Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) doi: 10.3897/italianbotanist. | 6.103989 LW Italian Botanist Published by Societd Botanica Italiana https://italianbotanist.pensoft.net Itineraries of the Working Group for Vegetation Science of the Italian Botanical Society — | (2022): Excursion to the Egadi Islands, Mount San Giuliano and Mount Cofano (Trapani, western Sicily, Italy) Lorenzo Gianguzzi'”, Riccardo Guarino’, Giuseppe Bazan?, Romeo Di Pietro’, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta°, Enrico Bajona’, Peter Bolliger’, Costantino Bonomi’, Adriano Camuftfo’, Carlo Console!®, Simonetta Fascetti!', Paola Fortini!'’, Annarita Frattaroli'?, Giacomo Mei!*, Fabio Mondello", Silvia Olivari'®, Masin Rivzzieri'’, Leonardo Rosati'*, Simona Sarmati>®, Leonardo Scuderi!®, Marco Simonazzi'’, Giovanni Spampinato”®, Lucia Viegi*', Adriano Stinca” | Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bldg. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy 2. NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy 3 Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy 4 Department Planning, Design and Architecture Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Flaminia 70, 00196 Rome, Italy 5 Department of Sciences, University of Rome 3, 00146 Rome, Italy 6 PLANTA/Autonomous Center for Research, Documentation and Training, Via Serraglio Vecchio 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy 7 Frohberestr. 716, 8620 Wetzikon, Switzerland 8 MUSE, Museo delle Scienze, corso della sci- enza, 3, 38122 Trento, Italy 9 Via Adria 24/A, 35142 Padova, Italy 10 Via Puglia, 1, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy II School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy 12. Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, Fonte Lap- pone, 86090 Pesche, Italy 13 Department of Life Health and Environmental Sciences University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy \4 Department of Agri-envorinmental ad Territorial Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy \S Department of Chemical, Biological, Phar- maceutical and Enviromental Science (ChiBioFarAm), University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 S.Agata (Messina), Italy \6 Reparto Carabinieri Parco Nazionale “Cinque Terre” via Fegina 34 bis 19016 Monterosso al Mare (SP), Italy V7 Via Regazzoni Bassa 3, 35036 Montegrotto Terme (Padova), Italy 18 Via Andromaca 60, 9100 Trapani, Italy \9 Via Gina Bianchi 10, 46020 Pegognaga (Mantova), Italy20 Department of Agricul- ture, “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria, Localita Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy 2\ Via Trieste, 15, 56126 Pisa, Italy 22. Department o of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy Corresponding authors: Lorenzo Gianguzzi (lorenzo.gianguzzi@unipa.it); Riccardo Guarino (riccardo.guarino@unipa.it); Giuseppe Bazan (giuseppe.bazan@unipa.it) Copyright Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 2 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Academic editor: G. Domina | Received 23 March 2023 | Accepted 6 July 2023 | Published 31July 2023 Citation: Gianguzzi L, Guarino R, Bazan G, Di Pietro R, Acosta ATR, Bajona E, Bolliger P, Bonomi C, Camuffo A, Console C, Fascetti S, Fortini P, Frattaroli A, Mei G, Mondello EF Olivari S, Rizzieri M, Rosati L, Sarmati S, Scuderi L, Simonazzi M, Spampinato G, Viegi L, Stinca A (2023) Itineraries of the Working Group for Vegetation Science of the Italian Botanical Society — 1 (2022): Excursion to the Egadi Islands, Mount San Giuliano and Mount Cofano (Trapani, western Sicily, Italy). Italian Botanist 16: 1-57. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.16.103989 Abstract The results of the annual excursion of the Working Group for Vegetation Science of the Italian Botanical Society, held in the Egadi Islands, Mount San Giuliano and Mount Cofano (W Sicily) on April 23-27 2022, are presented. This paper includes: (1) general information on the visited sites; (2) geology and geomorphol- ogy; (3) climatology and bioclimatology with tables of climatic data; (4) description of the following five geobotanical itineraries — accompanied by 29 original vegetation relevés and 11 synthetic relevés, proceeding from different bibliographic references: (a) Mount San Giuliano; (b) Marettimo Island: coastal and sub- coastal stretch of the southern part, between Punta Bassana and Contrada Chiappera; (c) Marettimo Island: Case Romane, Mount Pizzo Falcone and the north-western coastal stretch; (d) Island of Levanzo; (e) Mount Cofano — with catenal pictograms of the vegetation, surveys and description of the plant communities and re- lated syntaxonomic scheme; (5) list of the surveyed plant taxa, collected specimens and herbaria in which they are deposited. A new syntaxon is also described ( Catapodio pauciflori-Moraeetum sisyrinchii ass. nova), referring to an ephemeral dry grassland located along the north-western coastal stretch of Marettimo. The new associa- tion is framed in the Plantagini-Catapodion balearici, alliance of the Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi order of the class Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae (order Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi, alliance Plantagini-Catapodion balearici). An original synoptic table, regarding 17 different plant communities with high frequency of Moraea sisyrinchium, provides a comparative framework of the new association with allied vegetation units so far described throughout the Mediterranean region. Syntaxonomical and nomenclatural remarks regarding the Mediterranean vegetation occurring in this territory are also given throughout the text. Some floristic updates for the study sites are also reported, including the discovery for the first time in Sicily of Lysimachia loeflingii. Keywords Egadi Island, Phytogeography, Syntaxonomy, Vascular flora, Vegetation, Western Sicily Introduction This paper was inspired by the numerous vegetation studies carried out, mainly in the Iberian countries, by Salvador Rivas-Martinez (July 16, 1935—August 27, 2020) and his collaborators and published in the series “Itinera Geobotanica” edited by the Aso- ciacion Espanola de Fitosociologia (AEFA). In the present contribution, results of the surveys carried out during an excursion of the Working Group for Vegetation Science of the Italian Botanical Society are presented. The aim is to provide information on the plant communities encountered, as well as on the environmental characteristics of the inspected stands. In particular, representative biotopes have been selected in order to provide opportunities for a critical and comparative study with similar vegetation Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano a aspects occurring in nearby territories. It should be emphasized that one of the main scientific activities envisaged by this Working Group is to improve knowledge on Ital- ian vegetation through field surveys, which allow for the increment of data relating to the syntaxa and their floristic set. Moreover, the phytosociological approach, based on floristic, ecological, structural, and phytogeographic analyses, furthers our knowledge of the correlations within the syndynamic processes that determine a natural evolution of the phytocoenoses. In the 2022 excursion, which took place from 23 to 27 April, the object of the geo- botanical investigation was the extreme western sector of Sicily (Figs 1-3), with guided tours focused on two important and isolated mountain reliefs located along the coast (Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano), as well as the islands of Marettimo and Levanzo, in the Egadi Archipelago. Previously, these areas of Sicily were targeted in various phytosociological investiga- tions concerning above all Mt. Cofano (Barbagallo et al. 1979, 1980; Gianguzzi and Ottonello 2000; Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008) and Marettimo (Brullo and Marceno 1983) or extended to the whole Province of Trapani (Scuderi 2006) or to Sicily (Brullo et al. 2008; Gianguzzi et al. 2016a; Guarino and Pasta 2017). Further important con- tributions concern monographic studies on the woody vegetation (Brullo and Marcend 1985a; Brullo et al. 2008; Marino et al. 2012), the chasmophilous vegetation (Brullo and Marceno 1979; Brullo et al. 2004), the perennial dry grasslands (Minissale 1995; Brullo et al. 2006, 2010), the coastal rocky vegetation (Bartolo et al. 1992), and the synanthropic vegetation (Brullo and Marcend 1980, 1985b; Brullo 1985; Brullo et al. 2007). Concerning the flora, apart from the classic floristic studies by Gussone (1832-34, 1842-45) and Lojacono-Pojero (1888-1909), more recent contributions were made by Giardina et al. (2006) and Brullo et al. (2020), as well as those on Marettimo (Francini and Messeri 1956; Gianguzzi et al. 2006), Levanzo (Di Martino and Trapani 1968; Romano et al. 2006), and Mt. Cofano (Barbagallo et al. 1979, 1980; Gianguzzi et al. 2005). Fur- ther data are available from the Province of Trapani (Raimondo et al. 1986, 1990, 1992; Scuderi 2006; Aleo et al. 2013), related floristic reports (e.g. Catanzaro 1984; Brullo and Marceno 1985b; Ottonello and Catanzaro 1986; Raffaelli and Ricceri 1988; Lorenz and Lorenz 2002; La Rosa et al. 2021; etc.) or descriptions of new species (e.g. Raimondo and Bancheva 2004; Brullo C. et al. 2009; Brullo et al. 2016; Domina et al. 2017, etc.). The present contribution aims to summarize, in the form of a geobotanical report, the knowledge and critical issues concerning the plant communities identified during the aforementioned annual excursion of our Working Group. Furthermore, syntaxo- nomic and phytogeographic considerations, that fueled the debate during this field trip in one of the richest biodiversity hotspots of the Mediterranean basin (Médail and Quezel 1999), are reported. Study area Mount San Giuliano (791 m a.s.l.) — on the summit of which the town of Erice rises — and Mount Cofano (659 m a.s.l.), located further to the north-east (Munici- 4 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) pality of Custonaci), are two important landmarks in NW Sicily. Geologically, they consist of carbonate rocks dating back to the Mesozoic, interspersed with calcarenite substrates originating from Pleistocene bioclastic and aeolian processes (Abate et al. 1993; Lentini and Carbone 2014). As regards the islands of Marettimo (12.3 km’) and Levanzo (5.6 km2), they are part of the Egadi archipelago, together with Favig- nana Formica and Maraone, which emerged during the early Miocene, in the period known as the “Egadi Range” (Catalano et al. 1985; Catalano 1986). In particular, Marettimo, dominated by Pizzo Falcone (686 m a.s.l.), is made up of dolomite, marl and limestone dating back to the period between the Middle Trias and the Lower Lias with pelagic and reef facies (Abate et al. 1999; Gasparo Morticelli et al. 2016). Instead, the island of Levanzo is dominated by carbonate and clastic-terrigenous sub- strates dating back to the Mesozoic and Tertiary, with Plio-Pleistocene and Holocene depositions (Abate et al. 1995). According to the biogeographical classification proposed by Rivas-Martinez et al. (2004), the study area falls within the Mediterranean Region, West Mediterranean Sub-Region, Italo-Tyrrhenian Province, Sicilian Sector, Western Sub-Sector and Aega- dian district (Brullo et al. 1995). All visited sites belong to the Natura 2000 network as Special Areas of Conserva- tion (SACs), with the following codes: ITA010010 — Mt. San Giuliano; ITA010016 SICILY \ pn 2 3 TO fc \' RT. / Bat a Ww aie | Se ia / te i \ AA STN A = - a (f Ea sh YY ob. Marettimo lLevanzo EGADI ISLANDS Figure |. Map of the itineraries of the 2022 annual excursion of the Working Group for Vegetation Sci- ence of the Italian Botanical Society, numbered in chronological order. Arrows correspond to the precise location of the sites depicted in Fig. 2. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 5 — Mt. Cofano and its coastline; ITA010002 — Marettimo; ITA010003 — Levanzo. These are also included in the following Special Protection Areas (SPAs): [TA010027 — Egadi Archipelago; ITA010029 — Mount Cofano, Mount San Vito and Mount Sparagio. The area of Mount Cofano is also a Nature Reserve of the Region of Sicily, while the seacoast of Marettimo and Levanzo is part of the “Egadi Islands” Marine Nature Reserve. Bioclimatology Due to the lack of meteorological stations in the Egadi archipelago, the climatic re- cords in the area are based on data collected by the Ministry of Public Works (1978— 1996) from the thermo-pluviometric or pluviometric stations installed in Capo San Vito (6 m as.l.), Trapani (15 m a.s.l.), Sant Andrea Bonagia (48 m a.s.l.), Lentina (125 m a.s.l.), Specchia (140 m a.s.l.), and Erice (756 m a.s.l.). All these stations are located along the coast, within a radius of 50 km from the center of the study area. Table 1 reports the annual averages of max. and min. temperatures (in °C), daily temperature ranges, and absolute max. and min. temperatures recorded at the weather stations of Trapani, Capo S. Vito, and Erice. Table 2 shows the average monthly and annual rainfall recorded in the period 1926-1985 of all the afore- mentioned stations (Duro et al. 1996). The climate throughout the study area is characterized by a rainfall regime of Mediterranean type, with markedly dry sum- mers and mild winters. In particular, Marettimo is rainier than Levanzo, and so is Mt. San Giuliano compared to Mt. Cofano, since fogs and hidden precipitations are frequent on its top. Average annual temperatures vary between 18.1 and 19 °C, gradually decreasing to 14.5 °C on the summit of Mt. San Giuliano. Overall, the proximity of the sea affects significantly the temperatures of the whole area, mitigat- ing the climatic extremes. Based on the bioclimatic classification proposed by Rivas-Martinez (2004), the study areas are arranged in the following units: 1. Met. San Giuliano — From thermo-Mediterranean with lower sub-humid om- broclimate (coastal plain) to Meso-Mediterranean with upper sub-humid ombrocli- mate on the top (Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008). 2. Mt. Cofano — From thermo-Mediterranean with lower sub-humid ombrocli- mate (coastal plain) to Meso-Mediterranean with upper sub-humid ombroclimate on the top (Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008); 3. Marettimo — From thermo-Mediterranean with dry/sub-humid ombroclimate to Meso-Mediterranean with sub-humid ombroclimate above 400-550 m altitude (Gianguzzi et al. 2006); 4. Levanzo — Thermo-Mediterranean with upper dry ombroclimate (Romano et al. 2006). 6 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Table |. Annual averages of max., min. and diurnal temperatures (in °C), daily temperature range, ab- solute max. and min. temperatures recorded at the weather stations of Trapani (15 ma.s.l.), Capo S. Vito (15 maz.s.l.) (Duro et al. 1996) and Erice (759 m a.s.l.) (Ministero dei LL. PP. 1978-1996). Station Ay. max. Ay. min Ay. diurnal Daily range Absolute max. Absolute min. Trapani 21.7 14.4 18.1 7.3 41.8 0.1 Capo S. Vito 22.4 15.5 19.0 6.9 43.0 2.4 Erice 17.5 11.9 14.5 5.6 41.0 -2.7 Table 2. Average monthly and annual rainfall and number of rainy days (r.d.) recorded at the weather stations of Trapani, Capo San Vito, Sant’Andrea Bonagia, Lentina, Specchia (1926-1985; after Duro et al. 1996) and Erice (1978-1996; after Ministero dei LL. PP. 1978-1996). Month Trapani Capo S. Vito —_S. Andrea B. (48 Lentina Specchia Erice (15 ma.s.L.) (6 m a.s.1.) m a.s.l.) (125 ma.s.l.) (140 ma.s.l.) (756 ma.s.l.) mm r.d. mm r.d. mm r.d. mm rd. mm rd. mm rd. January 64.2 10 68.4 9 75.0 10 88.6 11 80.3 11 81.7 10 February 50.8 8 58.6 8 65.6 9 77.6 10 71.6 10 61.8 10 March 44,1 7. 