus romanzoiana (Cham.) Glassman 396 Symphyotrichum squamatum (Spreng.) G.L. Nesom 526 Symphytum bulbosum K.F. Schimp. 498 Symphytum gussonei F.W. Schultz 498 Symphytum oicinale L. 498 Taeniatherum asperum (Simonk.) Nevski 412 Index of species Tagetes minuta L. 530 Tamarix africana Poir. 426 Tamarix arborea Ehrenb. ex Bunge 426 Tamarix canariensis Willd. 426 Tamarix chinensis Lour. 426 Tamarix dalmatica B.R. Baum 426 Tamarix gallica L. 426 Tamarix hampeana Boiss. et Heldr. 426 Tamarix parvilora DC. 426 Tamarix rosea Bunge 426 Tamarix tetragyna Ehrenb. 426 Tamarix tetrandra Pall. ex M. Bieb. 426 Tamus communis L. 382 Tanacetum balsamita L. 532 Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip. 532 Tanacetum vulgare L. 532 Taraxacum caramanicae Lojac. 543 Taraxacum erythrospermum Andrz. 543 Taraxacum fulvum Raunk. 543 Taraxacum garbarianum Peruzzi, Aquaro, Caparelli et Raimondo 543 Taraxacum gasparrinii Tineo ex Lojac. 543 Taraxacum minimum N. Terracc. 543 Taraxacum obovatum (Willd.) DC. 543 Taraxacum oicinale Weber 543 Taraxacum palustre (Lyons) Symons 543 Taraxacum rubicundum (Dahlst.) Dahlst. 543 Taraxacum siculum Soest 543 Taxus baccata L. 378 Teesdalia coronopifolia (J.P. Bergeret) Thell. 483 Teesdalia nudicaulis (L.) W.T. Aiton 483 Teline monspessulana (L.) K. Koch 452 Teucrium campanulatum L. 501 Teucrium capitatum L. 501 Teucrium chamaedrys L. 501 Teucrium creticum L. 501 Teucrium lavum L. 501 Teucrium fruticans L. 501 Teucrium luteum (Mill.) Degen 501 Teucrium montanum L. 501 Teucrium scordium L. 501 Teucrium scorodonia L. 501 Teucrium siculum (Raf.) Guss. 501 Teucrium spinosum L. 500 Thalictrum calabricum Spreng. 421 Thalictrum minus L. 421 Thapsia garganica L. 522 Thapsia pelagica Brullo, Guglielmo, Pasta, Pavone et Salmeri 522 Theligonum cynocrambe L. 495 Thesium divaricatum Jan 423 Thesium humile Vahl 423 Thesium parnassi A. DC. 423 Thlaspi alliaceum L. 483 Thlaspi arvense L. 483 Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. 505 Thymelaea gussonei Boreau 487 Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. 487 Thymelaea passerina (L.) Coss. et Germ. 487 Thymelaea tartonraira (L.) All. subsp. tartonraira 487 Thymus longicaulis C. Presl subsp. longicaulis 505 Thymus paronychioides Čelak. 504 Thymus richardii Pers. subsp. nitidus (Guss.) Jalas 504 Thymus spinulosus Ten. 504 Thymus striatus Vahl 504 Tilia platyphyllos Scop. 490 Tillaea alata Viv. 423 Tillaea basaltica (Brullo et Siracusa) Brullo, Giusso et Siracusa 423 Tillaea campestris (Eckl. et Zeyh.) Brullo, Giusso et Siracusa 423 Tillaea muscosa L. 423 Tolpis umbellata Bertol. 540 Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol. 541 Tordylium apulum L. 522 Tordylium maximum L. 522 Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link 522 Torilis elongata (Hofmanns. et Link) Samp. 522 Torilis nemoralis (Brullo) Brullo et Giusso 522 Torilis nodosa (L.) Gaertn. 522 Torilis webbii Jury 522 Trachelium caeruleum L. 525 Trachelium lanceolatum Guss. 525 Trachynia distachya (L.) Link 412 Tradescantia luminensis Vell. 417 Tragopogon crocifolius L. 541 Tragopogon porrifolius L. 541 Tragus racemosus (L.) All. 415 Tribulus terrestris L. 449 Trichocereus spachianus (Lem.) Riccob. 444 Tricholaena tenerifae (L. f.) Link 416 599 Index of species Trifolium alexandrinum L. 464 Trifolium angustifolium L. 463 Trifolium arvense L. 463 Trifolium bivonae Guss. 463 Trifolium bocconei Savi 463 Trifolium brutium Ten. 461 Trifolium campestre Schreb. 