Phytosociological Characterization of the Celtis Tournefortii Subsp. Aetnensis Mi- Crowoods in Sicily

Home , Celtis tournefortii, Euphorbia characias, Euphorbia dendroides, Geranium lucidum, Rhamnus alaternus, Urtica pilulifera

Plant Sociology, Vol. 51, No. 2, December 2014, pp. 17-28 DOI 10.7338/pls2014512/02

Phytosociological characterization of the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods in Sicily

L. Gianguzzi1, D. Cusimano1, S. Romano2 1Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 38 - I-90123 Palermo, Italy. 2Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22 - I-90123 Palermo, Italy.

Abstract A work on the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis vegetation, endemic species located in disjointed sites in the Sicilian inland, is here presented. It forms microwoods with a relict character established on screes and detrital coverages, on a variety of lithological substrates (volcanics, limestones, quartzarenites). Based on the phytosociological analysis carried out in the territory, these vegetation aspects are framed in the alliance Oleo-Cerato- nion, within which a new association (Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum aetnensis) is described, in turn diversified in the following subassociations: a) typicum subass. nova, on detrital calcareous cones of the north-western part of Sicily, in the Palermo province (Rocca Busambra, Pizzo Castelluzzo and northern slopes of Pizzo Telegrafo); b) phlomidetosum fruticosae subass. nova, typical of carbonate megabreccias, on the most xeric southern slopes of Pizzo Telegrafo (Caltabellotta territory, Agrigento province); c) artemisietosum arborescentis subass. nova, typical of quartzarenitic outcrops on the Nebrodi Mts. inland (Cesarò territory, Messina province); d) rhamnetosum alaterni subass. nova, widespread on cracked lava flows of the western side of Mount Etna (Catania province).

Keywords: biodiversity, Celtis tournefortii Lam. subsp. aetnensis (Tornab.), Mediterranean vegetation, phytosociology, Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni, Sicily, syntaxonomy.

Introduction (in Giardina et al., 2007) [= C. tournefortii var. aetnensis Tornab.; C. aetnensis (Tornab.) Strobl; included C. In the genus Celtis [fam. Celtidaceae (ex Ulmaceae- betulina Lojac. and Celtis asperrima Lojac.]. Celtidoideae; Elias, 1970; Ueda et al., 1997) or Can- The plant is a small tree, 4-6 (8) high, spring-flo- nabaceae (Sytsma et al., 2002; Whittemore, 2005)], wering and autumn-fruiting, tending to form xeric- Celtis tournefortii Lam. represents one of the three thermophilous communities, though it is a winter-de- species known for the European territory, together ciduous species; this habitus, in fact, is not common with C. australis L. and C. plachoniana K.I. Chr. (= C. among the Mediterranean woody species of xeric en- glabrata Steven ex Planch., not Sprengel). It is widely vironments, more typically represented by evergreen distributed along the southern margin of the Europe- sclerophyllous or summer-deciduous species. In Sicily an Region, however with quite sparse and fragmenta- the entity has a main subrange located on the volcanics ry stations, among Crimea, Iran and Anatolia, as well of the western part of Mt. Etna (Poli et al., 1974, 1981; as on the Crete Island, the Balkan Peninsula – as far Brullo & Marcenò, 1985; Brullo et al., 2009), with north as in Bulgaria (Zieliński et al., 2012), Macedonia other relict and disjointed nuclei distributed westward, (Micevski, 1993) and the coasts of Bosnia and Herze- on different lithological substrates. These latter sites govina (Jalas & Suominen, 1976) – up to Sicily (Jalas affect the inner side of the Nebrodi Mts. (Giardina, & Suominen, 1976; Tutin et al., 1964-80; Poli et al., 1990), the Sicilian hinterland south of the Madonie 1974, 1981; De Castro & Maugeri, 2006; Giardina et Mts. (Schicchi & Marino, 2011), the southern slope of al., 2007), where it reaches its extreme western limit Rocca Busambra (Lojacono Poiero, 1904; Troìa, 1997) and to which the present paper refers. and limited biotopes of the Sicani Mts., in particular Therefore, these populations have a particular phyto- Pizzo Castelluzzo (Troìa & Ilardi, 2002; Marino & Ca- geographical value and they are at the centre of ta- stellano, 2006), and the complex of Pizzo Telegrafo, at xonomic debates among various authors, tending in Contrada Cavallaro (Marcenò et al., 1995, 2002) and part to characterize one or more taxa endemic to the among the S. Biagio, Cava Grande, Inchiuse, Utine, island territory (Strobl, 1880; Lojacono Pojero, 1888- Cavallaro, Cannerie and Catusa districts (Gianguzzi et 1909; Raimondo & Schicchi, in Giardina et al., 2007). al., 2014), in the Sambuca di Sicilia (Palermo provin- On this basis – in the absence of precise comparative ce) and Caltabellotta territories (Agrigento province). studies with a morpho-anatomical and physiological Under the phytosociological aspect, Celtis tournefor- character – they are here referred to Celtis tournefortii tii subsp. aetnensis has been indicated so far as a more Lam. subsp. aetnensis (Tornab.) Raimondo & Schicchi or less gregarious element in the following commu-