42.8 6 60.0 8 56.7 8 49.8 8 71.9 10 April 34.4 5 35.1 5 42.2 6 44.4 6 36.2 5 72.6 8 May 19.2 3 18.1 2 22.6 3 24.6 3 18.5 3 35.2 5 June 8.0 1 5.6 1 8.9 1 6.7 1 7.6 1 6.5 2, July 1.7 — 3.2 — 2.6 - 1.8 — 2.3 — 4.0 — August 925 1 9.1 1 15.1 1 9.4 1 10.5 1 10.0 1 September 35.3 3 41.6 3 55.7 4 47.2 4 41.3 4 49.3 4 October 71.1 i 71.2 i 89.3 7 90.0 8 83.3 8 90.6 Ms November 69.6 8 66.7 8 85.1 9 95.3 9 75.1 8 86.4 10 December 75.1 11 82.0 10 78.6 11 96.5 12 83.3 11 82.0 11 Year 483 64 502.4 60 602.7 69 637.8 73 559.8 70 651.3 78 Materials and methods Bioclimatic units are based on Rivas-Martinez’s classification (2004); indices were cal- culated on data extracted from Drago et al. (2005) and Duro et al. (1996). Reference was made also to Gianguzzi and La Mantia (2008), Bazan et al. (2015), and Gianguzzi et al. (2016b). Following the phytosociological approach (Braun-Blanquet 1964), 29 original rel- evés and 11 synthetic relevés, elaborated from different bibliographic references regard- ing the study area, were carried out. The syntaxonomic classification refers to different contributions cited throughout the text. The floristic lists of collected or observed taxa from Mt. San Giuliano, Marettimo, Lev- anzo, and Mt. Cofano are reported in Suppl. materials 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. New flo- ristic records are highlighted with a note in the tables provided in the Suppl. materials 1-4. The collected plant material is preserved in public (FI, HFLA, HLUC, IS, IT, the acronyms follow Thiers 2023), or private herbaria (Herb. G. Mei). The identifi- cation of the plant specimens was based on Pignatti et al. (2017-2019). Taxonomic nomenclature follows the checklists of the Italian vascular flora (Bartolucci et al. 2018; Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano is gor . = resi Tatra Com me CHES i Resort4 stelle. pe Faro diCapo Grosso = Erice Panor ae WN watiice Ruderi chiess r —s San Barnaba am CAlcreeemolencino \ % Porta Carmi ine im Age LN q 4 ichiesa'di'Siy Matia|Maddalena Wag Q campo San Nicola ww oo Erice Via Caposcale aevedr an Neots pea eon eK = Y ) a 4 {(Sentiero penoramico | Cala Tramontana j 9 Qoarco Giochi ve caster = y ——— depositorsilun) g roci — " ee _ wag i | 7 a ’ a J Pre a, } A ? e Grotta del & | Genovese | D)) \ _Dolcevitajegadi “ES \ Resogf>yiklabiiou Punta Galera : “i . Aicastello di Punta Troia 4; = ~ __ Grotta della Pipa ts 5 (1) =. se stro ug = = [eala\Magiuni | e} Cala Bianca { Grotta della Ficaredd ates ‘ Grotta Presepe eg Torre San Giovar coperterarcheologiche fae “4 : Punta Pegna Montelcofano tes Tamontana “9 Ss gitgrettimo r N +i Sttima}Residence: jaggialvonte a 3 extn (aneunt in irons Bain at ratte Manciananat?) Aes Punta Libecci unta LibecciO WE Faro di Punta Libeccio ©) esate « @ lel Cretazz Punta\Cretazzo Figure 2. Tracks of the itineraries of excursions to Mount San Giuliano (1), Marettimo island (2, 3), Levanzo island (4), and Mount Cofano (5). All maps have the same cartographic scale (basemap provided by Google Terrain). Galasso et al. 2018) and their updates available on the Portal to the Flora of Italy (2023), apart from: Coronilla valentina L. subsp. glauca (L.) Batt., Hyoseris baetica Sch. Bip. ex Nyman, Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth var. maritima (Boiss.) Fiori [Pig- natti et al. 2017-2019; Gianguzzi et al. 2006], Senecio aegadensis C. Brullo et Brullo 8 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) (Brullo and Brullo 2020) [= Senecio leucanthemifolius Poir. subsp. leucanthemifolius], Helichrysum panormitanum Tineo ex Guss. subsp. messeriae (Pignatti) C. Brullo et Brullo and subsp. brulloi Iamonico et Pignatti (Iamonico et al. 2016; Brullo and Brullo 2020), and Lysimachia loeflingii (Jiménez-Lopez et al. 2022). For the taxa not belong- ing to the flora of Italy, cited in Table 4, the World Flora Online (2023) was followed. Excursion to Mount San Giuliano (23 April 2022): Erice, Venus Castle, trail surrounding the castle Mt. San Giuliano (786 m a.s.l.) is located near Trapani; it has an almost triangular shape, with rather steep southern and eastern slopes and a less abrupt morphology on north and north-western flanks, which are interrupted by stepped faults (Lentini and Carbone 2014). Despite the anthropic pressure exerted on it since ancient times, this mountain has a high naturalistic value and is often mentioned as one of the biotopes with the highest biodiversity in Sicily. Lanp usE — Erice, on the summit of Mt. San Giuliano, is an ancient town founded by the Elymians, which dominates a landscape now altered by various anthropic distur- bances. In particular, the higher areas are covered by extensive reforestation with coni- fers, which are periodically subject to fires, while the rest of the area is characterized by low secondary shrublands, represented by maquis (dominated by Chamaerops humilis or Cytisus infestus) and garrigues (dominated by Thymbra capitata, and Erica multiflora), by steppic grasslands with Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta or Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, and by ephemeral meadows, usually interspersed with rocky outcrops colonized by sev- eral endemic chasmophytes. Limited patches of woody vegetation dominated by holm oak or laurel occur in cooler microclimate stands of the northern slope. SERIES AND MICROGEOSERIES — The basal xeric belt of Mt. San Giuliano is main- ly represented by maquis with lentisk and dwarf palm (Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropo humilis sigmetum), lithophilous climatic vegetation linked to very sunny and arid stands especially with southern exposure. In conditions of marked edaphic xerity, as in the more rocky stands, it is sometimes replaced by an oleaster series ascribed to Ruto chalepensis-Oleo sylvestris sigmetum, which shows a scattered distribution and can be traced back to remains of ancient olive groves long since abandoned and now gone wild, which were saved from fires and cuts. This plant community is here represented by the Ruto chalepensis-Oleetum sylvestris subass. euphorbietosum bivonae (Gianguzzi and Bazan 2020a, 2020b). The semi-rupestrian rock outcrops are usually colonized by the Euphorbia dendroides maquis, which must be considered as an edapho-xerophilous community in contact with chasmophilous associations. Among the secondary plant communities occurring in this belt, xeric grasslands with Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta (Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis s. |.) and therophytic meadows of the class Stipo- Trachynietea distachyae must be mentioned. The holm oak series (Pistacio lentisci-Querco ilicis sigmetum) develops within the upper belt, influenced by the Thermo- to Meso-Mediterranean subhumid bioclimate. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 9 Figure 3. a Participants to the escursion (Erice, 23 April 2022) b view of the northern summit of Mt. San Giuliano, next to Torretta Pepoli, with stands of rupestrian and forest vegetation ¢ the local endemic Centaurea erycina, character species of Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae subass. brassicetosum drepanen- sis d view of the village of Marettimo surrounded by formerly terraced fields and by the rugged landscape of the island e view of the Erico multiflorae-Pinetum halepensis, with Punta Bassana in the background f vegetation of Limonietum tenuiculi, fringing the rocky shore of Marettimo. 10 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) It is represented by the following vegetation units: climatophilous woodland with Quercus ilex and Pistacia lentiscus (Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis); scrub with Chamae- rops humilis (Pistacio-Chamaeropetum humilis) and/or Cytisus infestus (Pyro amygdali- formis-Calicotometum infestae); garrigue with Erica multiflora (Micromerio fruticulosae- Ericetum multiflorae corr. = Erico-Micromerietum fruticulosae); perennial dry grassland with Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici); nitrophilous hemicryptophytic vegetation (Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis); thero- phytic meadow with Stipellula capensis (Ononido breviflorae-Stipetum capensis). In this belt, other more circumscribed series occur, such as that of the chestnut oak series (Oleo-Querco virgilianae sigmetum, see Brullo and Marcend 1985a; Brullo et al. 2008; Di Pietro et al. 2020a, 2020b) on deep and evolved soils, mainly repre- sented by secondary plant communities on abandoned cropland, as well as the laurel series (Acantho-Lauro nobilis sigmetum), on cooler stands, such as gorges with a north- ern exposure. Lastly, the microgeosigmetum of cliffs, with associations of the alliance Dianthion-rupicolae (Asplenietea trichomanis), must be mentioned. ‘The intricate issue regarding the taxonomic identity of the thermophilous pubescent white oaks of Sicily and southern Italy has been addressed by several authors (Brullo et al. 1999; Guarino et al. 2015; Wellstein and Spada 2015; Di Pietro et al. 2016; Pasta et al. 2016; Musarella et al. 2018; Di Pietro et al. 2020a, 2020b, 2021). ENDEMIC AND RARE SPECIES — Several endemic taxa thrive on Mt. San Giuliano, such as Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola (Tyrrhenian endemic) and Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa (endemic to western Sicily, the island of Capri, and the Sorrento peninsula). Mt. San Giuliano is the locus classicus of Brassica villosa subsp. drepanensis, with a few other stands on Mt. Cofano and Capo San Vito, Centaurea erycina (Fig. 3c), (Raimondo and Bancheva 2004), and Silene nefelites (Brullo et al. 2014). A few other rare, non-endemic, species, namely Simethis mattiazzi a Mediterranean-Atlantic spe- cies (Gianguzzi et al. 2012), Chamaeiris foetidissima, Vinca major, and Prunus mahaleb, were recorded in the upper part of Mt. San Giuliano, where they take advantage of the humidity due to moisture condensation and frequent fogs rising from the sea. Sampled plant communities The first stopover was in the town of Erice, where it was possible to observe Silene nefel- ites, an endemic therophyte widespread along the roadside, as well as the chasmophytic vegetation colonizing the walls of the Castle of Venus and the nearby carbonate rocky outcrops. This chasmophytic community is referred to the Sicilian- Tyrrhenian associa- tion of the Dianthion rupicolae, Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae subass. brassiceto- sum drepanensis (see Brullo et al. 2004), a relevé of which is reported below. Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae subass. brassicetosum drepanensis — Erice (38°02'25"N, 12°35'27"E): 627 m, 80°, N, 100 m?. Diagnostic species: Lomelo- sia cretica 2, Brassica villosa subsp. drepanensis 2, Centaurea erycina 1. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola 1, Silene fruticosa 2. Other species: Athamanta sicula +, Sedum dasyphyllum subsp. glanduliferum +, Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano jul Umbilicus rupestris +, Asplenium ceterach +, Polypodium cambricum 1, Hypochoeris laevi- gata 1, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa +, Hyoseris radiata +, Campanula erinus +, Sedum caeruleum +, Muscari commutatum +, Veronica cymbalaria +. The Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae is widespread on the cliffs of the moun- tains forming the north-western strip of the coast of Trapani. However, the stands ob- served in Erice differ from the typical ones for the lack of some endemic species, such as Iberis semperflorens and Seseli bocconei. Paucispecific, subnitrophilous and sciaphilous wall vegetation, characterized by hemicryptophytes such as Parietaria judaica and Athamanta sicula is frequent on the old walls of Erice. It can be referred to Athamanto siculae-Parietarietum, an association of the alliance Parietarion judaicae, described from Monte Pellegrino (Palermo) by Gi- anguzzi and Bazan (2020c), which is quite frequent along the coasts of western Sicily. A trelevé, sampled in the town of Erice, is reported below. Athamanto siculae-Parietarietum judaicae — Erice, north-eastern city walls (38°02'12"N, 12°35'25"E): 740 m, 90°, E, 8 m?. Diagnostic species: Parietaria judaica 3, Atamantha sicula 2, Campanula erinus +. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Sedum dasyphyllum subsp. glanduliferum 1, Umbilicus rupestris +, Cymbalaria muralis +. Other species: Hypochoeris laevigata +, bryophytes (+). Along the north-eastern side of Erice, near the Torre Pepoli, a path descends all around the cliff on which the Castello di Venere is built (Figs 2, 3b). In this place, patches of pre-forest vegetation with Laurus nobilis, referred to the association Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis (Gianguzzi et al. 2010), were observed. It is a vegetation linked to cool and shady places within the Meso-Mediterranean sub-humid bioclimatic belt. The relevé reported below was sampled on a steep slope, with a clay-limestone matrix, next to the cliffs, in an area that is highly exposed to moisture condensation. Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis — Erice, below the cliffs near Torretta Pepoli (38°02'08"N, 12°35'29"E): 726 m, 80°, N, 100 m?. Diagnostic species: Laurus no- bilis 4, Hedera helix 3, Acanthus mollis 2, Orobanche hederae +, Cyclamen hederifolium +. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Rubia peregrina 1, Asparagus acutifolius 1, Rosa sempervirens 2, Ruscus aculeatus 1, Euphorbia characias +, Lonicera etrusca 1, Chamaeiris foetidissima 2, Clematis vitalba 1, Fraxinus ornus 2, Allium subhirsutum 1. Other species: Rubus ulmifolius 2, Crataegus monogyna 1, Ficaria verna 1, Arum itali- cum 1, Smyrnium olusatrum 1, Parietaria judaica + (Gianguzzi et al. 2016a). Syntaxonomical note — The association Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis belongs to the alliance Asparago acutifolii-Laurion nobilis; it is locally characterized by Ficus carica, Celtis australis, Asparagus acutifolius, Clematis vitalba, Cyclamen hederifolium, Ulmus minor, and Orobanche hederae. This association was described by Gianguzzi et al. (2016a) to define the micro-woods rich in laurel, widespread in Italy and in the large central-Mediterranean islands. Compared to the alliance Arbuto unedonis-Lauri- on nobilis, described for the Iberian Peninsula by Rivas-Martinez et al. (2001, 2002), framed in the order Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni, the Asparago acutifolii-Laurion nobi- lis is more mesophilous and, therefore, it can be included in the order Quercetalia ilicis (Gianguzzi et al. 2016a; Rivieccio et al. 2021). 12 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Pa es = i Ey es - Figure 4. Mount San Giuliano: vegetation near Torretta Pepoli (38°02'08"N, 12°35'29"E; 730 m a.s.L.); in the background the Castle of Venus (Erice) — 1 Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae subass. brassiceto- sum drepanensis; 2: subnitrophilous and subsciaphilous wall vegetation (Athamanto siculae-Parietarietum judaicae); 3 Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 13 Excursion to Marettimo Island | (24 April 2022): coastal and sub- coastal stretch of the southern part of the island, between Punta Bassana and Contrada Chiappera The island of Marettimo (Fig. 2) — as seen from the hydrofoil arriving from Trapani (Fig. 3d) — appears as a rather rugged and uneven ridge, with Pizzo Falcone (686 m a.s.l.) towering on a system of other peaks sloping both northwards [Pizzo delle Fragole (538 m a.s.l.) and Capo Bianco (470 m a.s.l.)] and southwards [Pizzo del Capraio (626 m a.s.l.), Punta Campana (629 m a.s.l.), Punta Anzine (493 m a.s.l.) and Pizzo Nido Falcone (490 m a.s.l.)]