Page 9 - Gianguzzi_alii_2012

310 L. Gianguzzi et al.

of the Quaternary have also been recorded. This is the (1) Marettimo Island [Favignana (TP), Aegadian
case for S. mattiazzi which in the island is very rare and Archipelago]
has a relictual significance, and for various other species, The station is located at Punta Mugnone (about
such as Euphorbia papillaris (Boiss.) Raffaelli & Ricceri, 120–140 m a.s.l.), in the southern part of the Island; the
Daphne sericea Vahl., Thymelaea tartonraira (L.) All., species is present with fewer than 10 individuals, settled
Erodium maritimum (L.) L’Her., Periploca laevigata along a rocky ridge, in pockets of soil preserved among
Aiton subsp. angustifolia (Labill.) Markgraf, Globularia the cracks of limestone slabs. The area is geologically
alypum L., Chamaerops humilis L., Ephedra fragilis referred to the Punta Bassana Unity (Middle Triassic?–
Desf. The analysis of the phytosociological relevé Middle Jurassic), characterized by a larger sequence of
reported in Table 1 shows that S. mattiazzi is locally varicoloured shales with interbedded limestones and
associated with one endemic [Micromeria graeca (L.) stromatolitic and lateritic dolomites (Abate, Lo Cicero,
Rchb. subsp. fruticulosa (Bertol.) Guinea] and two rare and Renda 1982; Agnesi et al. 1993; Abate, Incandela,
species (Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Coronilla and. Renda 1999). The most common soil types
valentina L.). (Fierotti, Dazzi, and Raimondi 1988; Fierotti 1997) are
Similar considerations can be made for Mount S. represented by Rock Outcrop, lithosols (Lithic
Giuliano, of which the relief rises along the western Xerorthents) and red soils (Lithic Rhodoxeralfs). From a
coast of Sicily, together with the adjacent Mount Cofano, bioclimatic point of view, the station is located in the
to constitute niches–refuges for another floristic lower thermo-Mediterranean bioclimatic belt (Gianguzzi,
contingent of particular biogeographic relevance Scuderi, and La Mantia 2003b; Gianguzzi, Scuderi, and
(Table 2). Simethis mattiazzi is found with several other Pasta 2006), tending to lower subhumid ombrotype
“significant” species of the vascular flora, such as Erica (taking into account the occult precipitation of the site).
sicula Guss. subsp. sicula, Hieracium cophanense According to the station of Trapani data, average
Lojac., Pseudoscabiosa limonifolia (Vahl) Devesa, temperatures hover around 18°C (Table 3), with rainfall
Ranunculus rupestris Guss. subsp. rupestris, Seseli of 480 mm (Table 4).
bocconei Guss. subsp. bocconei, Dianthus rupicola Biv.
subsp. rupicola, Iberis semperflorens L., Convolvolus (2) Mount S. Giuliano [Erice (TP), Western Sicily]
cneorum L., Lithodora rosmarinifolia (Ten.) Johnston, The station is located in the territory of Erice (Trapani),
Serratula cichoracea (L.) DC. subsp. mucronata (Desf.) along the northern slopes of the mount, about 250–
Lacaita, Allium lehmannii Lojac., Anthemis cupaniana 270 m a.s.l. (Figure 4). The population of
Tod. ex Lojac., Asperula rupestris Tineo, Brassica S. mattiazzi is localized in the area above the cliffs
villosa Biv. subsp. drepanensis (Caruel) Raimondo & placed in correspondence with the village of Pizzolungo
Mazzola, Centaurea ucriae Lacaita subsp. ucriae, (Trapani). It is estimated that around 350–400
Centaurea erycina Raimondo & Bancheva, Matthiola individuals are confined within an area of about
2
incana (L.) R. Br. subsp. rupestris (Rafin.) Nyman, 1000 m , which is much bigger than at Marettimo. The
Phagnalon metlesicsii Pign., Rhamnus lycioides L. habitat is similar to the previous station, with partially
subsp. oleoides Jahandiez & Maire, etc. eroded soil pockets (Figure 5) that develop on carbonate
The phytosociological relevés reported in Tables 1 substrates attributed to the Trapanesi Unities (Abate
and 2 show S. mattiazzi to be associated with eight et al. 1993, 1998); the most common soil types are also
endemics [Micromeria graeca subsp. fruticulosa, Klasea here represented by Rock Outcrop, lithosols (Lithic
flavescens (L.) Holub subsp. mucronata (Desf.) Cantó & Xerorthents) and red soils (Lithic Rhodoxeralfs) (Fierotti,
Rivas-Mart., Eryngium tricuspidatum L. var. bocconii Dazzi, and Raimondi 1988; Fierotti 1997). Considering
(Lam.) Fiori, Delphinium emarginatum C. Presl, that the thermo-rainfall station of Erice (Table 3) is
Scorzonera villosa Scop. subsp. columnae (Guss.) placed at altitudes much higher than the site investigated,
Nyman, Carlina sicula Ten., Dianthus graminifolius C. the presumable average temperatures hover around 17–
Presl, Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol. subsp. quadriaristata 18°C (Drago et al. 2000). Based on the rainfall
(Biv.) Giardina & Raimondo] and two rare entities recordings made in the nearby station of S. Andrea di
[Teucrium capitatum L., Helminthotheca aculeata (Vahl) Bonagìa (Table 4), the average rainfalls are close to
Lack]. This large group of taxa of particular 600 mm with 69 rainy days. Under the bioclimatic
phytogeographical significance emphasizes the floristic aspect, the area is referred to the upper thermo-
peculiarity of the coenose in which the species lives, Mediterranean lower subhumid bioclimatic belt
denoting also a character of relictuality, even more so (Gianguzzi and La Mantia 2008).
than in the Marettimo Island.
Phytosociological and synecological analysis
Description and ecological analysis of the sites Bibliographical references for the entire range
For the two surveyed areas, the main topographical, In the Atlantic area, S. mattiazzi is typical of moorlands
geopedological and bioclimatic features are provided and heathlands framed in the class Calluno-Ulicetea,
below. of which it is considered a characteristic element