Corresponding author: Lorenzo Gianguzzi. Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 38 - I-90123 Palermo, Italy, e-mail: [email protected] 18 L. Gianguzzi et al. nities ascribed to the class Quercetea ilicis, though to subsp. aetnensis in Sicily (Fig. 1) was realized on the different orders: a) Quercus ilex woods in the Etna area basis of unpublished data collected during the present [Celtido-Quercetum ilicis n.n. (sub C. aetnensis) (Poli survey, in addition to references reported in the biblio- et al., 1973, 1981)]; b) Quercus virgiliana woods in the graphy for Etna (Poli et al., 1974, 1981; Brullo & Mar- western side of Mt. Etna [Celtido aetnensis-Quercetum cenò, 1985; Brullo et al., 2009), Nebrodi Mts. (Giar- virgilianae Brullo & Marcenò, 1985 (sub C. aetnensis) dina, 1990), Gangi at Portella d’Argento and Cozzo (Brullo et al., 2009)]; c) Euphorbia dendroides maquis Ficilino (Schicchi & Marino, 2011), Rocca Busambra at Caltabellotta, in the Agrigento province [Oleo-Eu- (Lojacono Poiero, 1904; Troìa, 1997), Pizzo Castelluz- phorbietum dendroidis Trinajstić (1973) 1984 subass. zo (Troìa & Ilardi, 2002; Marino et al., 2005; Marino celtidetosum tournefortii Marcenò et al. 2002 (sub C. & Castellano, 2006) and Caltabellotta (Marcenò et al., tournefortii) (Marcenò et al., 1995, 2002)]. 1995, 2002). The present work takes the cue from a recent finding of some vegetation nuclei dominated by the species Description of the study area located on Pizzo Telegrafo, in the southern part of the For the ecological framework of the sites, several bi- Sicani Mts. (Gianguzzi et al., 2014), where the species bliographical contributions of geolithological (Mascle, constitute interesting microwoods with a relict charac- 1974; Di Stefano & Vitale, 1992; Romano, 1999; Len- ter, belonging to a pioneer vegetation series typical of tini et al., 2000) and bioclimatic nature (Gianguzzi, screes of carbonate nature. The paper deals with the 1999; Gianguzzi et al., 2000, 2002; Gianguzzi & La phytosociological role of the species in the various Mantia, 2004; Drago, 2005) were consulted. vegetation aspects located in Sicily, considering that The distribution of Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnen- the aforecited coenoses had been in turn ascribed to sis in Sicily was localized in six separate sites (Fig. distinct orders of the class Quercetea ilicis. 1) – each of them with one or more stations –, whose main stational characteristics, summarized in Tab. 1, Materials and Methods are reported below.

The research started in 2008, after the finding of 1) Carbonate complex of Pizzo Telegrafo (Bisacquino- some microwoody nuclei of the species pinpointed in Caltabellotta). the southern part of the Sicani Mts., then extending the These microwoody nuclei – many of them previou- survey to the other known stations in Sicily. sly unpublished and located on two separate sides of Pizzo Telegrafo (952 m a.s.l.) – cover a total area of Taxonomical and chorological analysis well over 50 hectares. The species is spread out well For the determination of the species listed in the text, beyond the biotope of Contrada Cavallaro already re- reference was made to the floras of Pignatti (1982) and ported by Marcenò et al. (1995), and whose population Fiori (1923-29). The taxonomical nomenclature main- was estimated to be only 300 individuals (Schicchi & ly follows Giardina et al. (2007) and Tutin et al. (1964- Marino, 2011). In the northern slopes they are found 1980, 1993), except for C. aetnensis (Tornab.) Strobl., on the various screes that characterize the area, at al- which refers to De Castro & Maugeri (2006). The ex- titudes between 380 m and 785 m a.s.l. A further po- siccata collected during the field research are kept at pulation is found along the southern slopes, affecting a the Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences of very expansive area. These latter nuclei establish both the University of Palermo. on screes and on debris coverages in karst depressions, The general distribution map of Celtis tournefortii between 480 m and 782 m a.s.l. Under the geolitholo-

Tab. 1 - Characteristics of the surveyed sites, with mean altitude, exposure, lithological substrata and bioclimate.