. The steep slopes of the island are interrupted by torrential incisions and by imposing rock walls scattered all along the island’s ridge, as well as in the localities named Libbano, Bassano, Orru Chiappara, etc. The island is characterized by very peculiar plant communities, which host many taxa of phytogeographic relevance, some of which endemic to the island. ‘This is explained by its long geographical isolation, positioned at the extreme western limit of the Egadi archipelago and ca. 35 km from the Sicilian coasts, with isobaths between -100 and -350. Besides, during the last glacial maximum (20—18.00 years ago) it remained isolated from Sicily, unlike the other islands of the archipelago, which were, instead, united with Sicily (Agnesi et al. 1993). Therefore, Marettimo can be considered as a refuge area for numerous taxa missing in Sicily and in the rest of the archipelago. On the other hand, some species that are quite frequent in Sicily are missing in Marettimo, such as Rubus ulmifolius Schott and other shrubs of the class Crataego- Prunetea, as well as species typical of dry grasslands, such as Stipellula capensis, which is represented on the island by very few individuals, probably of recent anthropogenic introduction. From a phytogeographical point of view, it is important to underline the possible connections with the African coast through a submerged ridge whose depth never goes below 350 m (Hofrichter 2001). Therefore, Marettimo probably acted as a stepping stone for various North African species that spread into the central part of the Mediterranean basin since the Messinian salinity crisis. Lanp usE — The agro-silvo-pastoral activities that existed until recently on the island have gradually led to the disappearance or rarefaction of the woodlands that pre- viously covered its slopes. However, it should be noted that Marettimo, unlike other Mediterranean territories, does not seem to have suffered the devastating impact of periodical fires, with positive consequences on the natural vegetation. Furthermore, the activity of woodcutters, quite widespread on the island until 60 years ago, has now disappeared, and agricultural and pastoral activities have been gradually abandoned during the last decades. In the past, the whole island was exploited for the production of wood; deforestation and clearing was carried out on a large scale, with timber and fagots transported downstream using cableways, loaded directly onto boats and sold as firewood in the nearby coastal town of Trapani. Overall, the interruption of human activities and the absence of fires has brought about a significant advance in the evolu- tion of the natural landscape. 14 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) The recent land-use change has led to both qualitative and quantitative variations in floristic and phytocoenotic diversity, through the progressive rarefaction, and some- times disappearance, of species linked to crop and rural activities, once consisting of small peach orchards, olive groves and — to a lesser extent — vineyards, or ash groves, as well as wheat or leguminous crops (Vicia faba L., Cicer arietinum L., etc.). This is countered by the recent random introduction of allochthonous species, particularly in the proximity of the village and tourist infrastructure (Gianguzzi et al. 2006). SERIES AND MICROGEOSERIES — On south-exposed coastal slopes, frequently af- fected by the sirocco wind, the infra-Mediterranean edapho-xerophilous series of Periploco-Euphorbio dendroidis sigmetum is recognisable. On cracked rocky slopes and clastic substrates, within the thermo-Mediterranean Dry bioclimate, especially on the western and southwestern slopes of the island, the Ruto chalepensis-Oleo sylves- tris rhamno oleoidis sigmetosum replaces the previously mentioned series. The head of the series is a maquis referred to the Ruto chalepensis-Oleetum sylvestris subass. rham- netosum oleoidis (Gianguzzi and Bazan 2020a, 2020b); secondary aspects are repre- sented by a low shrubland with Euphorbia dendroides and Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides (Rhamno alaterni-Euphorbietum dendroidis subass. rhamnetosum oleoidis), as well as xerophilous grassland with Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta (Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis s.\.) and therophytic grasslands of the class Stipo-Trachynietea dis- tachyae. The thermo-Mediterranean Dry to Subhumid belt is, however, dominated by the Erico multiflorae-Pino halepensis sigmetum, a pine forest series linked to more or less consolidated talus slopes at the base of the rocky cliffs. Upwards, within the Meso-Mediterranean Sub-humid bioclimatic belt, the holm oak series of the Pistacio lentisci-Querco ilicis | Daphno sericeae-Querco ilicis sigmetum occurs (see further on in the text for further explanations on the intricate question of the syntaxonomy of the holm oak woods of Marettimo). Currently, the limited residual patches of these woodlands are located in impervious stands near Pizzo Campana, as well as between Mt. Falcone and Pizzo delle Fragole, where the evolutionary processes of recoloniza- tion are clearly recovering, after the extensive deforestation implemented in the past (Gianguzzi et al. 2003a, b). Among the secondary vegetation units, the garrigue with Salvia rosmarinus and Erica multiflora, ascribed to the association Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflo- rae (Brullo and Marcend 1983), is dominant throughout the island. It occupies large areas up to the highest parts of the island, interfering with the different vegetation series present there, with some local floristic variants, depending on particular ecologi- cal conditions. In fact, in addition to the subassociation typicum, other variants can be recognised, characterized by Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca and Globularia alypum, or by Thymbra capitata, or by Cistus monspeliensis and Cistus salviifolius. Along the ra- vines to the north of the village, there are shrublands with Myrtus communis, indicating a certain edaphic humidity. In the higher stands, a shrubby vegetation characterized by two rare relict taxa, Daphne sericea and Thymelaea tartonraira, occurs. These two species are completely missing from the rest of the Sicilian territories. In Marettimo, Salvia rosmarinus also reaches elevations that are quite unusual in Sicily, where this species is Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 15 limited to small residual sites near the coastline. This is probably due to isolation of the island even during the last glacial maxima, thus preserving it from climate change- related plant migrations. The chasmophilous vegetation of Bupleuro dianthifolii-Scabiosetum limonifoliae is also rich in endemic or rare species, as well as the plant communities occurring on the rocky coasts, represented by the Limonietum tenuiculi, Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii and Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis. ENDEMIC AND RARE SPECIES — According to literature data (Gianguzzi et al. 2006; Scuderi 2008; Brullo C. et al. 2009), the vascular flora of Marettimo consists of 499 taxa. There are eight species endemic to the island, three of which are palaeoendemic (Oncostema ughii, Bupleurum dianthifolium, Thymus richardii subsp. nitidus) and five schizoendemic (Allium franciniae, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. messeriae, Limo- nium tenuiculum, Prospero hierae and Senecio aegadensis). In addition, another nar- row-ranging paleoendemic species limited to the islands of Marettimo and Favignana, Brassica macrocarpa, occurs. Other endemic species with a distribution including the Sicilian territory are: Hexaphylla rupestris, Bellevalia dubia, Carlina sicula, Euphorbia papillaris, Plantago afra subsp. zwierleinii, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, Ranunculus spica- tus subsp. rupestris, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula, and Seseli bocconei. Some other en- demics have a wider Tyrrhenian range, such as Crocus longiflorus, Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola, Iberis semperflorens, Glandora rosmarini- folia, Pimpinella anisoides, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa, Anthemis secundiramea, etc. The island also hosts species of biogeographical interest, that are either completely absent or very rare in the rest of Sicily, such as Aristolochia navicularis, Daphne sericea, Erodium maritimum, Lagurus ovatus subsp. vestitus, Periploca angustifolia, Reichardia tingitana, Simethis mattiazzi, Thymelaea tartonraira, and others. Sampled plant communities Moving from the town of Marettimo towards the southern part of the island, there is a relatively flat stretch of coastline, which is very different from the rest of the island, characterised by cliffs and crags that are rather steep and not always accessible (Fig. 5). Along this coast, it is possible to observe halophilous and scattered vegetation, repre- sented towards the sea by the Limonietum tenuiculi, widespread throughout the island, both on low coasts and sea-facing cliffs (Fig. 3f). Limonietum tenuiculi (After Brullo and Marcend 1983: tab. 1, rels 1-13) — Di- agnostic species: Limonium tenuiculum V, Senecio aegadensis IV, Characteristics of al- liance, order and class: Crithmum maritimum V, Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis V, Lotus cytisoides V, Silene sedoides V, Reichardia picroides var. maritima V, Plantago mac- rorhiza U1, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula Ill, Frankenia hirsuta U1. Other species: Catapodium pauciflorum IV, Anthemis secundiramea \V, Hyoseris radiata 1, Parapholis incurva \, Limbarda crithmoides subsp. longifolia U, Euphorbia segetalis I, Bellis annua Il, Ranunculus paludosus \1, Sagina maritima Ul, Hornungia procumbens Il, Plantago coronopus |, Trifolium scabrum |, Arthrocaulon meridionale I. 16 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) a OF ANyn Oa : Lg oa Ata 9 ba99%4 = * ARNann 1a nn fo oy Ot i OP nye Gn °2 ey ; e ; Sf . any Figure 5. Vegetation along the slopes of Marettimo (southern cape) between Punta Bassana and Pizzo Spirone (37°56'52"N, 12°05'25"E; 53 ma.s.l.) — 1 Limonietum tenuiculi; 2 Senecioni bicoloris-Helichryse- tum messerii; 3 Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis; 4 Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multi- florae var. typicum; 5 Erico multiflorae-Pinetum halepensis; 6 Oleo sylvestris-Pistacietum lentisci;77 Bupleuro dianthifolii-Scabiosetum limonifoliae. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 17 Along the landward gradient, the Limonietum tenuiculi is replaced by Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii is found next, characterized by the silvery cushions of the dominant species. This plant community is more frequent along the north-east facing coast, in the upper part of the coastal cliffs, forming an ecotone between the halo-tolerant vegetation and the coastal garrigue or other inland vegetation. Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii (After Brullo and Marcend 1983: tab. 2, rels 1-10) — Marettimo, a little beyond the cemetery: 10 m., 8°, NE, 50 m?. Diagnostic species: Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. messeriae V, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula V, Polycarpon tetraphyllum subsp. alsinifolium V. Characteristics of alli- ance, order and class: Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis V, Crithmum maritimum V, Lotus cytisoides V, Reichardia picroides var. maritima IV, Catapodium balearicum IV, Plantago macrorhiza V, Limonium tenuiculum \V, Anthemis secundiramea INV, Senecio aegadensis IV, Silene sedoides 1, Thymelaea hirsuta 1. Other species: Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica V, Hyoseris radiata V, Euphorbia segetalis \V, Catapodium balearicum IV, Trifolium scabrum Ill, Brachypodium distachyon II, Stachys romana \, Parapholis incurva I, Erica multiflora 111, Catapodium rigidum I, Romulea bulbocodium MU, Li- num strictum Il, Carlina sicula I1, Pallenis spinosa 1, Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca I, Euphorbia dendroides |, Limbarda crithmoides subsp. longifolia \1, Bellis annua I, Pistacia lentiscus I. The southern slopes of Punta Bassana, characterised by clay-limestone substrates, are rather xeric and strongly affected by dry southerly winds, particularly the sirocco. These are colonized by a low scrub dominated by Periploca angustifolia and Euphorbia dendroides, accompanied by a few other species of the order Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alat- erni and of the class Quercetea ilicis, as shown in the relevé below. Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis— Punta Bassana (37°57'01"N, 12°04'50"E): 81 m, 30°, S, 40%, 100 m?. Diagnostic species: Periploca angustifolia 3, Euphorbia dendroides 2. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Teucrium fruticans 1, Olea europaea var. sylvestris 1, Clematis cirrhosa +, Ruta chalepensis +. Other species: Salvia rosmarinus 2, Erica multiflora 2, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa +, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica +, Squilla pancration +. An aspect of degradation of the above-mentioned maquis is represented by a thinned garrigue, which can be ascribed to the Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multi- florae (Fig. 8e); a relevé of this vegetation is reported below. Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae var. typicum — Ridge of Punta Bassana (37°57'04"N, 12°04'49"E): 86 m, 30°, SSE, 40%, 40 m?. Diagnostic spe- cies: Salvia rosmarinus 3, Erica multiflora 2, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa +, Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Fumana thymifolia 1, Cuscuta epithymum +, Phagnalon rupestre +. Other species: Pistacia lentiscus 1, Glandora rosmarinifolia +. Moving along the path that leads from Punta Bassana towards Carcaredda (180 m a.s.l.) and proceeding along the base of Pizzo Spirone (333 m a.s.l.) towards Contrada Chiappera, it is possible to observe some Pinus halepensis woods. ‘This forest vegetation grows on rather steep slopes, essentially consisting of partially consolidated, frequently eroded, carbonatic screes. It develops mainly within the thermo-Mediterranean dry 18 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) to subhumid bioclimatic belt and falls within the series of Erico multiflorae-Pineto ha- lepensis sigmetum, whose more mature aspect is represented by Erico multiflorae-Pine- tum halepensis, an association renamed by Pesaresi et al. (2017), which was previously attributed by Brullo et al. (2008) to Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis De Marco et Caneva 1985. It is a basiphilous pine forest, rich in Pistacia lentiscus in the under- growth. Small nuclei of this association that survived the deforestation are currently located in the north-eastern part of the island, encompassing Pigna and Spartivalle districts. However, most of the vegetation dominated by Pinus halepensis can be traced back to forest plantations carried out in the 1970s. These artificial forests turned into mature, self-reproducing naturalised woods, as can be seen along the aforesaid trails. Indeed, these reforestations show a relatively rapid recovery of P halepensis, favoured by the intense dissemination that has gradually brought about its advancement in the garigues and maquis belonging to the same vegetation series. Erico multiflorae-Pinetum halepensis (After Scuderi 2002, tab. 11, rels 1-5 sub Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis) — Diagnostic species: Pinus halepensis V, Salvia ros- marinus V. Erica multiflora IV, Globularia alypum V, Other species: Pistacia lentiscus IV, Cistus creticus subsp. creticus IV, Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca IV, Arisarum vulgare IV. Carex hallerana 1, Ruta chalepensis 1, Daphne gnidium |, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa I, Leontodon tuberosus U1, Ophrys gr. fusca 1, Orchis italica 1, Hexaphylla ru- pestris 1, Colchicum cupani I. SYNTAXONOMICAL NOTE — According to Pesaresi et al. (2017) and Bonari et al. (2021), the Erico multiflorae-Pinetum halepensis must be arranged in the order Pineta- lia halepensis of the class Pinetea halepensis. It includes the vegetation dominated by Pinus halepensis of several localities of the Italian territory, such as Pantelleria (Brullo et al. 1977; Gianguzzi 1999a, 1999b), south-eastern Sicily (Bartolo et al. 1978, 1985), Apulia (De Marco et al. 1985), and Sardinia at Porto Pino (De Marco et al. 1985). The class-level classification of Mediterranean pine forests is still a matter of debate. An official proposal for the addition of the class Pinetea halepensis Bonari et Chytry in Bonari et al. (2021) to the syntaxonomic scheme of the EuroVegChecklist (from now on EVC) (Mucina et al. 2016) was officially advanced in 2021. Among the main reasons why the authors of the proposal consider it appropriate to place Mediterranean pine forests in a different class from Quercetea ilicis is that there would be a better match in remote sensing of vegetation and land-cover classifications leading to a better correspondence with the broadly used systems of habitats or forest types, which usually, in the first place distinguish between broadleaved and coniferous forests. This proposal was critically evaluated by a panel of experts selected by the Euro- pean Vegetation Classification Committee who have highlighted some critical issues in the research paper (Bonari et al. 2021) where the new class Pinetea halepensis was pro- posed. Among