Cristian Brullo

Phytogeographic survey on the endemic vascular flora of the Hyblaean territory (SE Sicily, Italy)

Abstract A survey of the endemic flora of the Hyblaean territory, important centre of biodiversity and speciation in Sicily, is presented. The endemic flora of this area consists of 105 taxa. Among them, 39 are included in the IUCN Regional Red List and 32 in the National Red List, 17 Orchidaceae are protected by the CITES and 3 in the EU 92/43 Habitat Directive. The most represented families are Asteraceae and Orchidaceae (17%), Lamiaceae (10%). A large number of species are endemic to Sicily or central—southern Italy and Sicily. The endemic taxa exclusive to the Hyblaean territory are 20. Life form spectrum of the endemic flora indicates the predominance of geophytes (28.6%), chamaephytes (26.7%), hemicryptophytes (24.8%). The analysis of the habitat put in evidence that the endemics are widespread in garrigues, rocky walls and rocky coasts, dry grassland, woods and synantropic places. In this work, its also provided an assessment of the conservation status of Hyblaean endemics and proposition for their protection.

Astragalus kamarinensis (Fabaceae), a New Species from Sicily

Astragalus kamarinensis C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Miniss. & Sciandr. sp. nova (Fabaceae) is described and illustrated from Sicily. It grows exclusively on sandy soils, near the ruins of Kamarina, located in the southern part of Sicily. Morphologically, it shows close relationships with A. Stella, A. raphaelis and A. tribuloides, all belonging to A. sect. Sesamei. Several morphological features, chiefly regarding the flowers, legumes and seeds, as well as the micromorphology of the pod indumentum and seed coat, allow to well distinguish this species from the other taxa in the section. A phenetic analysis based on the morphological characters supports our taxonomic conclusions.

A new species of Brassica sect. Brassica(Brassicaceae) from Sicily

Among the suffruticose cabbages of Brassica sect. Brassica, a new species from Sicily, named B. raimondoi, is described and illustrated. It is a chasmophyte restricted to some steep limestone cliffs near Taormina (NE Sicily) and is morphologically related to B. incana, with which it shares densely hairy, broad, amplexicaul leaves and winged petioles, but differs principally in its white corolla, larger floral pieces, more developed stigmatic papillae, shorter siliquae with keeled valves and a smaller, seedless beak, smaller seeds differing in testa microsculpture. A key for the identification of the currently known Sicilian taxa of the section is provided.

A new species of Silene sect. Dipterosperma (Caryophyllaceae) from Sicily

Brullo, C., Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G., Ilardi, V. & Sciandrello, S. 2012. A new species of Silene sect. Dipterosperma (Caryophyllaceae) from Sicily. Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 69(2): 209-216. Silene kemoniana, a new species of the section Dipterosperma from NW Sicily, is described and illustrated. It is a therophyte that occurs in mountains near Palermo, where it grows on Mesozoic limestones in xerophilous garigues. Its relationships with S. colorata and allied species are also examined. A key of the species belonging to sect. Dipterosperma is provided.

Siculosciadium, A New Monotypic Genus of Apiaceae from Sicily1

Abstract The results of a morphological and molecular systematic investigation of the poorly known Sicilian endemic species Peucedanum nebrodense (Guss.) Nyman (Apiaceae subfam. Apioideae) are presented in order to better characterize the species and clarify its phylogenetic position. Morphological, karyological, anatomical, and ontogenetic studies indicate that this species is taxonomically distinct. Phylogenetic analysis of combined morphological and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) ITS sequence data suggests an affinity with Dichoropetalum Fenzl, whereas an unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) analysis, based on 36 morphological characters, suggests that P. nebrodense is similar to Ormosolenia Tausch. Given its unusual life cycle; distinct suffruticose, evergreen, and dwarf habit; and peculiar fruit anatomy, we recognize P. nebrodense as distinct from Ormosolenia and Dichoropetalum, and we treat it as the new monotypic genus Siculosciadium C. Brullo, Brullo, S. R. Downie & Giusso based on S. nebrodense (Guss.) C. Brullo, Brullo, S. R. Downie & Giusso [≡ Pteroselinum nebrodense Guss.], which is lectotypified herein.

Advances in chromosomal studies in Neottieae (Orchidaceae): constitutive heterochromatin, chromosomal rearrangements and speciation

Abstract — In this work, we describe a karyomorphological study on three taxa of the tribe Neottieae (Orchidaceae). Epipactis aspromontana and E. schubertiorum are characterized by a chromosome complement of 2n = 2× = 38. Significant differences in heterochromatin distribution were found between them. Similarities in the karyotype structure and C-banding of E. schubertiorum and E. helleborine group have been observed. A specimen of E. aspromontana showed a triploid chromosome number. The meiosis are characterized by univalent, bivalent and trivalent forms and in some somatic metaphase cells has been possible to observe a series of aneuploid numbers with 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53 chromosomes. The largest differences can be emphasized between the Epipactis species and Neottia nidusavis, mainly in the the karyomorphology and heterochromatin distributions. In Neottia nidusavis the evolution process seems to be determined by reversing Robertsonian mutations.

What is Allium paniculatum? Establishing taxonomic and molecular phylogenetic relationships within A. sect. Codonoprasum

Allium paniculatum L. is commonly recorded from the Euro‐Mediterranean and Irano‐Turanian regions. Evidence from literature and herbarium collections revealed that many different taxa of A. sect. Codonoprasum Rchb., all characterized by big size, diffuse and densely flowered umbrella, very long spathe valves, long pedicels, and cylindrical‐campanulate perigon, have been wrongly attributed to this species thus affecting records on its geographic distribution and morphological characterization. In order to define the true identity of A. paniculatum, we analyzed specimens coming from the type locality (Don River), and provided details on morphology, ecology, karyology, leaf anatomy, seed morphology and seed coat micro‐sculpturing. Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships with related species of sect. Codonoprasum and with other taxa of different sections were investigated by means of morphological characters and molecular data from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) nrDNA and the trnH‐psbA cpDNA region. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses of molecular data recovered two main clades in A. sect. Codonoprasum and clearly separated A. paniculatum from related taxa. The taxonomic implications of these patterns of relationships are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first study documenting in‐depth phylogenetic relationships within A. sect. Codonoprasum.

Bituminaria antiatlantica (Psoraleeae, Fabaceae), a new species from Morocco

Abstract A new species of Bituminaria is described and illustrated: Bituminaria antiatlantica Brullo, C. Brullo, Cambria, Cristaudo & Giusso, sp. nov., which is endemic to Anti-Atlas Mountains (Morocco). It is a true chasmophyte, characterized by a suffruticose habit, several woody branches, leaflets coriaceous, rounded to ovate, small, few-flowered inflorescences and corolla pale coloured.

A cytological study of four Sicilian Serapias (Orchidaceae)

Cytological analysis of four Serapias L. (Orchidaceae), of which two are Sicilian endemics, is carried out. In particular, the endemic S. intermedia subsp. hyblaea shows a triploid chromosome complement with 2n = 3x = 54, representing natural nothotaxa arising from a hybridization process between supposed parental S. vomeracea (2n = 2x = 36) and Serapias lingua (2n = 4x = 72). For each of them the C-heterochromatin distribution, using Giemsa C-banding and karyotypes, was examined. The other endemic taxon (S. orientalis subsp. siciliensis) is characterized by a diploid chromosome number 2n = 2x = 36, of which the C-heterochromatin distribution is examined as well. The taxonomical relationships among these taxa are discussed in relation to the literature data.