Locality (municipality, administrative province) Altitude (m) Exposure Substrate Bioclimate Calcareous Upper mesomediterranean 1) Pizzo Telegrafo (Palermo and Agrigento provinces) 380-790 various megabreccias and marly debris lower subhumid Upper mesomediterranean 2) Pizzo Castelluzzo (S. Stefano Quisquina, Palermo) 810-960 W/SW Limestone lower subhumid Limestone- Upper mesomediterranean 3) Rocca Busambra (Monreale and Corleone, Palermo) 800-1100 S/SW dolomite lower subhumid Upper mesomediterranean 4) Sicilian inland (Gangi, Palermo) 900-1000 S Limestone lower subhumid Mesomediterranean 5) Nebrodi district (Cesarò, Messina) 680-1260 SW Quartzarenites upper dry/ lower subhumid Thermo-mesomediterranean 6) South-western side of Mount Etna (Catania province) 380-1100 S, W Basaltic lavas upper dry/ lower subhumid Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods in Sicily 19

Fig. 1 - Distribution map of Celtis tournefortii s.l. and, in the detail, location of the sites in Sicily, referred to the subsp. aetnensis: (1) Pizzo Telegrafo (Bisacquino, Caltabellotta); (2) Pizzo Castelluzzo (S. Stefano Quisquina); (3) Rocca Busambra (Corleone); (4) Portella Argento (Gangi); (5) Nebrodi Mts. inland (Cesarò); (6) Mount Etna. gical aspect, they mainly are calcareous megabreccias dolomitic substrates (Mascle, 1974), within which the and marly debris referred to the Mount Magaggiaro- microwoods mainly establish on detrital cones pedolo- Pizzo Telegrafo Unit (Di Stefano & Vitale, 1992). gically poor and somewhat xeric. The area lies within the SCI ITA 040006 “Complesso Monte Telegrafo e Rocca Ficuzza” and the SPA ITA 4) Sicilian inland (Gangi, Palermo province). 020048 “Monti Sicani, Rocca Busambra e Bosco della Small site located close to the evaporitic outcrops of Ficuzza”. the Sicilian inland, beyond the extreme southern limit of Madonie Mts., on detrital coverages of carbonate 2) Pizzo Castelluzzo (S. Stefano Quisquina). nature (Schicchi & Marino, 2011). Small site located along the southern slopes of Pizzo Castelluzzo (Ilardi & Troìa, 2002; Marino & Castel- 5) Quartzarenitic complex of he southern side of the lano, 2006; Schicchi & Marino, 2011); the species is Nebrodi Mts. (Cesarò, Messina province). found with sparse nuclei, spread over an area of about The site, located in the southern and innermost part of 2 hectares, between 810 and 960 m a.s.l. The habitat the Nebrodi Mts., consists of four distinct and among is represented by a scree relatively sheltered from them isolated stations, on a total area of about 2 hecta- cold winds. Sporadic other presences of the species res. Two of them are located along the southern slopes on the sidelines of the rocky outcrops extending up to of the quartzarenitic spikes, respectively, of Rocca Ra- the summit. Under the geological aspect, they are car- piti (1335 m) and Rocca Nadore (1038 m), at altitudes bonate and silicate-carbonate substrates of the Sicani of about 1248 m and 1005 m a.s.l. (Giardina, 1990). Units, sometimes with cherty marls and limestones (Di The third station is located in Contrada Mercadante Stefano & Vitale, 1992). (Giardina, 1990), between 850 m and 875 m a.s.l. The fourth station falls within the SCI ITA 070026 “Forre 3) Southern slopes of Rocca Busambra (Monreale and Laviche del Simeto”, located on outcrops in the north- Corleone). east of the Serravalle River (Poli et al., 1974). Under The site falls within the Nature Reserve “Bosco Fi- the geological aspect, the coenosis establishes on iso- cuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Gor- lated quartzarenitic banks, emerging within the brown go del Drago”, as well as the SCI ITA 020008 “Rocca clays of the Numidian Flysch dominating the entire Busambra e Rocche di Rao” and the SPA ITA 020048 area, these latter unsuitable for the establishment of “Monti Sicani, Rocca Busambra e Bosco della Ficuz- the species. These various substrates are referred to the za”. These are isolated nuclei distributed over an area Nicosia Unit of the Sicilide Complex, sometimes with of about 1-2 hectares, between 800 and about 1100 the presence at the top of marly limestones and marls (1200) m a.s.l. (Troìa, 1997). They are calcareous- with cherty strips (Lentini et al., 2000). 20 L. Gianguzzi et al.