the weak points, which according to the Commission require further study and a broader discussion within the EVC, we mention the following: i) the lack of true diagnostic species in the new class that are not already classified as characteristic species of other classes or orders, especially Quercetea ilicis and Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni; ii) the inclusion in the statistical analysis of both natural pine forests and Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 19 putative old anthropogenic pine plantations, which would, at least partially, contra- vene the very concept of “plant community” composed of species ecologically coher- ent with the site where they live and distributed in the arrangement they themselves established; iii) a too broad tree layer coverage range (>15%) which in fact would lead to include different macro-vegetation types, such as forests, shrublands and (wooded) grasslands and garrigues in the same syntaxonomic class; iv) a lack of homogeneity with the current EVC framework where there are already other alliances and orders re- lated to conifer forests that are currently classified within classes dominated by broad- leaved tree species (evergreen or deciduous). The final decision on this proposal via a vote will take place during 2023. To date, both Biondi et al. (2014) and Mucina et al. (2016) classify the Pinus halepensis forests characterized by a rich Pistacio-Rhamnetalia evergreen sclerophyllous understorey in the order Pinetalia halepensis and in the class Quercetea ilicis, due to the occurrence of several sclerophyllous shrubs of this class in the undergrowth of pine forests. Given the almost total absence on Marettimo of spe- cies of the class Crataego-Prunetea — as well as of Cytisus infestus, often dominant in the Sicilian coasts — the pine forest edge is formed by garrigues of Micromerio fruticulosae- Ericetum mutltiflorae, which are represented not only in their typical aspect, but also in the variants with 7hymbra capitata, Cistus monspeliensis and Ampelodesmos mauritanicus framed in the alliance Polygalo preslii-Ericion multiflorae (class Ononido-Rosmarinetea). In addition to the typical stands (with Globularia alypum and Coronilla valentina sub- sp. glauca), linked precisely to the Pinus halepensis vegetation series — a relevé of which is reported below — a number of other variants occur on the island, in particular those with Thymbra capitata, Cistus monspeliensis, and Ampelodesmos mauritanicus. Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae var. typicum — Marettimo, Con- trada Carcaredda (37°57'14"N, 12°04'34"E): 189 m, 25°, SSE, 80 m?. Diagnostic species: Salvia rosmarinus 4, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa 1, Erica multiflora +, Globularia alypum 1, Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca +. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Ononis minutissima +, Cistus monspeliensis 1, Phagnaton saxatile +, Cis- tus creticus subsp. creticus +. Other species: Pistacia lentiscus 2, Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta 2, Brachypodum retusum 2, Avena barbata 2, Scorpiurus subvillosus 1, Ruta cha- lepensis +, Euphorbia dendroides +, Catapodium rigidum +, Carex hallerana +, Coronilla scorpioides +, Trachynia distachya +, Leontodon tuberosum +, Linum strictum +, Arisarum vulgare +, Hypochoeris achyrophorus +, Melica minuta +, Lysimachia loeflingii +, Allium ampeloprasum +, Gladiolus byzantinus t. Another forest edge vegetation related to the P halepensis series is represented by a low scrub of oleaster and Pistacia lentiscus, of which two relevés are reported below. Oleo sylvestris-Pistacietum lentisci s.\. — Marettimo, Contrada Chiappera (37°57'33"N, 12°04'24"E): 220 m, 15°, E, 100 m?. Diagnostic species: Pistacia lentiscus 4, Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Euphorbia dendroides 2, Daphne gnidium +, Ruta chalepensis +, Arisarum vulgare 1, Stachys major +, Rubia peregrina +, Carex hallerana +, Other species: Erica multiflora 3, Cistus creticus subsp. creticus 2, Melica minuta 2, Coronilla valentina 1, Cistus monspeliensis 1, Allium subhirsutum 1, Salvia rosmarinus +, Phagnalon saxatile +, Ferula communis +, Daucus carota +, 20 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Sonchus tenerrimus +, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula +, Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum +, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus +, Lysimachia arvensis 1, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica 1, Centranthus calcitrapae 1, Anemone hortenis t, Ononis mitissima t. Oleo sylvestris-Pistacietum lentisci s.\. — Marettimo, near the cemetery (37°57'32"N, 12°04'40"E): 52 m, 50°, NE, 40 m?. Diagnostic species: Pistacia lentiscus 5, Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Euphorbia dendroides 1, Ruta chalepensis 1, Arisarum vulgare +, Rubia peregrina 1. Other species: Erica multiflora +, Coronilla valentina 2, Ferula communis +, Sonchus tenerrimus +, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula 1, Magydaris pastinacea 2, Clinopodium nepeta +, Brachypodium retusum +, Reichardia picroides +, Phagnaton saxatile +, Sonchus bulbosus +, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica +, Galactites tomentosus +, Galium murale +, Cynoglossum creticum +, Melica minuta +. SYNTAXONOMICAL NOTE — The maquis with P J/entiscus is quite widespread in the Mediterranean region, where various associations are reported, such as Oleo-Pistacie- tum lentisci Molinier 1954, Cneoro-Pistacietum lentisci O. Bolos et R. Molinier (1969) 1984, and Myrto-Pistacietum lentisci (Molinier 1954 em. O. Bolos 1962) Rivas-Mar- tinez 1975, the latter occurring also on Marettimo. Excursion to Marettimo II (25 April 2022): Case Romane, Mt. Fal- cone and north-eastern coastal stretch Above the village of Marettimo, along the initial part of a paved track leading to the lo- cality named Case Romane, there are compact limestone outcrops colonized by a sparse garrigue dominated by 7hymbra capitata. This vegetation can be considered a variant of the Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae, a relevé of which is reported below. Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae var. with Thymbra capitata — Slightly above the Marettimo village (37°58'04"N, 12°04'14"E): 47 m, 25°, NE, 85 m*. Diagnostic species: Thymbra capitata 4, Erica multiflora 1, Salvia rosmarinus +, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa +. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Globularia alypum 1, Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca +, Phagnalon saxatile +. Other species: Pistacia lentiscus 2, Stachys major 1, Arisarum vulgare 1, Bituminaria bituminosa 1, Carlina sicula 1, Brachypodium distachyon |, Euphorbia dendroides +, Jacobaea mar- itima subsp. sicula +, Lonicera implexa +, Ruta chalepensis +, Leontodon tuberosum +, Anemone hortensis +, Fedia graciliflora +, Hypochoeris achyrophorus +, Linum strictum +, Linum usitatissimum subsp. angustifolium +, Rubia peregrina +, Euphorbia peplis +, Va- lerianella dentata +, Macrobriza maxima +, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. maura +, Reich- ardia picroides +, Lysimachia arvensis +, Daphne gnidium +, Olea europaea vat. sylvestris pl. +, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus +, Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum +, Ferula communis +, Orchis italica +, Pallenis spinosa +. Up to Case Romane (37°58'13"N, 12°03'51"E), an archaeological site where the main freshwater spring of the island gushes out, the vegetation can be referred to the P. halepensis forest series described in the previous itinerary. Further up, at 450-500 m a.s.l., whitin the Meso-Mediterranean sub-humid bioclimatic belt, the holm oak series Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano Zi (Pistacio lentisci-Querco ilicis sigmetum) develops on carbonatic soils. The head of the series is represented by residual nuclei of holm oak woods (Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis), remnants of the intense deforestation that occurred in the past (Fig. 8d). These small forest patches, occurring also at Pianoro della Craparizza, Pizzo delle Fragole and between the localities Stincazzi and Scaturro, represent relict flaps of the primary forest, exploited in the past (up to the 1960s) for charcoal production. One of these nuclei was observed along the path, on the slope to the east of Pizzo Campana. It can be ascribed to the subassociation arbutetosum unedonis — one of the two recorded from the island — a relevé of which is reported below. Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis subass. arbutetosum unedonis — Below Pizzo Campana (37°58'20"N, 12°03'30"E): 455 m, 25°, NE, 100 m2. Diagnostic species: Quercus ilex 4, Pistacia lentiscus 1, Arbutus unedo |. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Dapne gnidium 1, Carex hallerana 1, Cyclamen repandum +, Ruta chalepensis +, Rubia peregrina +. Other species: Erica multiflora 4, Salvia rosmarinus 1, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa +, Cistus creticus subsp. creticus 1, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula +, Selaginella denticulata +, Hypochoeris laevigata +. Aspects of holm oak woods with Arbutus unedo referred to the above-mentioned subassociation are also sporadically recorded in Sicily on leached carbonatic soils, as in the case of the cacuminal part of Monte Cofano (Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008). On Marettimo, these holm oak woods are fringed by scrubland dominated by P lentiscus, through degradation replaced by the Cistus salviifolius variant of the garrigue Microme- rio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae. A relevé of this garrigue, widespread over large areas in the upper part of Marettimo, is reported below. Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae var. with Cistus salviifolius — Below Pizzo Campana (37°58'33"N, 12°03'26"E): 480 m, 20°, NE, 85 m?. Diagnostic species: Cistus salviifolius 3, Erica multiflora 3, Salvia rosmarinus 4, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa +. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Globularia alypum 1, Cistus creticus subsp. creticus 1, Fumana thymifolia +. Other species: Pistacia lentiscus 1, Arisarum vulgare +, Trachynia distachya \, Brachypodium retusum 1, Allium franciniae +, Carex halleriana +, Valantia muralis +, Leontodon tuberosum +, Anemone hortensis +, Fedia graciliflora +, Hypochoeris achyrophorus +, Colchicum bivonae +. This garrigue is often compenetrated with a hemicryptophic vegetation dominated by Brachypodium retusum, particularly on steep stony slopes, that are covered by a veg- etation similar to the one described as Brachypodio ramosi-Cistetum cretici from the Mt. Cofano area (Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008; Gianguzzi et al. 2015). In higher stands, near Pizzo Falcone, there is a holm-oak wood differentiated by the occurrence of Daphne sericea, a small shrub that is completely absent in Sicily, having on Marettimo the western limit of its range (Di Pietro 2001). This vegetation was described by Brullo and Marceno (1983) as Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis and considered the potential forest vegetation in the upper part of the island, which is linked to a regular moisture condensation regime, testified by frequent fogs. A relevé is reported below. Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis— Pizzo Falcone (37°58'41"N, 12°03'18"E): 544 m, 25°, N, 100 m?. Diagnostic species: Quercus ilex 3, Daphne sericea 1. Characteristics 22, Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) of alliance, order and class: Pistacia lentiscus 1, Daphne gnidium +, Carex hallerana 1, Cyclamen repandum 1. Other species: Erica multiflora 2, Salvia rosmarinus 1, Cistus creticus subsp. creticus 1, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula +, Anemone hortensis +. Syntaxonomic notes — The syntaxonomic arrangement of the holm oak woodlands of the island of Marettimo represents a still unresolved problem from a nomenclatural point of view. Brullo and Marceno (1983) validly described the association Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis, typical of the highest areas of Marettimo, where Quercus ilex took advantage of the frequent occurrence of fog and westerly humid winds. Two years later, the same authors in their fundamental work on the class Quercetea ilicis in Sicily (Brullo and Marcend 1985b), described for western and southern Sicily a new thermo- philous association of holm oak wood named Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis. In this paper, the authors included the Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis that they had previ- ously described for Marettimo in the ecological range of Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ili- cis, considering the latter association as a simple variant of the newly described Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis. In nomenclatural terms however, this kind of downgrading is not allowed by the code of phytosociological nomenclature (ICPN, Theurillat et al. 2020). In fact, the name Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis Brullo et Marcend 1983 has nomenclatural priority over Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis Brullo et Marcend 1985 as it was published two years earlier (principle IV of ICPN). Clearly, the peculiar distribution range of Daphne sericea does not support the use of the name Daphno-Quercetum ilicis to represent the holm-oak woods of the whole of Sicily. In fact this species occurs on Marettimo but is missing in the rest of Sicily and in most of southern Italy. It then reappears further north along the Tyrrhenian coast from northern Campania to southern Tuscany as well as in Puglia (Gargano) and inland areas of Abruzzo and (sporadically) Molise. However, since the authors of these associa- tions clearly stated that these two communities represent, in fact, different aspects of the same association, the name Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis automatically becomes the type of the earliest legitimate name (Art. 29c) that in this case is Daphno sericeae- Quercetum ilicis. For this reason, the name Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis should be considered superfluous (Art. 18b). Brullo et al. (2008) tried to resolve the issue by describing the new subassociation Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis subass. daphnetosum sericeae exclusively for the island of Marettimo. However, also in this case, since the authors chose, as nomenclatural type of the new subassociation daphneetosum sericeae, the same relevé (rel. 2 of tab. 6) already used by Brullo and Marceno (1983) to typify the Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis, there is once again a reunion of syntaxa at the same rank (Pistacio-Quercetum vs. Daphno-Quercetum), with nomenclatural priority for Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis for the above reasons. ‘The possible solutions to this question are essentially two. The first leads to consider the Daphno-Quercetum ilicis as restricted solely to Marettimo by virtue of the particular bioclimatic and biogeographic conditions that characterize this island and to separate it from the Pistacio-Quercetum ilicis, which is widespread in the whole of Sicily and probably in other areas of southern Italy. The second solution is to refer to Art. 52 of the 4" edition of the ICPN and to propose to the Committee for Change and Conservation of Names (CCCN) the adop- Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 23 tion of Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis as nomen conservandum over its earlier hetero- typic name (syntaxonomic synonym) Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis. While waiting for this proposal to be officially advanced and for the whole process of acceptance to be completed, the only possible syntaxonomic reference for this paper, in agreement with the ICPN, is the name Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis Brullo et Marcend 1984. The summit of Pizzo Falcone (Fig. 6), sloping steeply towards the coast, dominates the whole island. The imposing cliffs on the northern side host a luxuriant rupicolous vegetation, which is also well represented elsewhere on the island (Pizzo del Capraro, Pizzo Lisandro, as well as the areas of Libbano, Bassano, Orru Chiappara, etc.). These cliffs, especially those facing north and north-east, are rich in endemites and species of relevant taxonomic and phytogeographic value. The chasmophytic vegetation of Ma- rettimo was referred by Brullo and Marceno (1979) to the Bupleuro-Scabosetum limoni- foliae, association framed into the alliance Dianthion rupicolae (Asplenietalia glandulosi, Asplenietea trichomanis). Bupleuro dianthifolii-Scabiosetum limonifoliae (After Brullo and Marceno 1983: tab. 7, rels 1-16) — Diagnostic species: Bupleurum dianthifolium V, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. messeriae V, Oncostema ughii V, Thymus richardii subsp. nitidus II. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Seseli bocconei V, Iberis semperflorens V, Hexaphylla rupestris V, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia IV, Glandora rosmarinifolia \V, Di- anthus rupicola subsp. rupicola IV, Brassica macrocarpa lI, Melica minuta \, Parietaria lusitanica 1, Atamantha sicula \. Hypochoeris laevigata IV, Polypodium cambricum I, Asplenium ceterach I, Sedum dasyphyllum s.\. 11, Umbilicus rupestris 1, Ranunculus spica- tus subsp. rupestris I. Other species: Erica multiflora V, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula VI, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa IV, Salvia rosmarinus Ill, Lonicera implexa II, Euphorbia dendroides 11, Allium subhirsutum 1, Hyoseris radiata 1, Valantia muralis I, Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus 1, Carex halleriana \, Selaginella denticulata 1, Pista- cia lentiscus 1, Petrosedum sediforme 1, Lagurus ovatus subsp. vestitus 1, Quercus ilex I, Daphne sericea 1, Lobularia maritima |, Galium corrudifolium I. Just below the summit of Pizzo Falcone (Fig. 8c), a branch of the main downhill path (37°58'41"N, 12° 03'17"E; 543 m) leads to Punta Troia (Fig. 8a). Here there are dense garrigues referable to Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae, sometimes mixed with Brachypodium retusum grassland, differentiated by the occurrence of Cor- onilla valentina subsp. glauca, belonging to the Coronillo glaucae-Brachypodietum retusi (Brullo et al. 2010). Coronillo glaucae-Brachypodietum retusi (After Brullo et al. 2010: tab. 15, rels 1-2) — Diagnostic species: Coronilla valentina subsp. Glauca 2, Brachypodium retusum 2. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Ferula communis 2, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus 1, Hyoseris radiata 1, Phagnalon saxatile 1, Hyparrthenia hirta subsp. hirta 1, Dactylis glom- erata subsp. hispanica 2, Carlina sicula 1. Other species: Avena barbata 1, Ruta chalepensis 1, Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus 2, Micromeria fruticulosa 2, Arisarum vulgare 2. These are secondary vegetation units pertaining to the holm oak series (Pistacio- Querco ilicis sigmetum), as well as lower down to the Pinus halepensis series (Erico mul- tiflorae-Pino halepensis sigmetum). While proceeding towards Contrada Rumurale, the 24 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) pars nag Sal: ae aaes ho Figure 6. Marettimo Island: vegetation near the top of Monte Falcone (37°58'51"N, 12°03'06"E; 632 m a.s.l.) — 1 Euphorbia dendroides community; 2 Bupleuro dianthifolii-Scabiosetum limonifoliae; 3 Hedera helix community; 4 Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis subass. arbutetosum unedonis; 5 Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae var. with Cistus salviifolius. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 25 path crosses the valley of the Ficarello stream, overlooked by the rocky walls of Pizzo Falcone. This scenic route leads along the ridges of Pizzo Madonnuzza and descends to Contrada Libbano, where it is possible to observe very interesting stands of chasmo- phytic vegetation, belonging to Bupleuro dianthifolii-Scabiosetum limonifoliae, notably rich in endemic species, such as Bupleurum dianthifolium, Oncostema ughii (Fig. 8b), Thymus reichardii subsp. nitidus, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. messeriae, Brassica macrocarpa, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, Hexaphylla rupestris, Seseli bocconei, Dianthus rupicola, Iberis semperflorens, and Glandora rosmarinifolia among others. Along the coast, the route returning to the town crosses a maquis dominated by Euphorbia dendroides, that can be referred to Rhamno alaterni-Euphorbietum dendroidis subass. rhamnetosum oleoidis (Fig. 7). A relevé of this vegetation is reported below. Rhamno alaterni-Euphorbietum dendroidis subass. rhamnetosum oleoidis — Along the northeastern coast of Marettimo (37°58'23"N, 12°04'06"E): 27 m a.s.L, slope 18° NE, 40%, 100 m?. Diagnostic species: Euphorbia dendroides 4, Olea europaea var. sylvestris 1, Rhamnus lycioides subsp. Oleoides 1. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Pistacia lentiscus 3, Lonicera implexa 1, Ruta chalepensis 1, Stachys major +, Arisarum vulgare +. Other species: Erica multiflora 2, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus 2, Allium subhirsutum 2, Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula 2, Micromeria graeca subsp. fru- ticulosa +, Phagnaton saxatile +, Leontodon tuberosus +, Clinopodium nepeta +, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica +, Squilla pancration +. Towards the sea, within halo-subhalophilous associations, such as Limonietum ten- uiculi and Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii, an interesting ephemeral vegeta- tion dominated by Moraea sisyrinchium was in full bloom at the time of our visit. Based on the relevés carried out in these stands (Table 4), it is to be referred to a new asso- ciation, proposed as Catapodio pauciflori-Moraeetum sisyrinchii Gianguzzi, Di Pietro, Fortini, Guarino, Mei, Rosati, Spampinato, Stinca ass. nov. hoc loco (holotypus: Table 3, rel. 6, hoc loco), which belongs to the Plantagini-Catapodium balearici, an alliance of the class Stipo-Trachynetea distachyae. This coastal association, usually linked to out- crops of carbonate rock with shallow red soils, can be considered a geographic vicariant of the Anthemido-Desmazerietum siculae Brullo 1985, from north-western Sicily, and of the Anthemido-Allietum lehmannii Brullo et Scelsi 1998 from southern Sicily. Catapodio pauciflori-Moraeetum sisyrinchii Gianguzzi, Di Pietro, Fortini, Gua- rino, Mei, Rosati, Spampinato, Stinca ass. nov. hoc loco (holosyntypus: Table 3, rel. 6, here designated). SYNTAXONOMIC FRAMEWORK — Class: Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae, order: Stipo- Bupleuretalia semicompositi, alliance: Plantagini-Catapodion balearici. Diacnostic species — Moraea sisyrinchium (dom.), Catapodium pauciflorum, Hy- oseris baetica, Prospero hierae. STRUCTURE AND ECOLOGY — Thermophilous coastal vegetation with an early spring optimum, physiognomically dominated by Moraea sisyrinchium, growing together with various ephemeral herbaceous plants such as Anthemis secundiramea, Plantago coronopus, Catapodium pauciflorum, Bellis annua, Silene colorata, Hedypnois rhagadio- loides, Medicago truncatula, Hypochoeris achyrophorus, Filago pygmaea, Plantago lagopus, 26 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) W a NLM, An was see A. = eer = we ee : eens s < 2 Mi Ah are * Y as GALS ~~ zy . a PUY J xe : Cae $ =e VE. = {i sel oy et we Y. A: Figure 7. Marettimo Island: vegetation along the north-eastern coast, next to Case Martorana (37°58'22"N, 12°03'07"E; 21 m a.s.l.). — 1 Erico multiflorae-Pinetum halepensis; 2 Coronillo glaucae- Brachypodietum retusi; 3 Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae var. typicum; 4 Rhamno alaterni- Euphorbietum dendroidis subass. rhamnetosum oleoidis; 5 Catapodio pauciflori-Moraeetum sisyrinchii ass. nova; 6 Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii; 7 Limonietum tenuiculi. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano ne Stachys romana, Trifolium scabrum, Valantia muralis. \t develops in the gaps of the sub-halophilous vegetation Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii and of the coastal garrigue, on rocky outcrops covered with shallow red soil. BrociimateE — Dry thermo-Mediterranean. DisTRIBUTION — Marettimo, along the coast. SYNTAXONOMIC NOTES — Moraea sisyrinchium is a typical south Mediterranean spe- cies, widespread from the coastal territory of the Middle East to Spain. In Italy, this species occurs in southern regions and goes up along the Italian peninsula only on its western side, i.e., along the Tyrrhenian coasts of Campania, Lazio, and Tuscany. From a phytosociological point of view, Biondi et al. (2001) considered Moraea sisyrinchium a diagnostic species of the order Brachypodio-Dactyletalia hispanicae occurring as co- dominant species in the Anthyllido vulnerariae-Kundmannietum siculae and in the Loto cytisoidis-Dactylidetum hispanicae subass. iridetosum sisyrinchi, described from northern Sardinia. The latter exhibits a certain ecological similarity to our Catapodio pauciflorae- Moraeetum sisyrinchii, being both associations typical of marine terraces no longer dom- inated by halophilous species. However, the Sardinian association exhibits an absolute dominance of Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica, which is instead extremely sporadic in the communities of Marettimo. Morea sisyrinchium is also described as co-dominant species in the Sileno sedoidis-Hymenolobetum revelieri, an association referred to the ephemeral communities of Saginetea maritimae (Frankenion pulverulentae) occurring along the Ionian rocky coasts of Puglia on silty-sandy substrates and in spatial contigu- ity with Crithmo-Limonietea communities (Brullo and Giusso del Galdo 2003). The occurrence of Silene sedoides, Valantia muralis and Parapholis incurva and the physiog- nomical importance of Plantago coronopus and Morea sisyrinchium (Figs 7 and 8f) high- light similarities with the association of Marettimo, although the latter exhibits a much higher floristic richness probably due to a lower occurrence of chloride salts in the soil. Finally, Moraea sisyrinchium is a highly frequent species in various associations described in Sicilian coastal areas and is currently included in the alliance Plantagini-Catapodion balearici (order: Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi; class: Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae). As regards the phytosociological classification of Moraea sisyrinchium in other Mediter- ranean countries, it must be pointed out that the association [rido sisyrinchii-Stipetum capensis Bolés et Molinier 1958 described for the Balearic Islands is the last stage of degradation of the Mediterranean maquis in coastal south-facing slopes affected by the moderating influence of the sea nearby (Bolds and Molinier 1958). In the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, Moraea sisyrinchium is a high- frequency species in the Spergulo fallacis-Plantaginetum ovatae (Dana-Sanchez et al. 1999). These last two as- sociations are framed in the alliance Stipion retortae (order: Brachypodietalia distachyi; class: Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae). However, Moraea sisyrinchium is a high-frequency species also in the Poo bulbosae-Onobrychidetum eriophorae Rivas Goday, Ladero et C. Rivas in Rivas Goday et Ladero 1970 and in the Trifolio subterranei-Plantaginetum ser- rariae Martin et Galan in Galan, Morales et Vicente 2000, both classified in the class Poetea bulbosae (Rivas-Martinez et al. 2001). In Cyprus, Moraea sisyrinchium occurs abundantly in the open phrygana dominated by Sarcopoterium spinosum (Rikli 1946). 28 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Table 3. Catapodio pauciflorae-Moraeetum sisyrinchii (rel 1-6 exiting the village towards Punta Troia; rel 7-10 near the cemetery). Relevé No. 01 02 03 04 05 06 O07 08 09 10 Altitude (m a.s.I.) 12 12 12 10 10 10 5 7 8 10 Slope (%) 10 1 8 8 25 20 5 ws 8 10 Aspect N E E E N E N E E E Area (m?) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 Total cover (%) 50 85 95 90 90 90 90 95 85 80 Average vegetation height (cm) 9 10 13 10 12 13 10 12 12 12 Char. association Moraea sisyrinchium 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 Hyoseris baetica + + 1 1 1 + + + + + Prospero hierae + + Char. all. Plantagini-Catapodion balearici Plantago coronopus + 3 3 2 : 2 + 1 3 Catapodium pauciflorum 1 + + + + + 1 Bellis annua . : + + + Char. ord. Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi and cl. Stipo- Trachynietea distachyae Silene colorata : 1 + 1 + Hedypnois rhagadioloides 1 + Medicago truncatula + + Anthemis secundiramea 1 Hypochoeris achyrophorus 1 Filago pygmaea Trifolium scabrum + + Stachys romana Plantago lagopus Valantia muralis + Lotus edulis Trisetaria aurea : 2 : + J + Convolvolus lineatus : i : : } 3 2 2 Linum strictum + Linaria reflexa : : . + + Trachynia distachya Coronilla scorpioides Linum usitatissimum subsp. angustifolium Asteriscus aquaticus Rumex bucephalophorus s.I. ‘ ; : ; : + Companions Triticum neglectum 1 + Lotus cytisoides 1 2 Lolium rigidum s.1. . + Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis . : Euphorbia peplus 1 + Reichardia picroides Sonchus tenerrimus Euphorbia segetalis Carlina sicula Anisantha madritensis + Lobularia maritima Cuscuta sp. ; . , : E : + + + Silene sedoides + Parapholis incurva . . + + +3235 + + 3 + a + 32N + 3 23 +3248 +++ 4+ 4+: 32 +N + + + + + + 3 + + 328N 3 -_ 3 + = 2 +++ t+ 7274+8N 2 +N +N 2 ++ t+ ttttnn = +> 4+ + -: ++ + t+ Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 29 Relevé No. 01 02 03 04 O05 06 O07 =O8 09 10 Convolvolus althaeoides ! : : : + ; : : + Salvia clandestina : : . : + : . : : + Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica Bituminaria bituminosa Avena barbata Leontodon tuberosum Lysimachia loeflingii Orobanche minor ; : . + Medicago polymorpha Carduus pycnocephalus Carduus argyroa : : : . : : : : + Erodium cicutarium ; : : : . A : : . + + + + + A Therefore, a wide range of possible interpretations for the classification of the Catapo- dio pauciflorae-Moraeetum sisyrinchit is available (see synoptic Table 4). On the other hand, this community represents a peculiar syntaxonomic issue, since, as far as we know, associa- tions with absolute dominance of Moraea sisyrinchium have not been described to date. In our opinion, the syntaxonomic classification of Catapodio pauciflorae-Moraeetum sisyrinchii at the class rank cannot ignore the life form spectrum of all the species that compose this association (Table 3). Therophytes prevail based on simple presence and frequency, whereas perennial species are dominant in the spectrum based on cover values. Obviously, Moraea sisyrinchium plays a major role in determining the largely prevailing perennial life form based on cover values. However, this dominance would be maintained (albeit only slightly) even if Moraea sisyrinchium had a cover-abundance index of “1” (in- stead of “3” or “4”) testifying a non secondary role of perennial species in the community. Accordingly, the most plausible syntaxonomic solution would be to consider the Cata- podio pauciflorae-Moraeetum sisyrinchii as putatively assignable to a class characterized by perennial communities. Having this in mind and following the EuroVegChecklist (EVC) framework (Mucina et al. 2016), we should classify this association in the class Lygeo sparti- Stipetea tenacissimae Rivas-Mart. 1978, in the order Cymbopogoni-Brachypodietalia ramosi Horvatic 1963 and in the alliance Reichardio maritimae-Dactylidion hispanicae Biondi et al. 2001. The latter alliance is indeed defined as including thermo-Mediterranean subh- alophilous perennial grasslands in wind-swept habitats on calcareous soils of the Tyrrhe- nian and Ionian seas. This classification shares the one proposed by Biondi et al. (2001) for northern Sardinia where this alliance was included in the Brachypodio-Dactylidetalia hispanicae (syn. of Cymbopogoni-Brachypodietalia in EVC) but in the class Artemisietea vulgaris. However, the latter classification, especially if considered at the order and class ranks, would seem more appropriate for perennial communities (or mixed annual-per- ennial communities) dominated by cespitose hemicryptophytes (e.g., Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta, Brachypodium retusum, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica). This does not appear to be the case in Marettimo. On the other hand, the classification in the Poetea bulbosae does not seem plausible, at least at the biogeographic level, as this class is centered in the Iberian Peninsula. Moreover, the previously mentioned Spanish communities cur- rently ascribed to this class are not limited to coastal districts but are widespread also in 30 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Table 4. Simplified synoptic table of plant communities with high frequency of Moraea sisyrinchi- um from the Mediterranean region (species occurring in less than three columns are omitted, unless characteristic of the association). Cl. Stipo-Trachynietea [ord. Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi, all. Plantagini-Catapodium marini (1-8) and. Onobrychido-Ptilostemion stellati Brullo, Scelsi et Spampinato 2001 (9-10)]: 1) Catapodio pauciflorae-Moraeetum sisyrinchii ass. nova (Table 3, hoc loco); 2) Anthemido secundirameae-Desmazerietum siculae Brullo 1985 (after Barbagallo et al. 1979 — Sicily: Mount Cofano, sub ager. a A. secundiramea and Desmazeria sicula); 3) Antemido secundirameae-Allietum lehmannii Brullo et Scelsi 1996 (after Brullo and Scelsi 1996, tab. 5, — Sicily: Vendicari and Sampieri); 4) Onobrychido-Psiluretum incurvi Brullo et Scelsi 1996 (after Brullo and Scelsi 1996, tab. 6 — Sic- ily: Vittoria, Nipitella and Castelluccio); 5) Filagini-Daucetum lopadusani Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale et Spampinato, 1988 (after Bartolo et al. 1988, tab. 20 — Sicily: Lampedusa Island); 6) Allietum lojaconoi Brullo 1985 (after Brullo 1985, tab. 9, Malta and Gozo); 7) Allietum lojaconoi Brullo 1985 subass. typicum, subass. anthemidetosum urvilleanae and subass. linetosum tryginum Brullo et al. 2020 (after Brullo et al. 2020, tab. 14.4 — Malta and Gozo); 8) Silenetum melitensis Brullo, Brullo, Cambria et Giusso del Galdo 2020 (after Brullo et al. 2020, tab. 14.1 — Malta, Gozo and Comino); 9) Prilostemono- Bupleuretum gracilis Brullo, Scelsi et Spampinato 2001 (after Brullo et al. 2001, tab. 107 — Calabria: Aspromonte); 10) Parapholido incurvae-Aizoetum hispanicae Brullo, Scelsi et Spampinato 2001 (after Brullo et al. 2001, tab. 111 — Calabria: Aspromonte). Cl. Stipo-Trachynietea [ord. Trachynetalia distachiae Rivas-Martinez 1978, all. Trachynion distachyae Rivas-Mart. 1978 (11-12) and Stipion retortae O. de Bolos 1957 (13-14)]: 11) Vulpio ligusticae-Trisetarietum aureae Brullo 1975 (after Brullo et al. 2020, tab. 14.2 — Malta and Gozo); 12) Thero-Sedetum coerulei subass. sedetosum caespitosi Brullo 1975 (after Brullo et al. 2020, tab. 14.1, rel. 1-14 — Gozo and Comino); 13) Irido-Stipetum retortae [after O. Bolds and Molinier 1958 tab. 11 — Maiorca Island (= Jrido sisyrinchii-Stipetum capensis O. Bolds et Molinier 1958)]; 14) Spergulo fallacis-Plantaginetum ovatae Dana Sanchez, Rodriguez-Tamayo et Mota Poveda 1999 (after Dana Sanchez et al. 1999 tab. 11 — Spain: Almeria). Cl. Poetea bulbosae Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. in Rivas-Mart. 1978 (ord. Poetalia bulbosae Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. in Rivas Goday et Ladero 1970, all. Trifolio subterranet-Periballion minutae Rivas Goday 1964): 15) Poo bulbosae-Trifolietum subterranei subass. plantaginetosum serrariae Sciandrello, D’Agostino. et Minis- sale 2013 (after Sciandrello et al. 2013, tab. 4, rel. 20-28 — Sicily: Taormina). Cl. Saginetea maritimae Westhoff et al. 1962 (ord. Frankenietalia pulverulentae Rivas-Matt. ex Castroviejo et Porta 1976, all. Frankenion pulverulentae Rivas-Matrt. ex Castroviejo et Porta 1976): 16) Sileno sedoidis-Hymenolobe- tum revelieri Brullo et Giusso 2003 (after Brullo and Giusso 2003, tab. 1 rel.1—9 — Puglia: Taranto, Lido Gandoli). Cl. Artemisietea vulgaris Lohmeyer et al. in Tx. ex von Rochow1951 (ord. Brachypodio ramosi-Dactyletalia hispanicae Biondi, Filigheddu et Farris 2001, all. Zhero-Brachypodion ramosi Br.-Bl. 1925): 17) Loto cytisoidis-Dactyletum hispanicae subass. dactyletosum hispanicae Biondi, Filighed- du et Farris 2001 and subass. iridetosum sisyrinchii Biondi, Filigheddu et Farris 2001 (after Biondi et al. 2001, tab. 46 — Sardinia: Nurra); 18) Anthyllido vulnerariae-Kundmannietum siculae Biondi, Filigheddu et Farris 2001 (after Biondi et al. 2001 tab. 45 — Sardinia: Nurra). Column number 123 4 5 6 7 8 9 10/11 12 13 14) 15 | 16 | 17 18 Number of relevés 10 5 15 6 20 6 22 10 8 14/8 14 3 15/10 | 9 | 8 5 Guide species Moraea sisyrinchium 100/100 100 100 55 100 100 100 75 71 |100| 73 | 66 | 52 |100|100| 62 80 Characteristic species of association Hyoseris lucida subsp. taurina 100 Prospero hierae 30 Desmazeria sicula Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano Column number Number of relevés Lonas annua Allium lehmannii Anthemis secundiramea Onobrychis caput-galli Festuca incurva Logfia lojaconoi Diplotaxis scaposa Linaria reflexa subsp. lubbockii Allium lojaconoi Linum trigynum Silene melitensis Bupleurum semicompositum Aizoanthemopsis hispanicum Festuca danthonii subsp. danthonii Trisetaria aurea Sedum caeruleum Sedum caespitosum Spergularia flaccida Plantago ovata Herniaria cinerea Spergularia diandra Poa bulbosa Plantago serraria Trifolium subterraneum Onobrychis aequidentata Hornungia procumbens subsp. revelierei Silene sedoides subsp. sedoides Gaudinia fragilis Carex flacca subsp. erythrostachys Pancratium illyricum Crocus minimus Kundmannia sicula Anthyllis vulneraria Char. All. Onobrychido-Ptilostemion semicompositi Medicago littoralis Anisantha fasciculata subsp. fasciculata Bellis annua® Asteriscus aquaticus Lagurus ovatus subsp. vestitus° Catapodium balearicum* Convolvulus lineatus Crupina crupinastrum Atractylis cancellata Romulea variicolor® Echium parviflorum Anthemis secundiramea Spergularia marina Filago eriocephala* Ptilostemon stellatus* 12 3 4 5 6 F & 9 10 5 15 6 20 6 22 10 8 100] . 100/100 70 |100}100 100 25 30 49 23 : 5 ; : 40 ee a4 25 49 54 20 80 80 50 80 10 20 100 60 » ylOO 30 20 60 100 60 92 60 100 59 100 60 83 39 4 pry 49 92 100 100 100 40 49 92 100 100 85 83 83 49 35 91 62 27 100 14 100 25 50 100 50 60 100 . 88 100 100 50 100 12 10 14 11 12 13 «14 8 14 3 15 100 100} 27 100 47 : 100 73 73 += 73 50 53 stellati (*) Plantagini-Catapodion balearicae (°) and Ord. Stipo-Bupleuretalia 92 |38 27 33 26 92 28 14 49 25 53 20 27 100 50 20 33 19 33. 100 32 100 100 100 100 25 100 32 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Column number Number of relevés Char. Cl. Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae Brachypodium distachyon Hypochaeris achyrophorus Linum strictum Euphorbia exigua subsp. exigua Hedypnois rhagadioloides Catapodium rigidum Stipellula capensis Trifolium scabrum Valantia muralis Filago pygmaea Hyoseris scabra Lotus edulis Medicago minima Plantago lagopus Anisantha rubens Trifolium stellatum Stachys romana Plantago afra Medicago monspeliaca Sedum rubens Filago pyramidata Medicago truncatula Helianthemum salicifolium Arenaria leptoclados subsp. leptoclados Silene colorata Rumex bucephalophorus s.1. Ononis ornithopodioides Sulla spinosissima Char. Cl. Saginetea maritimae Parapholis incurva Plantago coronopus Char. Cl. Artemisietea vulgaris and ord. Reichardia picroides Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica Lotus cytisoides Convolvulus althaeoides Daucus carota s.I. Companions Lysimachia arvensis Triticum neglectum Centaurium pulchellum subsp. pulchellum Scorpiurus muricatus Medicago polymorpha Avena barbata Lolium rigidum s.I. Trigonella sulcata Salvia verbenaca Rostraria cristata Micromeria microphylla Arisarum vulgare subsp. vulgare 123 4 5 6 7 8 9 10/11 12 13 14 10 5 15 6 20 6 22 10 8 14) 8 14 3 15 10 100 . 49 100 100 75 40 88 711100 53 100 6 60 60 79 66 75 66 49 90 38 . |62 27 100 20 20 53 83 70 66 32 30 100 14]75 40 100 . 40 86 83 85 49 49 . 12 14|75 47 100 6 100 66 50 100:262.+ 80 “12. 8 25.27 33452 80 72 . 40 100 41 40 62 14/62 53 100 100° = 108" 4255 °83; 59.100: 12 100 20 |100| 46 60 80 53 83 20 100 62 88 62 67 . 40 100 100 20 66 36 38 40 100 70 100 92 . 95 49 75 : 75. 73 i & 61366" 55 wT’ 36 12 50 47 . 40 40 66) 45. ..°32 12 S02. ) 33 . 40 49 36 25 50> 40- 33;' = BOP ast Ey y SSS. 27 88 33: 62 60 66 66 40 49 14 ; ; 39 . 60 100 49 32 38 62 . 60 60 . 70 18 > Lex TOs 10 66° S65" > 4. 62: 27! 66:"-. gems 50 Ty wes 12 47 19 60 40 49 18 AF. a, . 60 83° 23 . 33 46 SO. -. 66 32 47 : 80 79 = ie. m= 13 66 18 12 47 90 23 62 10... le 60) =. . 49 14 66 5,7 66 20 100 86 60 100 87 50 100 85|25 47 100 90 100 100 100 100 87 100 53 70% 26 Brachypodio ramosi-Dactyletalia hispanicae 50 80 75 49 41 33 10 40 49 27 30 80 60 20 . 20 2: = 33 49 18 ‘ 3o-255 9, JS 25:2 20 || €: 100 26 TOG? TOOC2Z3S 4. 5 25 19 80 47 83 30 12 ‘ 25 LF G27 25 6 10 49 14 38 1, a3) V4 ss 80 80 40 12 : 40 Alas 62 = 21. 12 ; 49 40. . 125) 6 49 32 25, «33 ; 33 14 9 33 15/16/17 18 1o/ 9/8 5 40 70 50 20 40 30 70:|*. 40 . | 10 70 70 20 80 50 100 12 100 40 100 100 88 100 38 100 70 60 50 12 100 Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 33 inland areas. More convincing is the choice of the alliance Plantagini-Catapodion and of the order Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi. On the other hand, some critical aspects linked to the heterogeneous coenological pattern of the Stipo-Bupleuretalia and their inclusion in Stipo-Trachynietea have already been reported by Di Pietro et al. (2021) and in the same EVC the displacement of the Stipo-Bupleuretalia in the class Saginetea maritimae is sug- gested. However, in our opinion, the possibility to include the order Stipo-Bupleuretalia and related alliances in the class Saginetea maritimae deserves to be discussed further. As a matter of fact, a proper high-rank syntaxon to accommodate the Mediterranean plant communities dominated by small perennial species in an overall floristic context mainly characterized by therophytes is still lacking. Excursion to Levanzo Island (26 April 2022): Levanzo, Baglio Florio, Cala Calcara, Contrada La Fossa, Pietre Varate. The island of Levanzo (5.6 k m’) is 12 km away from Trapani and about 4 km from Favignana. It has a morphological structure defined by faults separating two north- south trending limestone ridges, culminating respectively in the peaks named Pizzo del Monaco (278 ma.s.l.) and Pizzo del Corvo (201 ma.s.l.). Between these two peaks there is a wide depression known as La Fossa (69 m a.s.l.), once extensively cultivated. The coastline is not easily accessible, except on the north-western and south-eastern sides. Compared to the island of Marettimo, Levanzo is characterized by much drier overall environmental conditions. An intense agro-silvo-pastoral land use, performed until a few decades ago, has led to a general involution of the climactic series, partly altered by the introduction of allochthonous floristic elements. Lanp usE — The landscape, somewhat impoverished in its climactic vegetation, is largely dominated by open areas covered by low scrub, garrigue and grasslands, some- times punctuated by small patches of coniferous reforestation. SERIES AND MICROGEOSERIES — Secondary plant communities related to the Sicil- ian coastal, basiphilous, infra-thermo-Mediterranean dry series (Ruto chalepensis-Oleo sylvestris periploco angustifoliae sigmetosum) predominate. To these aspects, some mi- crosigmeta relating to the rocky coasts and cliffs can be added. ENDEMIC AND RARE SPECIES — The vascular flora of the island consists of 468 taxa (Romano et al. 2006). The endemic flora consists of 15 taxa, none of which is exclusive to the island, such as Euphorbia papillaris, Logfia lojaconoi, Limonium bocconei, Limonium lojaconoi, Limonium ponzoi, Romulea linaresii, Carlina sicula subsp. sicula, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. messeriae, Neotinea tridentata, Seseli bocconei, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola, [beris semperflorens, Matthiola incana subsp. rupestris, Ophrys apulica and Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula. Other species of phytogeographical interest include some taxa that are completely missing from Sicily (e.g., Periploca angustifolia and Aristolochia navicularis), as well as Crocus longiflorus, here at the westernmost limit of its distribution range. Other rare elements, occurring also in the neighbouring Trapani coast (e.g., Rham- nus lycioides subsp. oleoides, Hypericum pubescens), are present in the flora of Levanzo. 34 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Figure 8. a View of the north-eastern side of Marettimo Island, with Punta Troia in the background b vegetation with Oncostema ughii, a paleoendemic species exclusively found on Marettimo ¢ north-facing cliffs of Pizzo Falcone d residual stands of the pristine holm oak forest (Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis) on the slopes of Pizzo delle Fragole e the garrigue Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae, widespread throughout the island f Morea sisyrinchium characterizing the Catapodio pauciflorae-Moraeetum sisyrinchii ass. nova. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 35 Sampled plant communities From the village of Levanzo, near the post office, a path leads towards Cala Fredda across a synanthropic vegetation characterized by Agave sisalana (Fig. 10a), a remain- der of ancient plantations locally used for fibre production, that nowadays tends to be recolonised by the local maquis. Later the Baglio Florio is reached, that is a farmhouse built by the Florio family, overlooking the broad plain known as ‘La Fossa’, once cul- tivated with vineyards (Fig. 10b). From here an old path descends to the bay of Cala Calcara, crossing a wintergreen low maquis attributable to the Periploco-Euphorbietum dendroidis (Fig. 10c). This coenosis (of which two relevés are given below) is widespread throughout the island, and represents the climatophilous vegetation of the low and windy coasts of all the islands of the Channel of Sicily, including the Maltese Islands. Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis — Rel. 1, La Fossa, on lime- stone outcrops (37°59'27"N, 12°20'37"E): 63 m, 2°, S, 100%, 100 m?. Diagnostic species: Pistacia lentiscus 4, Periploca angustifolia 3, Euphorbia dendroides 1. Charac- teristics of alliance, order and class: Stachys major 2, Olea europaea vat. sylvestris 1, Rubia peregrina +, Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides +. Other species: Oloptum mili- aceum 1, Ferula communis +, Asphodelus ramosus +, Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta +, Galactites tomentosus +, Allium subhirsutum +. Lobularia maritima +. Rel. 2, behind Isola, on limestone outcrops: 170 m, 5°, NNW, 100%, 100 m7. Diagnostic species: Pistacia lentiscus 4, Periploca angustifolia 2, Euphorbia dendroides 3. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Phillyrea latifolia 1, Stachys major 3, Aspara- gus acutifolius 1, Rubia peregrina 1, Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides +, Melica minuta subsp. latifolia 2, Arisarum vulgare 1. Other species: Erica multiflora 2, Gladiolus byzan- tinus +, Allium subhirsutum +, Magydaris pastinacea +, Squilla pancration +, Brachypo- dium retusum 1, Asphodelus ramosus 1, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica +, Ammoides pusilla +, Jacobaea delphiniifolia +, Lotus edulis +, Crepis vesicaria +, Tapsia garganica +. Due to degradation processes, the maquis is usually replaced by a xero-thermo- philous grassland attributable to Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis, of which a relevé is reported below. Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis — Above Cala Calcara (37°59'46"N, 12°20'43"E): 58 m, 2°, S, 100%, 80 m?. Diagnostic species: Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta 5. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Brachypodium retusum 3, Squilla pancration 1, Convolvolus altheoides 1, Asphodelus ramosus 1, Ferula communis +, Man- dragora autumnalis +, Tapsia garganica +, Loncomelos narbonense +, Magydaris pasti- nacea +, Aristolochia navicularis +. Other species: Smyrnium olusatrum 2, Trachynia distachya \, Galactites tomentosus 1, Carlina sicula +, Fedia graciliflora +, Avena barbata +, Tripodion tetraphyllum +, Sonchus bulbosus +, Oxalis pes-caprae +, Urospermum da- lechampii +, Scorpiurus subvillosus +, Sonchus tenerrimus 1, Pistacia lentiscus 1, Linum strictum +, Allium commutatum t. In these xeric habitats, ephemeral meadows dominated by Stipellula capensis are quite frequent, mainly in stands with very superficial and eroded soils. A relevé of this vegetation, belonging to the class Stipo-Trachynetea distachyae, is given below. 