Pietro Pavone

Heavy metal content in ash of energy crops growing in sewage-contaminated natural wetlands: potential applications in agriculture and forestry?

One of the greatest current challenges is to find cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions to the ever increasing needs of modern society. Some plant species are suitable for a multitude of biotechnological applications such as bioenergy production and phytoremediation. A sustainable practice is to use energy crops to clean up polluted lands or to treat wastewater in constructed wetlands without claiming further arable land for biofuel production. However, the disposal of combustion by-products may add significant costs to the whole process, especially when it deals with toxic waste. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of recycling ash from energy biomass as a fertilizer for agriculture and forestry. In particular, the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn were analyzed in the plant tissues and corresponding ash of the grasses Phragmites australis and Arundo donax, collected in an urban stream affected by domestic sewage. Results showed that the metal concentration in ash is 1.5-3 times as high as the values in plant tissues. However, metal enriched ash showed much lower element concentrations than the legal limits for ash reutilization in agriculture and forestry. This study found that biomass ash from constructed wetlands may be considered as a potential fertilizer rather than hazardous waste. Energy from biomass can be a really sustainable and clean option not only through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but also through ash recycling for beneficial purposes, thus minimizing the negative impacts of disposal.

Three new species of Allium sect. Codonoprasum from Greece

Abstract Three new species of Allium from Greece are described. They are A. dirphianum, A. phitosianum and A. rausii, all included in A. sect. Codonoprasum. Morphology, karyology, distribution and relationships are examined for each of them.

Study of a pre-Linnaean Herbarium Attributed to Francesco Cupani (1657–1710)

Abstract Pulvirenti S., M. M. Indriolo, P. Pavone & R. M. S. Costa (2015). Study of a pre-Linnaean Herbarium attributed to Francesco Cupani (1657–1710). Candollea 70: 67–99. In English, English abstract. The aim of this work is the study of one of the two pre-Linnaean herbaria belonging to the University of Catania, attributed to Francesco Cupani, a 17th century Sicilian botanist, specifically the volume with the inventory number “VII f2 Hortus Botanicus Catinensis”. The two collections were previously unknown and found in 1992 as a result of reorganising the Herbarium of Catania University. The volume examined comprises 164 pages with 1–12 specimens on each sheet. Most likely, some samples come from the Misilmeri Garden of the Prince of Cattolica, to which Cupani dedicated great commitment in its creation, while others may have been acquired from exchanges with contemporary scientists; this is testified by the presence of non-Sicilian or extra-European species and by the extensive correspondence between the Sicilian friar and many contemporary botanists. The material in the herbarium comprises phanerogams (610 angiosperms and 5 gymnosperms), along with a small number of cryptogams (14 pteridophytes, 9 algae and 1 lichen), and 4 marine animals are also present. Unfortunately, some samples are partially or entirely damaged or even missing; nonetheless it has been possible to identify most of them. The Cupanis herbarium is compared with some pre-Linnaean herbaria in order to highlight their main similarities and differences.

Cytotaxonomical notes on some rare endemic species of Allium (Alliaceae) from Greece

Abstract Five Greek endemic species of Allium (A. meteoricum, A. parnassicum, A. pilosum, A. luteolum and A. frigidum) are examined. The study, based on field and herbarium investigations, allowed to better define the morphology, karyology and chorology of these critical taxa as well as their relationships.

Cytotaxonomic consideration ofAllium fuscum Waldst. et Kit. (Liliaceae), a critical species of the European flora

A critical species of the European flora,Allium fuscumWaldst. & Kit., belonging toA. sect.CodonoprasumRchb., is investigated. The species was previously confused with other taxa of theA. paniculatum group, but on the basis of herbarium and field investigationsA. fuscum is a rare chasmophyte, distributed in Romania and Bulgaria. The description, chromosome number (2n=16), taxonomy, chorology and ecology are provided. The relationships of this species with some related taxa of theA. paniculatum group are also examined.

Seed germination in Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach from South-Eastern Sicily

Abstract Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach is a nanophanerophyte whose presence in Sicily is limited to the South-East of the island. A study on seed germination behaviour of seeds collected from some populations indicates low viability of seedlings which could seriously put the long-term survival of these populations at risk.

Diachronic analysis of biodiversity: Study of a herbarium “reviewed” by Francesco Cupani (1657–1710) at the end of the 17th century

Abstract The subject of this paper is the study of the pre-Linnaean herbarium with the inventory number “VII F1 Hortus Botanicus Catinensis” belonging to the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (University of Catania). The volume examined comprises 186 pages (originally 190) with 1–9 specimens on each sheet. The herbarium samples mainly include angiosperms (386), but a few taxa belonging to gymnosperms (1) and pteridophytes (4) are also present. Unfortunately, some specimens are partially or entirely damaged or even missing; nonetheless, it has been possible to identify most of them. As far as the nomenclature is concerned, we find two kinds of handwriting (of which only that of Cupani can be identified), numerous corrections and/or integrations of the polylogus and different types of ink that were used. These elements allow us to state that we are speaking of a herbarium which was prepared by an unknown person and reviewed by Cupani.

Francesco Cupani: the “scientific network” of his time and the making of the Linnaean “system”

Abstract Francesco Cupani, a seventeenth century Sicilian botanist, developed a network of scientific exchanges and connections with the most important scientists of his time. Despite living in considerable isolation, he managed, above all thanks to Sherard, to correspond and exchange with Ray, Commelin, Tournefort, Triumfetti, Volkamer and Böhm. He participated in the intellectual process and debate on the method of classifying plants that he undertook following the comparison and contrast between Linnaeus and Buffon, in formulating the Linnaeus method and in creating the concepts of genera and species. Cupani and other contemporary botanists were not able to establish a system of plant classification. Each of them was so engaged in researching the distinctive characters of individual plants, in avoiding duplications and synonyms, that they could not grasp what they had in common. Linnaeus, giving them notable recognition, placed them in the category of the “Curious”. These pre-Linnaean researchers contributed to the difficult process of overcoming the rigidity of late-Aristotelian classifications, thanks also to the invention of a “scientific network” that enabled the mutual debate and exchange of botanical material (publications, iconography, seeds and exsiccata).

Allium garganicum (Alliaceae), a new species from Apulia (SE Italy)

Abstract A new endemic species of Allium, belonging to the A. stamineum Boiss. group, is described from the Mount Gargano (Apulia, SE Italy). This new taxon, named Allium garganicum, is the single representative of this group in the Italian flora, limited to a small population growing on the limestone rocks near the coast. Its relationships with allied taxa, A. stamineum Boiss. and A. guicciardii Heldr., are also discussed.

Pollen morphology and seed germination studies on Retama raetam ssp. gussonei, endemic subspecies from Sicily

A study on pollen morphology and seed germination behaviour of Retama raetam (Forssk.) Webb ssp. gussonei (Webb) Greuter, endemic subspecies from Sicily and Calabria, is herein presented, aiming to preserve these populations strongly affected by anthropic pressure.