6) South-western side of Mount Etna. Characteristic/Differential species: Celtis aetnensis This is the main subrange of the species, whose nor- (dom.), Pistacia terebinthus. thern limit is placed between the towns of Bronte and Structure and ecology: Microwoody community do- Maletto, extending to south-east up to the towns of Ni- minated by Celtis aetnensis, associated with Pistacia colosi and Belpasso, particularly along the lava flow terebinthus – other winter deciduous which shapes the of 1910 (Poli et al., 1974; Romano, 1999). Under the physiognomy of the coenosis –, as well as various lia- conservation aspect, the subrange affects the areas of nous elements of the Mediterranean maquis (Clematis the Etna Regional Park, of the SCI ITA 070023 “Monte cirrhosa, Rubia peregrina, Smilax aspera, Asparagus Minardo”, of the SCI/SPA ITA070017 “Sciare di Roc- acutifolius, Lonicera etrusca) and other thermophilous cazzo della Bandiera” and the SCI/SPA ITA070018 sclerophytes (Asparagus albus, Euphorbia characias, “Piano dei Grilli”. Ruta chalepensis, Olea europaea var. sylvestris, ecc.). The coenosis constitutes vegetation aspects with a ge- Phytosociological, synecological and syndinamical nerally linear growth, 3-5 (8) m high, established on analyses clastic material located along steep slopes, watersheds, The study of the plant communities was carried out karst depressions or at the base of cliffs of various na- based on 32 unpublished phytosociological relevés, in ture, as well as on cracked lava flows; it is found at addition to other four already published by Marcenò et altitudes ranging from 380 m (Sicani Mts., Pizzo Tele- al. (2002), in order to characterize the typological va- grafo) to over 1000 m a.s.l. (Rocca Busambra, Rocca riability of the phytocoenoses in relation to the ecolo- Rapiti, Rocca Nadore, Mt. Etna). On calcareous-do- gical parameters. The vegetation study was carried out lomitic substrates it generally tends to circumscribe according to the Zurich-Montpellier School methodo- the outer and most stabilised margins of screes, placed logy, adopting the abundance-dominance indices pro- close to rocky cliffs or steep slopes; they mainly are posed by Braun-Blanquet (1964), updated on the basis active cones, constantly fed by new contributions of of the latest acquisitions (Géhu & Rivas-Martínez, detrital material originated from landslides and erosion 1981; Biondi, 1994, 2011; Biondi et al., 2004, 2011; processes. It can also be found on the terraces between Rivas-Martínez, 2005; Blasi et al., 2011; Géhu, 2011; cultivated fields (Mt. Etna), as well as among the heaps Pott, 2011). On the basis of the total set of phytosocio- of stones accumulated over time by the man between logical relevés a 36 relevés × 82 species matrix was the arable crops – locally known as “chirchiari” – as obtained, in turn subjected to cluster analysis (UPG- well as on rocky ridges, isolated outcrops or more or MA) based on Euclidean distance measures performed less fissured lava flows, in areas little exposed to the with the software Syntax 2000 (Podani, 2001). cold northerly winds (Fig. 3). For the syntaxonomical treatment, we followed the Syndinamism: These microwoods represent the most criteria of the International Code of Phytosociological developed aspect of the “submountain and hilly Sici- Nomenclature (Weber et al., 2000) and the scheme lian, detrital, indifferent edaphic, thermo-mesomedi- proposed by Rivas-Martínez et al. (2001, 2002) up to terranean subhumid series of the Etna hackberry” (Pi- the alliance, apart from some updating listed in the bi- bliography. The synecological analysis was performed according to the methodological principles of Syn- phytosociology (Géhu & Rivas-Martínez, 1981). The references to sigmeta refer to the Carta delle serie di vegetazione d’Italia (Bazan et al., 2010; Blasi, 2010) and any other studies reported in the text.

Results

Phytosociological and synecological analysis Multivariate analysis performed on the phytosociological relevés reported in Tab. 2, allowed to obtain the dendrogram reported in Fig. 2. In the graph four clusters, corresponding to as many subassociations of Fig. 2 - Dendrogram obtained through the synoptic compa- the same association, are highlighted, all well differen- rison among the coenoses reported in Tab. 2 (cluster analy- tiated from the floristic and ecological point of view, sis, UPGMA). Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum aetnensis ass. and which are described below. nova: A) typicum subass. nova (rel. 1-14); B) phlomidetosum fruticosae subass. nova (rel. 15-28); C) artemisietosum ar- PISTACIO TEREBINTHI-CELTIDETUM AETNEN- borescentis subass. nova (rel. 29-30); D) rhamnetosum ala- SIS ass. nova hoc loco (holotypus rel. 12, Tab. 2) terni subass. nova (rel. 31-36). Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods in Sicily 21

PISTACIO TEREBINTHI-CELTIDETUM AETNEN- SIS TYPICUM subass. nova hoc loco (holotypus rel. 12, Tab. 2)

Table: 2, relevés 1-14. Differential species: Ruta chalepensis, Smyrnium olusatrum, Prunus spinosa. Substrate: Detrital cones placed close to shady cliffs of carbonate nature. Bioclimate: Upper mesomediterranean lower subumid. Syndinamism: Microwoods 3-4.5 (6) m high, tied to detrital series, in catenal contact inwards of the scree with the pioneer shrub community with Smilax aspera, and outwards with the series of the holm oak community (Aceri campestris-Querco ilicis sigmetum), representative of the most advanced and stabilized aspects. Distribution: Sicani Mts. and Sicilian inland, in Bi- sacquino territory (northern slopes of Pizzo Telegrafo, in Contrada S. Biagio), S. Stefano Quisquina (Pizzo Castelluzzo), Corleone (southern slopes of Rocca Bu- sambra) and Gangi (Cozzo Ficilino).