36 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Stipelluletum s.|. — Above Cala Calcara (37°59'46"N, 12°20'42"E): 59 m, 2°, S, 95%, 80 m?. Diagnostic species: Stipellula capensis 5, Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Trachynia distachya 1, Trifolium stellatum +, Lotus edulis +, Hypochaeris achyrophorus +, Tripolium tetraphyllum +, Stachys romana +, Plantago lagopus +, Trifolum cherleri +, Linum strictum 1, Trifolium campestre r. Other species: Avena sterilis 1, Avena barbata 2, Hypar- rhenia hirta subsp. hirta 1, Plantago afra 1, Galactites tomentosus 1, Medicago polymorpha |, Carlina sicula subsp. sicula +, Crepis vesicaria +, Glebionis coronaria +, Erodium cicutarium +, Scorpiurus subvillosus 1, Nigella damascena 1, Linum usitatissimum subsp. angustifolium 1, Diplotaxis viminea 1, Lotus corniculatus 1, Convolvulus althaeoides 1, Sonchus tenerrimus t. After crossing Piana della Fossa, the path leads to the northern part of the island, with scenic views over Cala Tramontana and Capo Grosso. In the lower part of Pizzo Monaco, all along the western slope of the island, the Periploco-Euphorbietum dendroidis is well represented, sometimes mixed with small reforestations of Pinus halepensis and xerophil- ous grasslands. Along this itinerary (Fig. 2), a trail descends to the famous “Grotta del Genovese”, which was inhabited between 10,000 and 6,000 B.C. offering wonderfully preserved paintings and engravings dating back to the Upper Palaeolithic period. Back on the main trail, along the coastal stretch between Pietre Varate and the urban centre, it is possible to observe halophytic vegetation attributable to Limonietum bocconei (Fig. 9). Excursion along the coastline of Mount Cofano (27 April 2022) Mt. Cofano (659 m a.s.l.) is a coastal promontory with a rugged profile made up of carbonate rock, rising on the Trapani coastline, between the Cornino and Macari plains. The area falls within a Site of Community Interest and is also a Regional Nature Reserve. The area is geologically related to the Monte Sparacio-Monte Cofano and Monte Speziale-Monte Palatimone units, dating back to the Mesozoic, to which bio- clastic calcarenites and conglomerates with a prevalent arenitic matrix are marginally added. It represents one of the most interesting biotopes in the western sector of Sicily, characterised by the occurrence of many naturalistic-environmental attractions. The effects of an intense anthropic pressure and wildfires have determined a deep degrada- tion of the climactic series characterising this mountain. Lanp usE — The first archaeological evidence of human presence on Mt. Cofano dates back to the Upper Palaeolithic, between 14,000 and 12,000 years ago (Tusa 2001, Romano et al. 2021). Deforestation was probably an ongoing activity already in prehistoric times, leading to the current landscape physiognomy, dominated by sec- ondary plant communities. This is the case of the low maquis dominated by Chamae- rops humilis (locally known as ‘giummarra’) and the perennial dry grassland dominated by Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (locally known as “disa’), both of which are typical py- rophytes, among the best adapted to the fires that, nearly every year, burn the slopes of this mountain, especially in summer (Fig. 10d). Forest rarefaction has led to the disappearance of some of the woody species recorded in the past, as in the case of Quercus coccifera, reported from the area by Ponzo (1900) and no longer found. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano oF Figure 9. Levanzo Island: vegetation along the southern coast, near Cala Faraglione (37°59'12"N, 12°19'51"E; 12 ma.s.l.); in the background, Marettimo Island — 1 Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis; 2 Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis; 3 Stipelluletum s.l.; 4 Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum mes- serit; 5 Limonietum bocconei. 38 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) ee Py Figure 10. a Agave sisalana and Selenicereus undatus, two exotic species naturalized in the scrub near the village of Levanzo b view of the vegetation landscape on the island of Levanzo, between Contrada La Fossa and Pizzo Monaco ¢ Periploco-Euphorbietum dendroidis scrub, on the western slopes of Levanzo d Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis, along the southwestern slope of Mt. Cofano e Erica sicula, an interesting paleoendemite exclusive to the cliffs of Mt. Cofano f view of the south-facing slopes of Mt. Cofano, with Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis in the foreground. Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 39 SERIES AND MICROGEOSERIES — the series of the dwarf palm (Pistacio lentisci- Chamaeropo humilis sigmetum) develops along the coast of Mt. Cofano, in catenal contact with the halophytic vegetation of the alliance Crithmo-Limonion. Along the landward gradient, the series of the holm oak and European ash (Rhamno alaterni- Querco ilicis pistacieto terebinthi sigmetosum) settles on the talus slopes fringing the calcareous-dolomitic rocky faces, especially with northern orientation. The Quercus coccifera series (Chamaeropo humilis-Querco calliprini sigmetum) develops on calcar- enite substrates. On compact limestone substrates with southern exposure, the dry infra-thermo-Mediterranean basiphilous series of the wild olive tree (Ruto chalepensis- Oleo sylvestris euphorbio bivonae sigmetosum) develops. The series of the holm oak with lentisk (Pistacio lentisci-Querco ilicis sigmetum) is represented on compact limestone in the highest and coolest part of Mt. Cofano, within the meso-Mediterranean subhumid bioclimate. Particularly interesting are the microgeosigmeta of the rocky coasts and cliffs, rich in endemic species which represented a main interest of this excursion. ENDEMIC AND RARE SPECIES — The vascular flora of Mt. Cofano consists of 651 taxa (Gianguzzi et al. 2006; Brullo et al. 2016), with 48 endemic taxa, three of which are exclusive, i.e., Erica sicula subsp. sicula (Fig. 10e), Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. brulloi, and Limonium cophanense. Other very rare endemic taxa are Hieracium cophan- ense (recorded also from Mount Passo del Lupo, within the Zingaro Nature Reserve) and Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia (recorded also from Marettimo Island and along the north-western promontories of Sicily, up to Palermo). Among the north-western Sicil- ian endemics, the following were recorded: Brassica villosa subsp. drepanensis, Centaurea panormitana, C. tyrrhena, Limonium bocconei, L. ponzoi, Matthiola incana subsp. rup- estris, Klasea flavescens subsp. mucronata, etc. Several Sicilian endemics are also present, such as Ranunculus spicatus subsp. rupestris, Seseli bocconei, Convolvulus cneorum var, cneorum, Eryngium tricuspidatum, Odontites bocconei subsp. bocconei, Neotinea commu- tata, Ophrys lacaitae, O. lunulata, O. oxyrrhynchos, Senecio squalidus subsp. microglossus (= S. siculus All.). Other endemics ranging beyond the Sicilian territory include: Orchis brancifortii, Antirrhinum siculum, Bellevalia dubia, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola, D. siculus, Iberis semperflorens, etc. Finally, some species of remarkable phytogeographi- cal interest also occur in Mt. Cofano, such as Glandora rosmarinifolia, Lonas annua, Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides, Ranunculus baudotii, etc. Sampled plant communities The itinerary starts from Contrada Macari (Fig. 2), in the south-eastern part of the Na- ture Reserve, up to the cliffs near the Grotta del Crocifisso (38°06'43"N, 12°39'54"E), offering numerous points of historical and natural interest (Fig. 11). Along the rocky coast, the halophilous vegetation of Limonietum bocconei is widespread. Limonietum bocconei subass. typicum (After Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008: tab. 6, rels 1-6) — Diagnostic species: Limonium bocconei V, Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Crithmum maritimum V, Lotus cytisoides V, Pallenis maritima V, Silene sedoides V, Plantago macrorhiza IV, Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis IV, Senecio leucan- 40 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) themifolius \V, Reichardia picroides var. maritima \V, Frankenia hirsuta I, Arthrocaulon meridionale 1, Limonium ponzoi |. Other species: Desmazeria sicula IV, Silene vulgaris IV, Anthemis secundiramea U1, Parapholis incurva I, Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima III, Moraea sisyrinchium Ml, Hyoseris radiata 1, Capparis sicula Il, Sporobolus virginicus Il, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica 1, Thymelaea hirsuta 1, Brachypodium retusum |, Romulea columnae |, Petrosedum sediforme 1, Catapodium balearicum I, Stachys romana I, Chamaerops humilis 1, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola 1, Spergularia marina |, Medicago littoralis \. Another variant of the previous association is found on the imposing detrital conoids located on the northern slope of Mt. Cofano, characterized by the silvery cushions of Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. brulloi, a rupicolous species endemic to this coastal stretch. This vegetation is treated as subass. helichrysetosum brulloi of the Limonietum bocconei. It colonizes the partially eroded arid escarpments of the seaward slopes, markedly exposed to the influence of sea winds. Limonietum bocconei subass. helichrysetosum brulloi corr. (After Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008: tab. 6, rels 7-12) — Diagnostic species: Limonium bocconei V, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. Brulloi. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Crithmum maritimum V, Lotus cytisoides V, Pallenis maritima V, Plantago macrorhiza V, Daucus carota subsp. drepanensis V, Reichardia picroides var. maritima V, Frankenia hirsuta I. Other species: Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica V, Seseli bocconei V Silene vulgaris V, Thymelaea hirsuta \V, Hyoseris radiata \V, Anthemis secundiramea U1, Brachy- podium retusum II, Catapodium balearicum U1, Moraea sisyrinchium \, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus I, Cytisus infestus 1, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica I, Romulea colum- nae Ill, Asparagus acutifolius III, Petrosedum sediforme Il, Catapodium balearicum |, Stachys romana I, Arthrocaulon meridionale 11, Chamaerops humilis 1, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola |, Erica multiflora 1, Euphorbia segetalis \. The aforesaid vegetation represents the transitional aspect between the Limonietum bocconei typicum and the low maquis with Chamaerops humilis (Fig. 7), ascribed to the Pistacio-Chamaeropetum humilis (Fig. 10f). The latter occurs mainly on calcareous and calcarenite substrates near the coast. From these primary stands, it tends to climb along the steep talus slopes fringing the calcareous cliffs. Here it behaves as a pioneer vegetation, facilitated by the erosion of the superficial soil layers, as well as by frequent fires, that block competition with other woody species, allowing the dwarf palm to dominate the landscape. Several other thermophilous elements of the class Quercetea ilicis make up this coenosis, as shown in the synthetic relevé reported below. Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis (After Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008: tab. 10 rels. 1-10) — Diagnostic species: Chamaerops humilis V, Pistacia lentiscus V. Chat- acteristics of alliance, order and class: Asparagus albus V, Teucrium fruticans \V, Euphorbia dendroides IV, Stachys major IV, Osyris alba (I, Rhamnus alaternus U1, Olea europaea var. sylvestris 1, Daphne gnidium XI, Rubia peregrina Ul, Cytisus infestus V, Arisarum vulgare V, Smilax aspera V, Asparagus acutifolius I, Pistacia terebinthus \1, Phillyrea latifolia 1. Other species: Hyparrhenia hirta subsp. hirta V, Asphodelus ramosus V, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa YV, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica IV, Cachrys libanotis IV, Reichardia pic- Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 41 Figure I 1. Vegetation along the north-western coast of Mount Cofano, next to Torre S. Giovanni (38°06'35"N, 12°39'33"E; 39 m a.s.l.); in the background, Mount San Giuliano and Levanzo Island. 1 Limonietum bocconei. 2 Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis; 3 Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesme- tum mauritanici; 4 Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis subass. pistacietosum terebinthi; 5 Scabioso creticae- Centauretum ucriae subass. typicum and subass. ericetosum siculae; 6 Rhamno-Euphorbietum dendroides subass. euphorbietosum bivonae. 42 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) roides \V, Brachypodium retusum III, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus U1, Carlina gummifera Ill, Lotus citysoides WI, Convolvolus cantabrica Xl, Pallenis spinosa \, Thymelaea hirsuta Ill, Petrosedum sediforme Il, Squilla pancration Il, Bituminaria bituminosa II, Pallenis mar- itima Il, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. maura Il, Salvia verbenaca I1, Oloptum miliaceum Il, Anethum foeniculum U, Lobularia maritima \l, Ambrosinia bassii 1, Romulea columnae Il, Lotus tetragonolobus lI, Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. brulloi I, Carex flacca subsp. erythrostachys 1, Cynodon dactylon 1, Daucus carota subsp. hispanicus 1, Eryngium camp- estre |, Biscutella maritima I, Convolvolus altheoides 1, Rubus ulmifolius 1, Carlina sicula |, Moraea sisyrinchium |, Thapsia garganica \, Urospermum picroides 1, Kundmannia sicula |. The clastic slopes developing at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Cofano, especially near the rocky outcrops, in relatively cooler and shadier conditions, belong to the holm oak series with manna ash (Rhamno alaterni-Querco ilicis pistacietosum terebinthi sig- metum). Frequent fires have led to the almost total disappearance of the more evolved forest aspects of this series, leaving room for secondary aspects and, in particular, for the perennial grassland dominated by Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, here represented by the Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici. Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici (After Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008: tab. 20, rels. 1-8) — Diagnostic species: Ampelodesmos mauritani- cus V, Klasea flavescens subsp. mucronata II, Eryngium tricuspidatum subsp. bocconei Ill, Helictochloa cincinnata I, Delphinium emarginatum lI, Helminthotheca acu- leata I, Dianthus siculus I, Gelasia villosa subsp. columnae \, Pimpinella anisoides \. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Hyparrhenia hirta s.\. V, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica V; Asphodelus ramosus V, Andropogon distachyus \V, Convolvolus althe- oides \V, Bituminaria bituminosa \V, Kundmannia sicula ll. Reichardia picroides Il, Hyoseris radiata \1, Lathyrus clymenum I, Anethum piperitum, Micromeria graeca Il, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. maura U1, Lobularia maritima \1, Convolvolus cantabrica U, Verbascum sinuatum I, Phagnalon saxatile 1, Ferula communis \, Thapsia garganica I, Pallenis spinosa 1, Scolymus grandiflora |, Poterium sanguisorba subsp. balearicum I. Other species: Chamaerops humili subsp. humilis V, Carlina sicula V, Pistacia lentiscus IV, Stachys major \V, Brachypodium retusum \V, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa IV, Cytisus infestus U1, Asparagus albus Ill, Stachys romana III, Urospermum dalechampii Ill, Melica minuta U1, Macrobriza maxima lI, Linum trigynum U1, Erica multiflora Il, Carlina gummifera \1, Hypericum perfoliatum Il, Linum strictum I, Daucus carota I, Fumana thymifolia \\, Pistacia terebinthus ll, Teucrium fruticans 1, Asparagus acutifolius I, Squilla pancration |, Lotus cytisoides 1, Scorpiurus subvillosus 1, Hyoseris radiata |. The most structured seral stage occurring on the slopes near the cliffs must be re- ferred to a holm oak wood, in which two deciduous trees, Fraxinus ornus and Pistacia terebinthus, play an important physiognomic role, as differential species of the Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis pistacietosum terebinthi, a woodland nowadays represented by small residual patches. Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis subass. pistacietosum terebinthi (After Gian- guzzi and La Mantia 2008: tab. 13, rels. 1-7) — Diagnostic species: Quercus ilex V, Pista- cia terebinthus V, Fraxinus ornus V, Rhamnus alaternus V, Rhus coriaria 1. Characteristics Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 43 Table 5. Syntaxonomic scheme. CRITHMO-LIMONIETEA Br.-B1.1947 in Br.-Bl., Roussine et Négre 1952 CRITHMO-LIMONIETALIA Molinier 1934 CritTHMo-LIMonion Molinier 1934 Limonietum bocconei Barbagallo, Brullo et Guglielmo 1979 subass. typicum subass. helichrysetosum cophanense Gianguzzi et La Mantia 2008 Limonietum tenuiculi Brullo et Marcend 1983 PLANTAGINI- THYMELAEION HIRSUTAE Bartolo et Brullo in Bartolo et al. 1992 ANTHYLLIDION BARBAE-JOVIS Brullo et De Marco 1989 Senecioni bicoloris-Helichrysetum messerii Brullo et Marcend 1983 SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex A. Bolos y Vayreda et O. de Bolds in A. Bolds y Vayreda 1950 SARCOCORNIETALIA FRUTICOSAE Br.-Bl.1933 JUNCION MARITIMI Br.-Bl. ex Horvatic 1934 Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis Brullo in Brullo et al.1988 ASPLENIETEA TRICHOMANIS (Br.-Bl. in Meier et Br.-Bl. 1934) Oberd. 1977 ASPLENIETALIA GLANDULOSI Br.-Bl. in Meier et Br.-Bl. 1934 DIANTHION RUPICOL4E Brullo et Marcend 1979 Scabioso creticae-Centauretum ucriae Brullo et Marcend 1979 — subass. typicum Brullo et Marcend 1979 — subass. ericetosum siculae Brullo et Marcend 1979 Bupleuro dianthifolii-Scabiosetum limonifoliae Brullo et Marcend 1979 CYMBALARIO-PARIETARIETEA JUDAICAE Oberd. 1969 TORTULO-CYMBALARIETALIA Segal 1969 PARIETARION JUDAICAE Segal 1969 Athamanto siculae-Parietarietum judaicae Gianguzzi et Bazan 2020 PINETEA HALEPENSIS Bonari et Chytry in Bonari et al. 2021 (currently sub-judice by the European Vegetation Classification Committee) PINETALIA HALEPENSIS Biondi, Blasi, Galdenzi, Pesaresi et Vagge in Biondi et al. 2014 PIsTACIO LENTISCI-PINION HALEPENSIS Biondi, Blasi, Galdenzi, Pesaresi et Vagge in Biondi et al. 2014 Erico multiflorae-Pinetum halepensis (Brullo, Di Martino et Marcend 1977) Biondi et Pesaresi 2017 in Biondi et al. 2017(= Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis De Marco et Caneva 1985) QUERCETEA ILICIS Br.-Bl.1947 QUERCETALIA ILICIS Br.-Bl.1936 em. Rivas-Martinez 1975 FRAXINO ORNI-QUERCION ILICIs Biondi, Casavecchia et Gigante in Biondi et al. 2013 Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis Brullo et Marcend 1985 subass. pistacietosum terebinthi Gianguzzi, Ilardi et Raimondo 1996 Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis Brullo et Marcend 1985 subass. typicum subass. arbutetosum unedonis Gianguzzi et La Mantia 2008 Daphno sericeae-Quercetum ilicis Brullo et Marcend 1984 ASPARAGO ACUTIFOLI-LAURION NOBILIS Gianguzzi, P. Cuttonaro, Cusimano et Romano. 2016 Acantho mollis-Lauretum nobilis Gianguzzi, D’Amico et Romano 2010 PISTACIO LENTISCI-RHAMNETALIA ALATERNI Rivas-Martinez 1975 OLEO SYLVESTRIS-CERATONION SILIQUAE Br.-Bl. 1936 em. Rivas-Martinez 1975 Pistacio lentisci-Chamaeropetum humilis Brullo et Marcend 1985 Periploco angustifoliae-Euphorbietum dendroidis Brullo, Di Martino et Marcend 1977 Rhamno alaterni-Euphorbietum dendroidis Géhu et Biondi 1997 subass. rhamnetosum oleoidis (Brullo et Marcend 1985) Gianguzzi, Cutton, Cusim. et Romano 2016 subass. euphorbietosum bivonae (Gianguzzi, Ilardi et Raimondo 1996) Gianguzzi, Cutton., Cusim. et Romano 2016 Pyro amygdaliformis-Calicotometum infestae Gianguzzi et La Mantia 2008 Ruto chalepensis-Oleetum sylvestris Gianguzzi et Bazan 2020 subass. euphorbietosum bivonae Gianguzzi et Bazan 2020 44 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) subass. rhamnetosum oleoidis Gianguzzi et Bazan 2020 subass. periplocetosum angustifoliae Gianguzzi et Bazan 2020 CRATAEGO-PRUNETEA Tiixen 1962 PYRO-SPINOSAE-RUBETALIA ULMIFOLI Biondi, Blasi et Casavecchia in Blasi et al. 2014 PRUNO SPINOSAE.RUBION ULMIFOLII O.Bolos 1954 Clematido cirrhosae-Rubetum ulmifolii Gianguzzi et La Mantia 2008 ONONIDO-ROSMARINETEA Br.-Bl. in A. Bolos y Vayreda 1950 ROSMARINETALIA OFFICINALIS Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1934 POLIGALO PRESLII-ERICION MULTIFLORAE Guarino et Pasta 2017 Micromerio fruticulosae-Ericetum multiflorae Brullo et Marcend 1983 Brachypodio ramosi-Cistetum creticae Gianguzzi et La Mantia 2008 LYGEO SPARTI-STIPETEA TENACISSIMAE Rivas-Martinez 1978 CYMBOPOGONO-BRACHYPODIETALIA RAMOSI Horvati¢1963 PHLOMIDO LYCHNITIDIS-BRACHYPODION RETUsI Mateo ex Theurillat et Mucina 2016 Coronillo glaucae-Brachypodietum retusi C. et S. Brullo, Giusso et Tomaselli 2006 Helminthotheco aculeatae-Brachypodietum retusi C. et S. Brullo, Giusso et Tomaselli 2006 HYPARRHENIETALIA HIRTO-PUBESCENTIS Rivas-Martinez 1978 SATUREJO-HyPARRHENION HIRTAE O. de Bolds 1961 Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis s.1. A.et O. de Bolods et Br.-Bl. 1950 AVENULO-AMPELODESMION MAURITANICI Minissale 1995 Helictotricho convoluti-Ampelodesmetum mauritanici Minissale 1995 ONOPORDETEA ACANTHII Br.-Bl. 1964 CARTHAMETALIA LANATI Brullo in Brullo et Marcend 1985 ONOPORDION ILLyRIcI Oberd. 1954 Carlino siculae-Feruletum communis Gianguzzi, Ilardi et Raimondo 1996 GALIO-URTICETEA Passarge ex Kopecky 1969 GALIO APARINES-ALLIARIETALIA PETIOLATAE Gérs et Miiller 1969 GaLio-ALLIARION PETIOLATAE Oberdorfer et Lohmeyer in Oberd., Gérs, Korneck, Lohm., Miiller, Philippi et Seibert 1967 SMYRNIENION OLUSATRI Rivas Goday ex Rivas-Martinez, Fernandez-Gonzalez et Loidi 1999 Acantho-Smyrnietum olusatri Brullo et Marcend 1985 STIPO-TRACHYNIETEA DISTACHYAE Brullo in Brullo, Scelsi et Spampinato 1998 TRACHYNETALIA DISTACHYAE Rivas-Martinez 1978 ‘TRACHYNION DISTACHYAE Rivas-Martinez 1978 Brullo in Brullo et al. 2020 Thero-Sedetum caerulei Brullo 1975 STIPION RETORTAE O. DE Boos 1957 Ononido breviflorae-Stipetum capensis Brullo, Guarino et Ronsisvalle 1998 STIPO-BUPLEURETALIA SEMICOMPOSITI Brullo in Brullo, Scelsi et Spampinato 2001 PLANTAGINI-CATAPODION BALEARICI Brullo 1985 corr. Guarino et Pignatti 2019 Anthemido intermediae-Desmazerietum siculae Brullo 1985 Catapodio pauciflorae-Moraeetum sisyrinchii ass. nova hoc loco of alliance, order and class: Cyclamen hederifolium V, Allium subhirsutum V, Asparagus acutifolius V, Smilax aspera IV, Rubia peregrina \V, Clematis cirrhosa IV, Rosa sempervirens IV, Euphorbia characias lI, Asplenium onopteris \1, Ruta chalepensis 1, Daphne gnidium I, Teucrium flavum V, Euphorbia dendroides I, Stachys major I, Osyris alba Il, Arisarum vul- gare \V, Carex distachya I1, Ruscus aculeatus \, Phillyrea latifolia 11, Hedera helix V. Other species: Acanthus mollis V, Rubus ulmifolius \V, Arum italicum \V, Polypodium cambri- cum IV, Anthriscus nemorosa \V, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus I, Geranium lucidum Xl, Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 45 Helminthotheca aculeata \\1, Oxalis pes-caprae 1, Brachypodium retusum Il, Centranthus ruber Il, Clinopodium nepeta 11, Athamanta sicula \1, Lathyrus oleraceus subsp. biflorus I, Dryopteris villarii subsp. pallida 1, Galium aparine\, Umbilicus horizontalis |, Theligonum cynocrambe I, Crataegus monogyna I. Carex divisa 1, Anemone hortensis 1, Convolvulus sil- vaticus 1, Hypericum perfoliatum 1, Geranium purpureum \. Thapsia asclepium |. The rupestrian habitat is particularly well represented in the Mt. Cofano area, especially along the northern slopes, where the calcareous cliffs are more than 300 m high. On these cliffs, chasmophytic vegetation of the Scabioso-Centauretum ucriae subass. typicum and subass. ericetosum siculae, as well as comophilous, therophytic and bryophytic communities occur. Scabioso creticae Centauretum ucriae (After Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008: tab. 7, rels. 1-10) — Diagnostic species subass. typicum: Centaurea panormitana V, Bras- sica villosa subsp. bivoniana V, Matthiola incana subsp. rupestris V, Convolvulus cneorum Il, Brassica villosa subsp. drepanensis 1. Diagnostic species subass. ericetosum siculae: Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. brulloi V, Erica sicula 1, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia Il, Hieracium cophanense I, Phagnalon rupestre I. Characteristics of alliance, order and class: Silene fruticosa V, Seseli bocconei V, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola V, Iberis semperflorens IV, Hexaphylla rupestris \V, Euphorbia bivonae \, Glandora rosmarinifolia Il, Pimpinella anisoides 1, Antirrhinum siculum I, Odontites bocconei subsp. bocconei I, Lomelosia cretica \V, Polypodium cambricum I, Melica minuta U1, Asplenium ceterach Il, Athamanta sicula I, Hypochoeris laevigata I, Sedum dasyphyllum \. Pseudodictam- nus hispanicus II, Capparis orientalis U1, Umbilicus horizontalis \1, Parietaria lusitanica I, Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens 1, Ranunculus spicatus subsp. rupestris I, Teucrium flavum \. Other species: Euphorbia dendroides U1, Stachys major 1, Ruta cha- lepensis 1, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus 1, Chamaerops humilis 1, Asparagus albus U, Ephedra sp. 1, Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa V, Galium lucidum IV, Coronilla val- entina subsp. glauca II], Brachypodium retusum I, Hyoseris radiata U1, Erica multiflora II, Lotus cytisoides \1, Lobularia maritima U1, Petrosedum sediforme I, Centranthus ruber I, Malva arborea 1, Oloptum miliaceum \, Phagnaton rupestre I. Floristic remarks The research led to the identification of 423 taxa of vascular plants, of which 100 in Mt. San Giuliano (including 53 taxa documented by herbarium specimens: Suppl. material 1), 201 in Marettimo Island (including 93 taxa documented by herbarium specimens: Suppl. material 2), 137 in Levanzo Island (including 79 taxa documented by herbarium specimens; Suppl. material 3), and 220 in Mt. Cofano (including 77 taxa documented by herbarium specimens, Suppl. material 4). In all the aforementioned study areas, the Asteraceae was the most represented family with 12, 27, 26 and 32 taxa, respectively. With regards to Marettimo, four taxa were found to be new floristic records: Ervum pubescens, Fumana laevis, Kalanchoé xhoughtonii, Lysimachia loeflingii and Medicago lit- toralis. In particular, L. loeflingii, a species recently described and known in Italy only for 46 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Sardinia Jiménez-Lépez et al. 2022), is recorded for the first time in Sicily. Our discovery of M. littoralis is a confirmation for the flora of the island as it was formerly reported by Francini and Messeri (1956), but not subsequently confirmed (Gianguzzi et al. 2006). A potential threat to the native flora of the island is the finding of K. xhoughtonii, an artificial hybrid created in the 1930s in the USA by experimental crossings between K. daigremontiana Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier and K. delagoénsis Eckl. & Zeyh., considered one of the most rapidly expanding invasive plants in recent times (Herrando-Moraira et al. 2020). For example, in Italy it was recently indicated as invasive in Calabria (Stinca et al. 2022). Moreover, further four taxa were found by us for the first time in Levanzo (i.e., Avena sterilis subsp. sterilis, Blackstonia perfoliata subsp. intermedia, Catapodium rigidum subsp. majus, Hyparrhenia sinaica, Oxalis corniculata, Phagnalon rupestre subsp. rupestre and Scorpiurus subvillosus) and three new taxa in Mt. Cofano (i.e., Blackstonia grandiflora, Carex divulsa and Galium lucidum subsp. venustum). Among these taxa, very interesting is the discovery of H. sinaica, a SW-Steno-Mediterranean species very similar to H. hirta subsp. hirta from which it is distinguished by a few characters concerning the peduncles and the bracts of the inflorescences (Pignatti et al. 2017-2019). In agreement with the results achieved by other Working Groups of the Italian Botanical Society in southern Italy (e.g., Rosati et al. 2017, Stinca et al. 2019), data obtained during this study, confirmed the important role of a collaborative approach among botanists, especially among specialists in vascular flora and vegetation, aimed at the analysis of the plant diversity of the Italian territory. Acknowledgements We sincerely thank Federico Fernandez-Gonzalez for providing information concern- ing the distribution of Morea sisyrinchium communities in the Iberian Peninsula and Enrico Banfi for reviewing some Poaceae specimens stored in the Herbarium Austroi- talicum. 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The Open Database License (ODDbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited. Link: https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist. 16.103989.suppl1 Supplementary material 2 List of collected specimens (*) from Marettimo Island and/or taxa quoted in the text Authors: Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Riccardo Guarino, Giuseppe Bazan, Romeo Di Pietro, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Enrico Bajona, Peter Bolliger, Costantino Bonomi, Adriano Camuffo, Carlo Console, Simonetta Fascetti, Paola Fortini, Annarita Frattaroli, Giacomo Mei, Fabio Mondello, Silvia Olivari, Masin Rizzieri, Leonardo Rosati, Simona Sarmati, Leonardo Scuderi, Marco Simonazzi, Giovanni Spampinato, Lucia Viegi, Adriano Stinca Data type: table (.pdf file) Copyright notice: This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODDbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited. Link: https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist. 16.103989.suppl2 56 Lorenzo Gianguzzi et al. / Italian Botanist 16: 1-57 (2023) Supplementary material 3 List of collected specimens (*) from Levanzo Insland and/or taxa quoted in the text Authors: Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Riccardo Guarino, Giuseppe Bazan, Romeo Di Pietro, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Enrico Bajona, Peter Bolliger, Costantino Bonomi, Adriano Camuffo, Carlo Console, Simonetta Fascetti, Paola Fortini, Annarita Frattaroli, Giacomo Mei, Fabio Mondello, Silvia Olivari, Masin Rizzieri, Leonardo Rosati, Simona Sarmati, Leonardo Scuderi, Marco Simonazzi, Giovanni Spampinato, Lucia Viegi, Adriano Stinca Data type: table (.pdf file) Copyright notice: This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODDbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited. Link: https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.16.103989.suppl3 Supplementary material 4 List of collected specimens (*) from Mt. Cofano and/or taxa quoted in the text Authors: Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Riccardo Guarino, Giuseppe Bazan, Romeo Di Pietro, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Enrico Bajona, Peter Bolliger, Costantino Bonomi, Adriano Camuffo, Carlo Console, Simonetta Fascetti, Paola Fortini, Annarita Frattaroli, Giacomo Mei, Fabio Mondello, Silvia Olivari, Masin Rizzieri, Leonardo Rosati, Simona Sarmati, Leonardo Scuderi, Marco Simonazzi, Giovanni Spampinato, Lucia Viegi, Adriano Stinca Data type: table (.pdf file) Copyright notice: This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODDbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited. Link: https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist. 16.103989.suppl4 Excursion to Egadi Islands, Mt. San Giuliano and Mt. Cofano 57 Supplementary material 5 Taxa with authors' names listed in Table 4 Authors: Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Riccardo Guarino, Giuseppe Bazan, Romeo Di Pietro, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Enrico Bajona, Peter Bolliger, Costantino Bonomi, Adriano Camuffo, Carlo Console, Simonetta Fascetti, Paola Fortini, Annarita Frattaroli, Giacomo Mei, Fabio Mondello, Silvia Olivari, Masin Rizzieri, Leonardo Rosati, Simona Sarmati, Leonardo Scuderi, Marco Simonazzi, Giovanni Spampinato, Lucia Viegi, Adriano Stinca Data type: table (.docx file) Copyright notice: This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODDbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited. Link: https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist. 16.103989.suppl5