Checklist of gypsophilous vascular flora in Italy

By

Musarella, Carmelo Maria
Mendoza-Fernández, Antonio Jesús
Mota, Juan
Alessandrini, Alessandro
Bacchetta, Gianluigi
Brullo, Salvatore
Caldarella, Orazio
Ciaschetti, Giampiero
Conti, Fabio
Di Martino, Luciano
Falci, Amedeo
Gianguzzi, Lorenzo
Guarino, Riccardo
Manzi, Aurelio
Minissale, Pietro
Montanari, Sergio
Pasta, Salvatore
Peruzzi, Lorenzo
Podda, Lina
Sciandrello, Saverio
Scuderi, Leonardo
Troia, Angelo
Spampinato, Giovanni

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

103

Pages

61-82

Subjects

Edaphism , Gypsophyte , Habitats Directive , Plant preservation

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.103.25690

 

Abstract

Our understanding of the richness and uniqueness of the flora growing on gypsum substrates in Italy has grown significantly since the 19th century and, even today, new plant species are still being discovered. However, the plants and plant communities, growing on gypsum substrates in Italy, are still a relatively unknown subject.<br> The main aim of this paper was to elaborate a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous flora, to increase knowledge about this peculiar flora and for which conservation efforts need to be addressed.<br> Through a structured group communication process of experts (application of the Delphi technique), a remarkable number of experienced Italian botanists have joined together to select focal plant species linked to gypsum substrates. From the results obtained, 31 plant species behave as absolute or preferent taxa (gypsophytes and gypsoclines) and form the ‘core’ Italian gypsophilous flora. The most abundant life forms were chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes, belonging to Poaceae and Brassicaceae; as for chorotypes, the most represented are Mediterranean and narrow endemics. By improving on previously available information about the flora with a clear preference for gypsum in Italy, this undertaking represents an important contribution to the knowledge of a habitat which is today considered a priority for conservation.