PHLOMIDETOSUM FRUTICOSAE subass. nova hoc loco (holotypus rel. 25, Tab. 2) Fig. 3 - Twig with fruit of Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis (a) and aspects of residual microwoods of the Pistacio Syntaxonomical notes: Marcenò et al. (2002) descri- terebinthi-Celtidetum aetnensis ass. nova, diversified in the be for the Caltabellotta area (south-western Sicily) the following subassociations: - typicum subass. nova, on de- Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis Trinajstić (1974) 1984 trital cones of calcareous nature, on the northern slopes of subass. celtidetosum tournefortii Marcenò, Romano Pizzo Telegrafo (Sicani Mts.), at Cozzo Pozzillo (b) and, in & Ottonello 2002, on the basis of a synoptic table wintry habitus, in contrada S. Biagio (c); - phlomidetosum fruticosae subass. nova, on the most xeric screes of the southern slopes of Pizzo Telegrafo (d); - artemisietosum arborescentis subass. nova, among the quartzarenitic blocks at Rocca Rapiti (e), in Cesarò territory; - rhamnetosum alaterni subass. nova, on the cracked lava flows of the western slope of Mount Etna (f), here at Adrano. stacio terebinthi-Celtido aetnensis sigmetum). It is an edaphophilous series with a glareicolous and pioneer character, whose peculiarity is inherent in the habitat dynamics itself, greatly influenced by the continuous reworking of the substrate due to continuous intake caused by erosion and landslides, as well as by the pe- culiar microclimatic conditions, with remarkable daily and yearly temperature range. Inwards of the debris cone, the sygmetum normally finds catenal contacts with shrubby aspects of the detrital microgeoseries, Fig. 4 - Schematic transect of the plant landscape of Pizzo whereas outwards – where typically the debris of gre- Telegrafo (Sicani Mts.), in Contrada S. Biagio: (1) Celtis ater size locate – it finds catenal contacts with aspects tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods (Pistacio terebin- of further Quercus ilex woody series. Upwards instead thi-Celtidetum aetnensis ass. nova typicum subass. nova); (2) Quercus ilex subsp. ilex wood (Aceri campestris-Quercetum it puts itself into contact with the geoseries tied to the ilicis); (3) shrubby aspects of detrital areas (Smilax aspera rupicolous environments of the rocky cliffs (Fig. 4). community); (4) Euphorbia dendroides maquis (Euphorbie- Bioclimate: Upper thermomediterranean/mesomedi- tum dendroidis); (5) chasmophytic community (Dianthion terranean, with upper dry/subhumid ombrotype. rupicolae).