461 Trifolium cherleri L. 463 Trifolium clusii Gren. et Godr. 462 Trifolium congestum Guss. 463 Trifolium difusum Ehrh. 463 Trifolium echinatum M. Bieb. 464 Trifolium fragiferum L. 462 Trifolium glomeratum L. 462 Trifolium grandilorum Schreb. 461 Trifolium incarnatum L. 464 Trifolium infamia-ponertii Greuter 464 Trifolium isthmocarpum Brot. subsp. jaminianum (Boiss.) Murb. 462 Trifolium lappaceum L. 464 Trifolium leucanthum M. Bieb. 464 Trifolium ligusticum Loisel. 464 Trifolium lucanicum Gasp. 463 Trifolium macropodum Guss. 462 Trifolium michelianum Savi 462 Trifolium micranthum Viv. 461 Trifolium mutabile Port. 462 Trifolium nigrescens Viv. 462 Trifolium ochroleucum Huds. 463 Trifolium ornithopodioides L. 462 Trifolium pallidum Waldst. et Kit. 463 Trifolium phleoides Pourr. ex Willd. 463 Trifolium physodes Steven ex M. Bieb. 462 Trifolium pratense L. 463 Trifolium purpureum Loisel. 463 Trifolium repens L. 463 Trifolium resupinatum L. 462 Trifolium savianum Guss. 462 Trifolium scabrum L. 463 Trifolium sebastianii Savi 461 Trifolium setiferum Boiss. 462 Trifolium spumosum L. 462 Trifolium squamosum L. 464 Trifolium squarrosum L. 464 Trifolium stellatum L. 464 Trifolium striatum L. 463 Trifolium strictum L. 462 Trifolium subterraneum L. 463 600 Trifolium sufocatum L. 462 Trifolium tenuifolium Ten. 463 Trifolium tomentosum L. 462 Trifolium vesiculosum Savi 462 Triglochin bulbosa L. subsp. barrelieri (Loisel.) Rouy 380 Triglochin laxilora Guss. 381 Trigonella esculenta Willd. 460 Trigonella foenum-graecum L. 460 Trigonella gladiata Steven 460 Trigonella maritima Delile 460 Trigonella monspeliaca L. 460 Tripidium ravennae (L.) H. Scholz 416 Triplachne nitens (Guss.) Link 409 Tripodion tetraphyllum (L.) Fourr. 466 Tripolium pannonicum (Jacq.) Dobrocz. 526 Tripolium sorrentinoi (Tod.) Raimondo et Greuter 526 Trisetaria aurea (Ten.) Pignatti 406 Trisetaria lavescens (L.) Baumg. 406 Trisetaria panicea (Lam.) Maire 406 Trisetaria segetum (Savi) Soldano 406 Triticum neglectum (Req. ex Bertol.) Greuter 413 Triticum triunciale (L.) Raspail 413 Triticum turgidum L. 413 Triticum vagans (Jord. et Fourr.) Greuter 413 Triticum ventricosum (Tausch) Ces., Pass. et Gibelli 413 Tropaeolum majus L. 479 Tuberaria guttata (L.) Fourr. 488 Tuberaria inconspicua (Pers.) Willk. 488 Tuberaria lignosa (Sweet) Samp. 487 Tuberaria plantaginea (Willd.) Gallego 488 Tuberaria praecox (Salzm. ex Boiss. et Reut.) Grosser 488 Tuberaria villosissima (Pomel) Grosser 488 Tulipa agenensis DC. 383 Tulipa australis Link 383 Tulipa sylvestris L. 383 Turgenia latifolia (L.) Hofm. 522 Tussilago farfara L. 533 Typha angustifolia L. 396 Typha domingensis Pers. 396 Typha latifolia L. 396 Tyrimnus leucographus (L.) Cass. 537 Ulmus canescens Melville 468 Ulmus glabra Huds. 467 Ulmus minor Mill. 467 Index of species Umbilicus horizontalis (Guss.) DC. 424 Umbilicus rupestris (Salisb.) Dandy 424 Urospermum dalechampii (L.) F.W. Schmidt 542 Urospermum picroides (L.) F.W. Schmidt 542 Urtica dioica L. 468 Urtica membranacea Poir. ex Savigny 468 Urtica pilulifera L. 468 Urtica rupestris Guss. 468 Urtica urens L. 468 Utricularia australis R. Br. 513 Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert 438 Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Wight et Arn. 451 Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi et Galasso 452 Valantia calva Brullo 495 Valantia deltoidea Brullo 495 Valantia hispida L. 495 Valantia muralis L. 495 Valeriana oicinalis L. 524 Valeriana tuberosa L. 524 Valerianella carinata Loisel. 