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G. Giardina†, F. M. Raimondo & V. Spadaro

A catalogue of plants growing in Sicily

Abstract
Giardina, G., Raimondo, F.M. & Spadaro V.: A catalogue of plants growing in Sicily. —
Bocconea 20: 5-582. 2007. — ISSN 1120-4060.
This Catalogue includes the taxonomic units of the native and exotic taxa, both adventice and
cultivated of the vascular flora of Sicily. Species and subspecies, as well as varieties and forms
are taken into consideration, contrary to the actual tendency to include only the former. The
main aim of the Catalogue is therefore to analyze the flora of the largest and significant island
of the Mediterranean, and to give a tool for specialists of the field and an informative basis of
the regional biodiversity in favour of preserving and promoting actions.
Together with synonymic information on each single taxon, the Catalogue includes ecological
and distributive references of the region.
Nomemclatural novelties and the descriptions of new taxa are also included.
Taxa referring to naturalized or cultivated native and exotic plants, which are widely sponta-
neous, are numbered. Non numbered problematic taxa are also reported. Bibliography is given
for each taxonomic unit.
The Catalogue includes in total 176 families, 878 genera, and 3201 specific and infra-specific
taxa (subspecies, varieties and forms) excluding doubtful and extinct ones as well as exotic cul-
tivated.

Introduction

Ever since Botany took shape as a modern positive science, Sicily – the largest of the
Mediterranean islands – appeared as a land rich in its distinctive flora and vegetation fea-
th
tures. For this very reason, from the 17 century onward, this island has been the object of
an intense investigation by native and foreign botanists. Peculiarities and richness of
Sicilian flora as well as relevant vegetation features can be justified by the great diversity
of environments and by paleo-geographic process from which it was determined.
Sicily is then formed by several mountains which define its orography. The mountains
around Trapani and Palermo, in the western part of the island, are of remote origin con-
sisting mainly of Tertiary limestone where extremely expressive elements of past floras are
preserved. Once linked up with the Apennines, the Peloritani Mountains – in north-eastern
Sicily – are rich in orophytes elements with a peninsular chorotype. The Nebrodi territory
is an area of easily eroded flysch clays, with less abrupt outlines when compared to car-
bonatic landscapes. Poor in conservative habitats, the Nebrodi Mountains are covered with