22 L. Gianguzzi et al.

Constancy Presence subass. 1 2 2 2 3 3 26 IV 1 4 2 3 1 1 25 IV 2 3 3 1 2 3 6 I artemisietosum arborescentis ...... 14 II subass. nova (rel. 15–28); C) . . . . 1 1 . . . . 2 2 + 1 + 1 23 IV 2 2 2 2 1 + 2 1 + 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 32 V 6 8 6 7 4.5 3.5 4.5 6 4 4 4 4.5 4 5 4.5 4 Appendix 1, the sporadic species in Appendix 2. Appendix 1, the sporadic species in ...... 1 . . . . . 10 II 1 1 1 1 1 + + + 1 phlomidetosum fruticosae .....++.+.++.+...... 1...... 11II . . . . + . . . . 1 . . . + 1 . + 1 . + + 16 III subass. nova (rel. 1–14); B) typicum + + + + + ...... 12...... 2I ...... 11...... 2I...... 1+...... 2I...... 1...... 1.1.115I .....1...... 1I...... 1...1I ...... 1...... 1...... 2I .....+22..+....1.1..2.312...... 10II ...... 12++2 ...... +...... 1I ...... +.+..1.1...... 111.....7I...... +++...... 3I 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 + 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 33232.322..+..1 22221.21111+1.2111211211212322334V 555553544455445555554555455555536V A) ass. nova: subass. nova (rel. 31–36). Location and data of relevés are reported in .2.+.3++..1211.2++.313.+11.2.. ..1++11111...... +...... 1..1..+..1....1..1...... 7I ..1.1...++...... 4I ...... 131.21....12+.123.2..+.3+.....2.11119III .1...1+....1...... 1...... 5I .+.+.+2+11+111...... 11II...... +2++3+11...... 1.2.....+...1...... 12II..1+.++...+..+..+111....1...... +12II ...... +1..11..1.++++1...... 10II ...... 1.11.1+132.1 .1+.11....111...... 7I ..... 11+11++1+1+2+1.+..1..+...... 17III 2 1 1 1 1 1+.11.+1.1.3111.+++.11+11.1.211.+.++26IV 1 2 2 1 2 11.++12..++1++.+++.+....11...... 17III 31122+1+1+121+...+.+ 1 2 3 4 5 2 3 3 2 4 8 10 5 15 8 20 15 20 25 30 50 34 50 45 10 10 5 20 20 55 10 8 8 6 50 40 15 8 60 80 50 2 4 3 3 1 11...... 2I 4 4 4 5 4 + + 1 + + . . 15 25 23 24 20 24 27 24 23 27 18 32 20 27 8 15 16 8 11 16 13 13 14 11 26 20 13 17 15 16 15 17 17 16 17 20 38 39 39 399095 100 39 10045 100 39 100 85 40 40 100 90 100 50 41 100 95 80 43 90 95 44 80 90 100 84 40 100 90 100 82 50 90 85 85 70 85 95 86 100 80 85 85 50 80 80 90 60 15 - 80 60 45 90 55 45 - 95 50 80 66 - 70 - 90 68 100 - 70 - 100 70 100 70 100 80 - 71 100 100 100 100 71 - 85 100 76 100 50 90 76 80 20 90 79 80 20 90 125 80 20 100 85 80 50 10 100 100 80 62 15 100 80 100 62 20 100 100 40 63 100 100 100 20 63 100 30 65 100 100 50 60 45 40 40 40 40 40 3.3 4.0 4.2 3 4.5 5.8 4.5 4 5 3.8 3 4 3.5 3.5 - - - - 5 4.5 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 150 80 100 80 100 100 100 100 80 150 80 100 100 150 100 80 100 100 80 80 90 100 100 100 100 100 NW NW NW NW NW W N N N N W S S S N S S E S SW S NE SE S S W S SE SW SW W W S S SW SW

) L...... rhamnetosum alaterni rhamnetosum ) % ( . helix g .-Tozz. + . + + . 1 2 1 + 1 . 1 + 1 + + + . . + + . + 1 + . . + . + + . . . . . 22 IV p e Ten.) ( Ten...... g ) % g e ( % ) ( ) ecies e p andum Sm. p g j us L. g iliana era L. Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum Pistacio aetnensis terebinthi-Celtidetum p ensis L. ) O. Bolòs ( Poir. p s humilis L. p dam ) ( inosa Forssk. p inosa L. us albus L. us acutifolius L. 2 ( m ) ( n° ) p g g Lehr ) . hederifolium y rea latifolia L. rnium olusatrum L. p osure ara horbia dendroides L. ara ris alba L. y p p p p y rus s y Mill. subs Clematis cirrhosa L. As lon g ifolia communis L. Tamus C y clamen re Hedera helix L. subs Altitude Artemisia arborescens ( Vaill. Ruscus aculeatus L. Sm Ruta chale Ana gy ris foetida L. Rhamnus alaternus L. Allium subhirsutum L. Phill Q uercus vir Achnatherum bromoides (L.) P. Prasium ma Eu Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) Rubia peregrina L. subsp. Cyclamen hederifolium Aiton Cyclamen hederifolium Q uercus ilex L. subs p . Eu p horbia characias L. Teucrium flavum L. Teucrium sylvestris Olea europaea L. var. Rosa sem p ervirens L. Area ( m P Lonicera etrusca Santi Relevé Characteristic of association Characteristic of subassociation Characteristic of alliance and order Celtis tournefortii Lam. subsp. Pistacia terebinthus L. Prunus s Phlomis fruticosa L. are Tar Arisarum vul g are Smilax as Ex Slo p e ( ° ) Shrubb y covera Herbaceous covera Altezza Number of s Total covera Total Chamaero Characteristic of class As Os ) Raim. & Sch. aetnensis ( Torn. Beauv. T. Dur. & Sch. Dur. T. ( Tab. 2 - Tab. nova (rel. 29–30); D) Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods in Sicily 23

which reports six relevés (Tab. 1, rel. 12-17, holotypus rel. 16). However, this includes two different vegetation aspects, since the relevés 12 and 16 are ascribable to the Oleo-Euphor- bietum s.l. maquis, whereas the others relevés 1 1 2 9 II (13, 14, 15 and 17) concern Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis (sub Celtis tournefortii) microwoods, considered the degree of coverage of this species (4 or 5). Given the frequency of Phlomis fruticosa, also these relevés are to be attributed to the Pistacio terebinthi-Celti-