524 Valerianella coronata (L.) DC. 523 Valerianella costata (Stev.) Betcke 524 Valerianella dentata (L.) Pollich 524 Valerianella discoidea (L.) Loisel. 523 Valerianella eriocarpa Desv. 524 Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr. 524 Valerianella microcarpa Loisel. 524 Valerianella muricata (Steven ex Roem. et Schult.) W.H. Baxter 524 Valerianella puberula (Bertol.) DC. 524 Valerianella pumila (L.) DC. 523 Valerianella rimosa Bastard 524 Valerianella vesicaria (L.) Moench 523 Velezia rigida L. 439 Verbascum blattaria L. 506 Verbascum creticum (L.) Cav. 506 Verbascum macrurum Ten. 507 Verbascum phlomoides L. 507 Verbascum pulverulentum Vill. 506 Verbascum rotundifolium Ten. 506 Verbascum siculum Tod. 506 Verbascum sinuatum L. 506 Verbascum thapsus L. 507 Verbascum virgatum Stokes 506 Verbena bonariensis L. 500 Verbena oicinalis L. 500 Verbena supina L. 500 Veronica acinifolia L. 511 Veronica agrestis L. 511 Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. 511 Veronica anagalloides Guss. 511 Veronica arvensis L. 511 Veronica beccabunga L. 510 Veronica cymbalaria Bodard 511 Veronica hederifolia L. 511 Veronica montana L. 510 Veronica oicinalis L. 510 Veronica panormitana Tineo ex Guss. 511 Veronica peregrina L. 511 Veronica persica Poir. 511 Veronica polita Fr. 511 Veronica praecox All. 511 Veronica serpyllifolia L. 511 Veronica trichadena Jord. et Fourr. 511 Viburnum tinus L. 523 Vicia altissima Desf. 455 Vicia amphicarpa Dorthes 456 Vicia articulata Hornem. 455 Vicia atropurpurea Desf. 455 Vicia barbazitae Ten. et Guss. 456 Vicia bithynica (L.) L. 456 Vicia calcarata Desf. 455 Vicia cassubica L. 455 Vicia cracca L. 455 Vicia disperma DC. 456 Vicia elegans Guss. 455 Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd. 455 Vicia faba L. 456 Vicia glauca C. Presl 455 Vicia grandilora Scop. 456 Vicia hirsuta (L.) Gray 455 Vicia hybrida L. 456 Vicia incana Gouan 455 Vicia lathyroides L. 456 Vicia leucantha Biv. 455 Vicia loiseleurii (M. Bieb.) Litv. 455 Vicia lutea L. 456 Vicia melanops Sm. 456 Vicia narbonensis L. 456 Vicia ochroleuca Ten. 455 Vicia pannonica Crantz 456 Vicia parvilora Cav. 456 Vicia peregrina L. 456 Vicia pseudocracca Bertol. 455 Vicia pubescens (DC.) Link 456 601 Index of species Vicia sativa L. 456 Vicia sepium L. 456 Vicia sicula (Raf.) Guss. 455 Vicia tenuifolia Roth 455 Vicia tetrasperma (L.) Schreb. 456 Vicia villosa Roth 455 Vinca major L. 496 Vinca minor L. 496 Viola aethnensis (DC.) Strobl 449 Viola alba Besser 449 Viola arvensis Murray 449 Viola hymettia Boiss. et Heldr. 449 Viola kitaibeliana Schult. 449 Viola nebrodensis C. Presl 449 Viola odorata L. 449 Viola parvula Tineo 450 Viola reichenbachiana Jord. ex Boreau 449 Viola riviniana Rchb. 449 Viola tineorum Erben et Raimondo 449 Viola ucriana Erben et Raimondo 449 Viscum album L. 423 Visnaga crinita (Guss.) Giardina et Raimondo 521 Visnaga daucoides Gaertn. 521 Vitex agnus-castus L. 506 Vitis labrusca L. 445 Vitis riparia Michx. 445 Vitis rupestris Scheele 445 Vitis vinifera L. 445 Volutaria tubilora (Murb.) Sennen 537 602 Vulpiella tenuis (Tineo) Kerguélen 404 Wahlenbergia nutabunda (Guss.) A. DC. 526 Washingtonia ilifera (Linden) H. Wendl. 395 Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl. 395 Wigandia caracasana Kunth 499 Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal 515 Wolia arrhiza (L.) Horkel ex Wimm. 380 Woodwardia radicans (L.) Sm. 377 Xanthium ambrosioides Hook. et Arn. 530 Xanthium orientale L. 530 Xanthium spinosum L. 530 Xanthium strumarium L. 530 Xeranthemum inapertum (L.) Mill. 539 Yucca aloifolia L. 385 Yucca gloriosa L. 385 Zannichellia obtusifolia Talavera, García-Mur. et H.Smit 381 Zannichellia palustris L. 381 Zannichellia pedunculata Rchb. 381 Zannichellia peltata Bertol. 