G. Barberis

Evaluation of biodiversity and conservation strategies in Pancratium maritimum L. for the NorthernTyrrhenian Sea

Abstract.Pancratium maritimum L. is an Amaryllidaceous species whose presence is severely endangered in its original range, the sandy coasts of the Mediterranean sea. A molecular analysis has been performed to evaluate the genetic distance among populations coming from different locations, in order to define the best repopulating strategy. The plant genome, analysed by AFLP markers, was found to be extremely homogeneous and conserved, evoking vegetative or autogamous reproductive habits. Seeds from two different locations showed a good germination capability in greenhouse tests, indicating the potential presence of an efficient sexual reproduction. The combination of molecular data and germination tests would support the hypothesis of an autogamous reproduction for this species.

An updated checklist of the vascular flora native to Italy.

Abstract An updated inventory of the native vascular flora of Italy, providing details on the occurrence at regional level, is presented. The checklist includes 8195 taxa (6417 species and 1778 subspecies), distributed in 1092 genera and 152 families; 23 taxa are lycophytes, 108 ferns and fern allies, 30 gymnosperms and 8034 angiosperms. The taxa currently occurring in Italy are 7483, while 568 taxa have not been confirmed in recent times, 99 are doubtfully occurring in the country and 19 are data deficient. Out of the 568 not confirmed taxa, 26 are considered extinct or possibly extinct.

Senecio grisebachii Baker (Compositae), new to the Italian flora

Summary A new exotic species, Senecio grisebachii Baker (Compositae), native to South America, has been found in west Liguria between Ventimiglia and Pietra Ligure. It was probably first introduced 25 years ago. The species can be found over quite a large area and has considerable capacity to reproduce and expand and can be considered a naturalized species.

Ecological Studies on the Serpentine Endemic Plant Cerastium utriense Barberis

Abstract Cerastium utriense Barberis (Caryophyllaceae) is an endemic plant growing on ultramafic outcrops in northwestern Italy. Despite its great phytogeographical importance, little is known about its ecological requirements and environmental range. Thus, the main objective of the present work was to examine and clarify these aspects. On the basis of a preliminary survey on its range, 28 plots were sampled, and Ellenberg ecological indices of the flora growing with C. utriense were defined. Furthermore, on the basis of the floristic diversity and physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soils, 10 of these plots were selected and more closely investigated. This preliminary study characterized C. utriense as a strictly Ni-excluding serpentinophyte with no apparent relationship with typical chemical characteristics of serpentine soils. On the contrary, the species showed a direct association with physical traits typical of serpentine substrates.

The plant endemism in the Maritime and Ligurian Alps

The Maritime and Ligurian Alps have a flora characterised by a very high number of endemic species in relation to their small geographical extension. This area is considered one of the most important centres of diversification of the Alps and a Mediterranean hotspot of biodiversity. In the last years many studies were performed in order to describe the distribution and phylogeographical patterns of endemism. Despite these studies, Maritime and Ligurian Alps still lack in a broad view about the evolution of endemisms in this area. In this review, we examine the knowledge about the distribution patterns of endemic plant species living in the Maritime and Ligurian Alps in order to identify the evolutionary and biogeographical mechanisms operating on them.