...... 13 II detum aetnensis phlomidetosum fruticosae subass. nova. Pseudonym: Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis Trinajstić (1974) 1984 subass. celtidetosum tournefortii Marcenò, Ottonello & Romano 2002 p.p. (sensu Marcenò et al., 2002: rel. 13- 15 and 17, Tab. 1); Euphorbietum dendroidis Guinochet in Guinochet & Drounieau 1944 subass. celtidetosum tournefortii (Marcenò, Ottonello & Romano 2002) Brullo, Gianguz- zi, La Mantia & Siracusa (sensu Brullo et al., 2009). Table: 2, relevés 15-28. Differential species: Phlomis fruticosa. Substrate: Detrital cones placed close to shady cliffs of carbonate nature. Bioclimate: Upper mesomediterranean lower subumid...... + + . . . + . 1 + ...... 13 II . . . . . + . + + 1 + . 1 + ...... 19 III ...... 1.1...... 7I ...... +...1....1.7I ...... +...... 9II ...... 11II . . . 1 ...... + + .Syndinamism . . . .: Microwoods . 12 II (3) 4-6 (8) m high, tied to 1) detrital cones on very steep . slopes, with prevailing south exposure; 2) debris coverages on karst depressions; 3) heaps of stones at the edge of ex-cultivated fields. Inwards of the screes, the coenosis is found in catenal contact with pioneer shrubby aspects, whereas outwards it can be found in contact with: a) the Olea europaea var. sylvestris and Euphorbia dendroides maquis series, on xero- ....+...... 5I + + + + . + + philous rocky outcrops (Euphorbio dendroidis sigmetum); b) the holm oak series (Rhamno ...... +...... 1I ...... 1 1 1 + + 1 . . . 3 . 3 3 1 2 3 1 ...... 2 17 III ....+...+...... 1..11+ ...... +.+...... +...+++1+1+111II ...... +..1I ...... 1++211..+...... 7I 1 1 1 1 1 1 . + 1 alaterni-Querco ilicis sigmetum), in cooler and pedologically evolved areas. On the heaps of stones located in the depressions of Pizzo Telegrafo, the coenosis is found in contact with the Quercus virgiliana series (Oleo- Querco virgilianae sigmetum), typical of the 111111...11.2 clays of ex-cultivated fields. . . 1 2 . + + . . 1 1 + 1 1 1 ...11..3+1...... 1...... 6I.+.....1++...... 1...+...... 6I .....11.2..1...... ++++1+++...... +++..11II .++1.....+.1.+...... 6I ...... 1 1 . 1 ...... 21++1.11..1 ..... 11+.1..1+.+...... ++..+1+1+115III + . + . + ++....1..1.1.. +.11+++..+...... 1....8II ++...... 0.+....2...... 1.....6IDistribution: Sicani Mts. in Caltabellotta territory (southern slopes of Pizzo Telegrafo). DC. + . . + . 1 + + + + . + . . )

p ren g ...... ARTEMISIETOSUM ARBORESCENTIS su- Guss. ( bass. nova hoc loco (holotypus rel. 29, Tab. 2)

) N y m. ( Vill. Table: 2, relevés 29-30. rsoides Desf. ( Roth ) N y man y p arine L. subs . a + 1 + . 1 . . 1 + . . . + . . . .Differential . . . 1 species 1 1: 1Artemisia . . 2 arborescens, 1 Patzak . miliaceum ) Corb. ) . p g Ruscus aculeatus, Anagyris foetida. eta p Bé p ur ureum his p anica py cnoce p halus Presl subs p . elatius Mercurialis annua L. Acanthus mollis L. Calicotome infesta (C. Presl) Guss. Thalictrum calabricum S Galium a Geranium robertianum L. subsp. Rubus ulmifolius Schott Umbilicus horizontalis Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) J. & C. Asphodelus ramosus L. subsp. Magydaris pastinacea (Lam.) Rumex th Rosa canina L. Carduus pycnocephalus L. subsp. Geranium lucidum L. Ballota nigra L. subsp. uncinata Vicia villosa Roth subsp. varia Vicia Charybdis pancration (Steinh.) S Urtica membranacea Poir. Dactylis glomerata L. subsp. Other s p ecies Arum italicum Mill. Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Coss. ramosus ( ( Host Paoletti subs p . infesta subs Substrate: Quartzarenitic blocks. 24 L. Gianguzzi et al.

