An updated checklist of the vascular flora native to Italy

An updated inventory of the native vascular flora of Italy, providing details on the occurrence at regional level, is presented. The checklist includes 8195 taxa (6417 species and 1778 subspecies), distributed in 1092 genera and 152 families; 23 taxa are lycophytes, 108 ferns and fern allies, 30 gymnosperms and 8034 angiosperms. The taxa currently occurring in Italy are 7483, while 568 taxa have not been confirmed in recent times, 99 are doubtfully occurring in the country and 19 are data deficient. Out of the 568 not confirmed taxa, 26 are considered extinct or possibly extinct.     

The non-native vascular flora of Campania (southern Italy)

We discuss several aspects of the alien flora of Campania (southern Italy), on the basis of an updated and annotated checklist. The non-native flora includes at present 346 taxa in 231 genera, representing 82 families. However, other 55 taxa were not found later than 1950. Trends in alien plants invasion throughout the investigated area are discussed. Results are therefore compared with similar data from other Italian regions and other European countries. In the Appendix, taxa are listed with essential synonymy, local and general distribution, status, biological form, habitat, diffusion mechanisms, potential threats, literature data, voucher specimens, and miscellaneous ethnobotanical, chronological and taxonomical notes. In addition, 49 escaped taxa are known only for Botanical and private gardens, while 66 taxa are regarded as doubtful aliens. By including also these two categories, the non-native flora of Campania reaches 516 taxa. In addition, numerous doubtful and erroneous indications were discussed. Finally, a reference list for the exotic regional flora from 1500 C.E. to present is proposed.     

Alien flora in Calabria (Southern Italy): an updated checklist

Biological Invasions - An updated checklist of the Calabrian alien vascular flora is presented. By way of field, bibliographic, and herbarium research, we recorded 382 alien taxa (representing...     

Alien vascular plants in Iceland: Diversity,spatial patterns,temporal trends,and the impact of climate change

The present study provides first comprehensive and up-to-date results on alien plant taxa in Iceland since 1967. We evidenced the presence of 336 alien vascular plant taxa, including 277 casuals and 59 naturalised taxa, two being invasive. The distribution of the alien flora exhibits a clear spatial pattern showing hotspots of occurrence and diversity within areas of major settlement centres. Altitude above sea level and temperature-related variables proved to be the most important factors shaping alien plant distribution in Iceland. Predictive modelling evidenced that arctic areas of Iceland and the Central Highlands are under serious risk of alien plant invasion due to climate change. The results provide crucial information for alien and invasive plant management and contribute data for meta-analyses of invasion processes worldwide.     

The alien flora of Kashmir Himalaya

Compilation of alien flora from phytogeographically distinct regions is of immediate relevance not only for better understanding the patterns of plant invasion but also for explicating the processes promoting invasion at local, regional or global scales. Despite being at higher risk of invasion by plants because of its European colonial past, south Asia has received very little attention in respect of characterization of its alien flora. This paucity of baseline data necessitated compilation of the first catalogue of alien flora from the Kashmir Himalaya—a phytogeographically distinct south Asian region nestled in the northwestern folds of Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Total alien flora of the region is represented by 571 plant species, belonging to 352 genera and 104 families. It constitutes a relatively higher (29%) proportion of the total flora of the region. Families with largest number of alien representatives are Poaceae (60 species), Asteraceae (54 species), and Brassicaceae (30 species). However, families such as Amaranthaceae (83%) and Chenopodiacae (71%) show higher percentage of aliens relative to their total number of plant species in the region. Most of the alien plant species (38%) trace their origin to Europe, followed by Asia (27%) and Africa (15%). Present study also reports, for the first time, occurrence of seven plant species in this region. Each alien plant species is provided with information on the origin, habit, mode/purpose of introduction, current invasion status, altitudinal range and the primary published source.     