381 Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng. 380 Zea mays L. 417 Zelkova sicula Di Pasq., Garfí et Quézel 468 Zinnia elegans Jacq. 530 Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. 467 Ziziphus zizyphus (L.) Meikle 467 Zostera marina L. 381 Zostera noltii Hornem. 381 Index of families Acanthaceae 513 Adoxaceae 523 Aizoaceae 443 Alismataceae 380 Amaranthaceae 439 - 443 Amaryllidaceae 387 - 389 Anacardiaceae 491 Apiaceae 517 - 523 Apocynaceae 496 Araceae 379 Araliaceae 516 Arecaceae 395 - 396 Aristolochiaceae 379 Asparagaceae 384 - 387 Asphodelaceae 389 - 390 Asteraceae 526 - 545 Basellaceae 444 Berberidaceae 417 Betulaceae 469 - 470 Blechnaceae 377 Boraginaceae 496 - 499 Botrychiaceae 375 Brassicaceae 479 - 487 Cactaceae 443 - 444 Campanulaceae 525 Cannabaceae 468 Cannaceae 417 Capparaceae 479 Caprifoliaceae 523 - 525 Caryophyllaceae 431 - 439 Celastraceae 449 Ceratophyllaceae 379 Cistaceae 487 - 489 Colchicaceae 382 Commelinaceae 417 Convolvulaceae 513 - 515 Cornaceae 492 Crassulaceae 423 - 424 Cupressaceae 378 Cymodoceaceae 381 Cyperaceae 398 - 492 Dioscoreaceae 382 Dryopteridaceae 377 Ebenaceae 492 Elatinaceae 446 Ephedraceae 379 Equisetaceae 375 Ericaceae 493 Euphorbiaceae 446 - 448 Fabaceae 451 - 467 Fagaceae 470 Frankeniaceae 426 Gentianaceae 495 - 496 Geraniaceae 475 - 477 Grossulariaceae 425 Haloragaceae 425 Hydrocharitaceae 380 Hypericaceae 445 - 446 Iridaceae 390 - 391 Isoetaceae 375 Juglandaceae 470 Juncaceae 396 - 398 Juncaginaceae 380 Lamiaceae 500 - 506 Lauraceae 379 Lentibulariaceae 513 Liliaceae 382 - 384 Loranthaceae 423 Lythraceae 478 Malvaceae 489 - 490 Marsileaceae 378 Meliaceae 491 Molluginaceae 443 Montiaceae 444 Moraceae 468 Myrtaceae 478 Index of families Nephrolepidaceae 377 Nyctaginaceae 443 Nymphaeaceae 379 Oleaceae 499 - 500 Onagraceae 477 - 478 Ophioglossaceae 375 Orchidaceae 391 - 395 Orobanchaceae 507 - 509 Osmundaceae 375 Oxalidaceae 448 - 449 Paeoniaceae 423 Papaveraceae 421 Passiloraceae 450 Pedaliaceae 513 Phyllantaceae 448 Phytolaccaceae 443 Pinaceae 378 Pittosporaceae 516 Plantaginaceae 509 - 513 Platanaceae 422 Plumbaginaceae 426 - 429 Poaceae 402 - 417 Polygalaceae 467 Polygonaceae 429 - 431 Pontederiaceae 417 Portulacaceae 444 - 445 Posidoniaceae 381 Potamogetonaceae 381 - 382 Primulaceae 492 - 493 Pteridaceae 375-376 Ranunculaceae 417 - 421 604 Resedaceae 479 Rhamnaceae 467 Rosaceae 471 - 475 Rubiaceae 493 - 495 Ruppiaceae 381 Rutaceae 490 Rutaceae 491 Salicaceae 450 Salviniaceae 378 Santalaceae 423 Sapindaceae 491 - 492 Saxifragaceae 425 - 426 Scrophulariaceae 506 - 507 Selaginellaceae 375 Simaroubaceae 491 Smilacaceae 382 Solanaceae 515 - 516 Tamaricaceae 426 Taxaceae 378 Taxodiaceae 378 Thymelaeaceae 487 Tropaeolaceae 479 Typhaceae 396 Ulmaceae 467 - 468 Urticaceae 468 - 469 Verbenaceae 500 Violaceae 449 Vitaceae 445 Zosteraceae 381 Zygophyllaceae 449 Visita il nostro catalogo: Finito di stampare nel mese di Giugno 2017 Presso Oicine Graiche soc. coop. - Palermo Editing e typesetting: Edity Società Cooperativa per conto di NDF Progetto graico copertina: Valeria Patti 

RICCARDO GUARINO & SALVATORE PASTA BOTANICAL EXCURSIONS IN Botanical Excursions in Central and Western Sicily Field Guide for the 60th IAVS Symposium Palermo, 20-24 June 2017 RICCARDO GUARINO & SALVATORE PASTA 1 www.unipapress.it