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Fig. 1: Collection sites 1 – 21.

Introduction

Sicily is the largest island of the Mediterranean Sea and with the Etna has
its highest peak of about 3350 m. Located between the western and the eastern
part of the Mediterranean Sea on one hand and between the Italian mainland
and Africa on the other hand it connects several floristic-geographical elements.
In lower altitudes especially on the southern coast xeric Mediterranean vegeta-
tion is dominant, whereas in the mountains of the northern part beech and oak
forests similar to those in Central Europe can be found. Due to the strategic im-
portance of the island in ancient times (it was conquered by Greeks, Car-
thagians, Romans, Goths, Byzantians, Arabs, Normans, Germans, French, Span-
ish, Italians, and in the end, tourists) most of the forests were exploited for
building ships or were changed to farmland to feed the armies or the population
of the homeland of the occupiers. A lot of the natural and semi-natural woody
vegetation of the island was devastated by grazing and other forms of extensive
agricultural use. In more recent times increasing populations along the coast

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