Towards integrated conservation of Australian endangered plants—the Western Australian model

Four percent of the Australian flora is rare and endangered with over 100 taxa presumed extinct. Western Australia contains a large proportion of the endangered flora of Australia with 238 taxa in a critical state of conservation and 70 species presumed extinct. Kings Park and Botanic Garden in south-west Australia is responsible for developing specialized collections of rare and endangered indigenous flora. Macro-and micropropagation procedures are used including conventional cutting and seed propagation, grafting and in thein vitro programme whole seeds (asymbiotic and symbiotic germination), excised seed embryos, shoot apices and inflorescence sections. Wherever possible explants are collected from major provenances of the species and a wide cross section of a species population. Although many of the rare flora of Western Australia are now in theex situ collection maintained by Kings Park and Botanic Garden attempts are being made to develop slow growth storage forin vitro cultures and cryostorage. Trial recovery programmes have commenced with a number of species including the rare and endangered Purdie's donkey orchid (Diuris purdiei). Results of these recovery programmes will guide future efforts in conserving and recovering rare Australian species.     

An updated plant checklist for Tankwa Karoo National Park,South Africa

An updated checklist is provided for the flora of Tankwa Karoo National Park, which occupies an area of 143,600 ha. A total of 730 species and 780 plant taxa (species, subspecies and varieties), representing 267 genera in 73 families, are recorded for the park. This comprises 30 bryophytes, 7 pteridophytes, 189 monocotyledons and 554 dicotyledons. Sixteen species are endemic or near-endemic to the Hantam-Tanqua-Roggeveld subregion. Twenty-eight species are of conservation concern and six species have been declared as alien invasives.     

Transit towards floristic homogenization on oceanic islands in the south-eastern Pacific: comparing pre-European and current floras

Aim  To quantify the occurrence of processes of homogenization or differentiation in the vascular flora of six oceanic islands.
Location  Six islands in the south-eastern Pacific drawn from the Desventuradas Archipelago, Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Archipelago.
Methods  Using published floristic studies, we determined the floristic composition of each island at two different stages: (1) pre-European colonization and (2) current flora. We compared changes in the number of shared plants and the floristic similarity among islands for each stage.
Results  The number of plant species doubled from 263 in pre-European flora to 531 species currently. Only three native species became extinct, four natives were translocated among the islands and 271 plant species were introduced from outside. The frequency of plant species shared by two or more islands is higher in the post-European floras than prior to European contact, and the level of floristic similarity between islands increased slightly.
Main conclusions  Considering the low naturalization rate of alien plants, the small number of extinctions and the meagre increase in floristic similarity, these islands are undergoing a slow process of floristic homogenization.     

A maximum likelihood approach to generate hypotheses on the evolution and historical biogeography in the Lower Volga Valley regions (southwest Russia)

The evolution of the diverse flora in the Lower Volga Valley (LVV) (southwest Russia) is complex due to the composite geomorphology and tectonic history of the Caspian Sea and adjacent areas. In the absence of phylogenetic studies and temporal information, we implemented a maximum likelihood (ML) approach and stochastic character mapping reconstruction aiming at recovering historical signals from species occurrence data. A taxon-area matrix of 13 floristic areas and 1018 extant species was constructed and analyzed with RAxML and Mesquite. Additionally, we simulated scenarios with numbers of hypothetical extinct taxa from an unknown palaeoflora that occupied the areas before the dramatic transgression and regression events that have occurred from the Pleistocene to the present day. The flora occurring strictly along the river valley and delta appear to be younger than that of adjacent steppes and desert-like regions, regardless of the chronology of transgression and regression events that led to the geomorphological formation of the LVV. This result is also supported when hypothetical extinct taxa are included in the analyses. The history of each species was inferred by using a stochastic character mapping reconstruction method as implemented in Mesquite. Individual histories appear to be independent from one another and have been shaped by repeated dispersal and extinction events. These reconstructions provide testable hypotheses for more in-depth investigations of their population structure and dynamics.     

Alien species as a driver of recent extinctions

We assessed the prevalence of alien species as a driver of recent extinctions in five major taxa (plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals), using data from the IUCN Red List. Our results show that alien species are the second most common threat associated with species that have gone completely extinct from these taxa since AD 1500. Aliens are the most common threat associated with extinctions in three of the five taxa analysed, and for vertebrate extinctions overall.     

Hieracium umbrosum subsp. abietinum (Asteraceae), a further example of amphi-Adriatic disjunction

So far considered as endemic to Greece, Hieracium umbrosum subsp. abietinum is reported as new for the Italian flora. Its presence has been noted on the Pollino National Park (S Italy). Morphological, ecological and taxonomical notes are given. This discovery increases the list of taxa showing an amphi-Adriatic distribution.     

Do climatically similar regions contain similar alien floras? A comparison between the mediterranean areas of central Chile and California

Aim Taxonomic comparisons of alien floras across climatically similar regions have been proposed as a powerful approach for increasing our understanding of plant invasions across scales. However, detailed comparisons between the alien biotas of climatically similar regions are scarce. This study aims to compare the taxonomic patterns of alien species richness in mediterranean‐type climate areas of central Chile and California, in order to better understand how climatically similar regions converge or diverge in terms of their alien flora. Location Central Chile and California, United States. Methods We compared the alien floras of the state of California in the United States and central Chile, considering within‐region variation and taxonomic composition up to the species level. To test for within‐region variation, administrative units and counties were grouped within seven latitudinal bands for each region. We tested for differences in the relative contributions of the various origins of the naturalized species to each region. We used a family naturalization index to establish which families had relatively higher numbers of naturalized species in each region. We evaluated the similarity, using cluster analyses with Jaccard’s similarity index, of alien taxa between regions and latitudinal bands using presence–absence matrices at the species, genus and family levels. We used principal components analysis to determine the presence of a compositional gradient including all latitudinal bands. Results We recorded 1212 alien plant species in California and 593 in central Chile, of which 491 are shared between the two regions. These figures include 25 species that are native to California and 37 that are native to Chile. A comparison between the alien floras of central Chile and California reveals three major trends: (1) higher naturalized species diversity for California than for Chile, at all taxonomic levels; (2) differences in the proportion of species according to origin, with America, Africa, Asia and Australia providing a larger number of species in California than in Chile; (3) segregation between regions in terms of taxonomic composition of their alien flora, and a rather weak differentiation within regions; and (4) a trend towards higher similarity between the alien floras of latitudinal bands associated with higher levels of human disturbances. Main conclusions The alien floras of central Chile and California are significantly different, but this difference diminishes in highly disturbed areas. Thus, the current high levels of species movement caused by globalization, together with increasing levels of anthropogenic disturbances, should reduce the differentiation of the alien floras in these regions, increasing overall biotic homogenization.     

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

This study is aimed at (1) producing a complete and updated inventory of the endemic vascular flora of Peloritani Mountains, (2) defining the geographical limits of Peloritani, regarded here as a biogeographical district and (3) highlighting possible paleogeographic connections with other Mediterranean lands. The heterogeneity analysis of the endemic flora was performed by means of contingency tables, through the χ² test. The endemic flora of this area consists of 129 specific and infraspecific taxa, of which 15 are restricted to the Peloritani Mountains. The analysis of habitats revealed that endemic taxa are most abundant on cliffs, rangelands, woods and garrigues. A large number of surveyed taxa are endemic to central-southern Italy and Sicily, while the number of endemic taxa in common with Calabria, Etna and Aeolian Islands turned out to be rather low, in spite of the geographical proximity. The endemic flora of Peloritani allows to emphasize palaeogeographical relationships not only with the neighbouring Mediterranean territories, but also with currently remote ones, such as southern Spain, Sardinia and Corsica. The phytogeographical framework substantiates the hypothesis that the Peloritani floristic district coincides with the limit given to Peloritani Mountains by structural geologists.     