Bioclimate: Upper mesomediterranean lower subu- Tab. 3 - Simplified synoptic table (sporadic species are not mid. reported) of the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis com- Syndinamism: Microwoods 3-4 m high, established in munities relative to Tab. 2 [Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum the rocky clefts of large quartzarenitic blocks, in pre- aetnensis typicum subass. nova (1a), phlomidetosum fruticosae subass. nova (1b), artemisietosum arborescentis subass. dominantly southern facing stations. They constitute nova (1c) and rhamnetosum alaterni subass. nova (1d)] and the most advanced aspects of an edapho-xerophilous of the other coenoses with the presence of the species alre- series, put in catenal contact with: a) rupicolous mi- ady reported for Sicily by other authors: 2 (Marcenò et al., crogeoseries; b) Teucrio siculi-Querco ilicis holm oak 2002: Tab. 1, ril. 12 and 16, Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis series, tied to cooler and more humid sandstone rocky subass. celtidetosum tournefortii); 3 (Poli et al., 1981: Celti- areas; c) Festuco heterophyllae-Querco congestae do-Quercetum ilicis n.n.); 4 (Brullo & Marcenò, 1985: Tab. sigmetum, typical of the clays of the Numidian flysch 4, Celtido aetnensis-Quercetum virgilianae). (Brullo et al., 2009). Distribution: Nebrodi Mts. in Cesarò territory (Rocca Column number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Coenoses 1a 1b 1c 1d 2 3 4 Rapiti, Rocca Nadore, Contrada Mercadante and Ca- Number of relevés 14 14 2 6 2 3 8 stel di Bolo). Physiognomically dominant and differential species Celtis tournefortii Lam. subsp. aetnensis (Tornab.) Raimondo & Schicchi V V 2 V 2 2 V RHAMNETOSUM ALATERNI subass. nova hoc loco Pistacia terebinthus L. V II . V 1 1 V (holotypus rel. 36, Tab. 2) Euphorbia dendroides L. II II . I 1 . . Olea europaea L. var. sylvestris (Mill.) Lehr I I 2 . 2 . . Quercus ilex L. subsp. ilex I I . . 1 3 IV Table: 2, rel. 31-36. Quercus virgiliana (Ten.) Ten. . . . I 2 V Ch. of the subassociations of the Pistacio-Celtidetum aetnensis ass. nova Differential species: Rhamnus alaternus, Phillyrea la- Ruta chalepensis L. V I . . 2 . . tifolia. Smyrnium olusatrum L. V...... Prunus spinosa L. III . . . . . Substrate: More or less fractured lava flows and Phlomis fruticosa L. . V . . 2 . . outcrops. Artemisia arborescens (Vaill.) L. . . 2 . . . . Ruscus aculeatus L. . . 2 . . . III Bioclimate: Upper thermomediterranean and mesome- Anagyris foetida L. . . 2 . . . . Rhamnus alaternus L. . . . V . . III diterranean, with upper dry-upper subumid ombrotype. Phillyrea latifolia L. I . . IV . . . Syndinamism: Microwoods 4-6 m high, established Ch. of unities of the class Quercetea ilicis among the cracks of lava rocks, facing south/ south- Asparagus acutifolius L. V V 2 V 2 3 V Euphorbia characias L. V IV 2 V 1 . V west, in catenal contact with: a) Celtido-Querco vir- Arisarum vulgare Targ.-Tozz. IV IV 1 I 1 . I gilianae sigmetum, typical of lava soils predominan- Hedera helix L. subsp. helix I II 2 . . 1 IV Cyclamen hederifolium Aiton subsp. hederifolium IV IV 2 III 1 . . tly occupied by pistachio crops with Pistacia vera; b) Tamus communis L. III I 2 III . . . Asparagus albus L. III II 1 . 1 . . Festuco heterophyllae-Querco congestae sigmetum, Smilax aspera L. III III . IV 1 . . which substitutes the previous one at altitudes higher Prasium majus L. II II . I 2 . . Clematis cirrhosa L. III IV . V 1 . . than 800 m a.s.l.; c) the Teucrio siculi-Querco ilicis Rubia peregrina L. subsp. longifolia (Poir.) O. Bolòs IV II . . 1 . V series, tied to cooler and more humid lava rocky sub- Allium subhirsutum L. V II . V . . . Rosa sempervirens L. II I . . . . IV strates (Brullo et al., 2009). Lonicera etrusca Santi II . . . . 2 V Cyclamen repandum Sm. IV I ..... Distribution: southern-western and western slopes of Teucrium flavum L. I II . . . . . Mount Etna. Osyris alba L. II I . . . . . Pyrus spinosa Forssk. II . . . 1 . . Lonicera implexa Aiton . . . . . 2 III Syntaxonomy Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) T. Dur. & Sch. I ...... Chamaerops humilis L. .I..... Achnatherum bromoides (L.) P. Beauv. .I..... Thalictrum calabricum Spreng. .I..... Under the syntaxonomical aspect, the described Calicotome infesta (C. Presl) Guss. subsp. infesta ...I... Celtis aetnensis coenoses are referred to the alliance Carex distachya Desf...... V Paeonia mascula (L.) Miller ...... III Oleo-Ceratonion (order Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alater- Asplenium onopteris L...... II ni, class Quercetea ilicis), according to the scheme re- Aristolochia rotunda L...... I Asplenium trichomanes L...... I ported at the end of the text. Dryopteris villarii (Bellardi) