Page 1 - Bupleurum_dianthifolium_2018

8/1/2018 Bupleurum dianthifolium

Bupleurum dianthifolium

Summary

Latin name Bupleurum dianthifolium Guss.
Common names Bupleuro di Marettimo (Italian); Hare’s-ear of Marettimo (English)

Family Apiaceae

Status VULNERABLE (VU)
Island Sicily (Italy)

Sicily | Bupleurum dianthifolium

Where is it found ?

This plant is endemic to Marettimo, the westernmost island of the Egadi archipelago and of all Sicily. Approximately 300-
2
500 individuals form ca.13 nuclei scattered over an EOO of 1.2 km . The plants are mostly located on the north-facing
calcareous cli s (Habitat 13.1: Sea cli s and Rocky O shore Islands) of the island, between 20 and 600 m a.s.l., being able
to colonize rock crevices thanks to their deep root system. The species is part of a chasmophilous plant community which
is very rich in endemic plants such as Asperula rupestris, Dianthus rupicola subsp. rupicola, Glandora rosmarinifolia,
Oncostema hughii, Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia, Seseli bocconei, etc. Frequent mists and regular dew probably play an
important role as regular sources of water input.

How to recognize it ?

Bupleurum dianthifolium is a small, evergreen cushion-shaped shrub with below-ground regenerating buds. The leaves,
crowded at the tip of almost lea ess owering stems up to 40 cm long, are linear-lanceolate (2.5-3 × 25-32 cm) and often
sickle-shaped; the blade is also characterized by a revolute margin and 3-5 parallel veins. The compound in orescences are
small umbels with (3)4-6(8) rays. The species usually owers between May and June and the seeds ripen during the
following 2-3 months. Pollen vectors are ies, while fruit dispersal is balistochorous.

Interesting facts

B. dianthifolium is the easternmost representative of a group of isolated woody species scattered in the SW Mediterranean
(Maghreb, South Iberian Peninsula) and Macaronesian islands. Along with its nearest relatives, B. fruticescens from NE
Spain and B. barceloi, both con ned to similar conservative habitats such as north-facing sea cli s, it has to be considered a
palaeoendemic species issuing from the evolution of a macrothermic ancestor which might have been more widespread in
the past.

Why is it threatened ?
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Being restricted to a single habitat and as its scattered population is only present on an AOO of 12 km , the species has
been categorized as VU (Vulnerable) according to IUCN Red List criteria D1 + D2. In fact, no decline in EOO, AOO, extent or
quality of habitat, number of locations, number of mature individuals, has been observed during the regular eld surveys
carried out during last ten years. Despite growing on almost inaccessible cli s, its survival is threatened with wild res
(threat 7.1.1: Fire and re suppression - Increase in re frequency/intensity) and its spread is limited by overgrazing due to
http://top50.iucn-mpsg.org/species/15/pdf 1/3