Alien flora of the Korean Peninsula

The Korean Peninsula has been divided into the countries of North and South Korea since 1948. This adoption of different political and socio-economic regimes has significantly changed economic activity and international exchange by those nations, thus affecting the introduction of alien plants. Our study objective was to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date inventory of the alien flora on the Korean Peninsula and to analyse how the partitioning between North and South Korea has influenced the numbers and status of those alien plants. We identified pre-1876 aliens that were brought to the Korean Peninsula before 1876, when Korea opened up to foreign countries, and also determined the post-1876 aliens that were introduced after 1876. Plants in the latter group were further classified into those that arrived before the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 (1876–1950 aliens) and those introduced since then (post-1950 aliens). We investigated the regions of origin, family compositions, and invasion status of those alien taxa. In total, 504 alien taxa were identified, with 102 taxa being pre-1876 and 117 being 1876–1950 aliens. After the Korean War, the number of alien plants in South Korea more than doubled (276 taxa), whereas the number reported for North Korea was considerably lower (33 taxa). This might be due to enhanced economic activity and a larger human population in South Korea. Climatic differences as well as variations in the recording intensity for alien flora between North and South Korea may also have contributed to the large contrast in numbers of new alien species recorded during the last decades. Coordinated measures between the two nations are necessary if the spread of invasive alien plants onto the Korean Peninsula is to be reduced.     

Alien molluscan species established along the Italian shores: an update,with discussions on some?Mediterranean “alien species” categories

The state of knowledge of the alien marine Mollusca in Italy is reviewed and updated. Littorina saxatilis (Olivi, 1792), Polycera hedgpethi Er. Marcus, 1964 and Haminoea japonica Pilsbry, 1895are here considered as established on the basis of published and unpublished data, and recent records of the latter considerably expand its known Mediterranean range to the Tyrrhenian Sea. COI sequences obtained indicate that a comprehensive survey of additional European localities is needed to elucidate the dispersal pathways of Haminoea japonica.Recent records and interpretation of several molluscan taxa as alien are discussed both in light of new Mediterranean (published and unpublished) records and of four categories previously excluded from alien species lists. Within this framework, ten taxa are no longer considered as alien species, or their records from Italy are refuted. Furthermore, Trochocochlea castriotae Bellini, 1903 is considered a new synonym for Gibbula albida (Gmelin, 1791). Data provided here leave unchanged as 35 the number of alien molluscan taxa recorded from Italy as well as the percentage of the most plausible vectors of introduction, but raise to 22 the number of established species along the Italian shores during the 2005–2010 period, and backdate to 1792 the first introduction of an alien molluscan species (Littorina saxatilis) to the Italian shores.     

黄土高原地区种子植物区系特征

黄土高原在中国植物区系分区上属于泛北极植物区,中国-日本森林植物亚区的华北地区黄土高原植物亚地区,是东西、南北旱生、中生和水生植物交汇和聚集区域。计有种子植物147科864属3224种,其中裸子植物7科13属41种,被子植物140科851属3183种,具有中国特有属32个,黄土高原地区特有属4个,特有种164个。黄土高原地区种子植物区系的基本特征为:植物种类相对丰富,在全国植物区系上占有重要地位;植物区系起源古老,原始类群丰富;地理成分复杂多样,以温带成分占优势;与周边地区区系的联系广泛,是多种成分汇集和过渡的地区;特有性程度相对低,稀有濒危植物丰富。     

Diversity,geographic variation and conservationof the serpentine flora of Tuscany (Italy)

The specialised flora of serpentine outcrops in Tuscany (Italy) is analysed in terms of species richness and geographic variation, in order to identify main centres of diversity and provide a basis for conservation programmes. Five edaphic groups are distinguished, among which obligate endemics, serpentine-preferential taxa, facultative basiphilous and facultative calcifuge serpentinophytes. Relatively low diversity (87 taxa) and high taxonomic distinctiveness (28.7% of endemics plus preferentials) underscore the insular condition of the ophiolitic outcrops. Hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes are the dominat life-forms, in line with the mainly continental character revealed by the phytogeographical analysis. Presence/absence of the taxa in 10 serpentine island systems was assessed using literature and original field data. Number of species and surface of the areas are significantly correlated. Cluster analysis identifies five groups of areas, while ordination indicates the species which are more effective in determining the floristic differences among the areas. Cecina valley, Monte Ferrato, Murlo hills and upper Tiber valley are the main centres of endemism and taxonomic diversity. However, the positive relationship between floristic and geographic distances and the remarkable proportion of species with frequency < 50% highlights a considerable among-area variation. To ‘catch’ such variation, a network of distant protected sites appears more effective than to search for single areas with high diversity. At least one site in each of the five clusters should be included in a ‘Important Plant Area’ network which would ensure the conservation of such a peculiar component of the Italian vascular flora.     

Patterns of endangerment in the hawaiian flora

The Hawaiian flora, because of its great isolation, high levels of endemism, known lineages, and high rates of endangerment, offers unique opportunities to explore patterns of endangerment related to phylogeny, ecological and life history traits, and geographic patterns. Nine percent of the native flora of 1159 taxa are already extinct, and 52.5% are at risk (extinct, endangered, vulnerable, or rare). Risk is strongly associated with limited geographic distribution at several scales: endemic taxa (native only to the Hawaiian Islands) are at far greater risk than indigenous taxa (with both Hawaiian and extra-Hawaiian ranges); single-island endemics are more at risk than multi-island endemics; small islands have the highest proportion of endemic taxa at risk; and endemics with more limited habitat distributions (elevation, community type) are more at risk. Historic population density is a strong predictor of risk, and taxa with low historic population densities are at greatest risk with rapid anthropogenic changes. Among the major islands, Maui Nui has the highest percent of taxa that are extinct. Kaua'i has the lowest percent of extinct taxa and the highest proportion of single-island endemic taxa that are rare. Endemic taxa at risk are associated with distributions in shrublands, forests, bogs, and cliff habitats. Endemic taxa with distributions in low elevation dry habitats have the highest proportion of taxa at risk, but the greatest absolute numbers of taxa at risk have distributions in mesic lowland and montane forests, and in wet montane forests. The life history patterns associated with risk are complicated, and inclusion of the effects of evolutionary relationships (lineages) changes some of these patterns. Species level analyses without respect to lineage shows risk associated with monomorphic (hermaphroditic) breeding systems and bird pollination because of the large number of hermaphroditic, bird-pollinated species in the Campanulaceae. Analyses incorporating the effect of lineage greatly reduce the impact of large lineages and result in an association of risk with insect pollination, and no effect of breeding system. There is no association of lineage size and the percent of taxa at risk within the lineage; endemic taxa from lineages with large radiations are at no greater risk than endemic single-taxon lineages. The percentages of taxa at risk at the family level in the Hawaiian Islands and worldwide (excluding Hawaiian taxa) are positively correlated, although flowering plant families in the Hawaiian Islands have a much greater proportion of taxa at risk. Some of the approaches described here may be useful to predict geographical and biological patterns of endangerment in island and island-like ecosystems under increasing pressures of endangerment and extinction.     

Survival rates in the Czech Republic of introduced plants known as wool aliens

The paper analyses an unintentional experiment conducted 40 years ago with species termed wool aliens which were observed in employee garden allotments of a wool-processing factory in Brno, Czech Republic. The waste from processing was used as a garden fertilizer, and alien species were recorded by Dvořák and Kühn (1966) Zavlečené rostliny na pozemcích přádelny vlny ‘Mosilana’ n.p. v Brně. Preslia 38: 327–332. The survival of these species was assessed by their occurrence in the current alien flora of the Czech Republic. Of the 56 species introduced in the 1960s and classified as wool aliens, 18 are still present in the Czech alien flora. The remaining 38 species are considered extinct, i.e. alien plants not capable of long-term survival in the country. The resulting survival rate of wool aliens is 22.1%. Three species on the list (5.4%) were clearly capable of naturalization. Compared to the other alien flora of the Czech Republic, wool aliens were disproportionally introduced from Australia, Africa and South and Central America. Species from Europe and Africa tended to survive the best. Grasses were most strongly represented, contributing 62.5% to wool alien species but only 7.9% to the total Czech neophyte flora. All surviving species were annuals, whereas none of the perennials survived; the survival rate in annuals was 37.5%. Survival of species introduced with wool was significantly comparable to their performance in the UK and in Central Europe, indicating that survival is not determined by mere chance and that the same species tend to be successful elsewhere in Europe. Maximum height and the month of first flowering were not significantly related to the species survival. The role of specific events in the enrichment of alien floras is discussed.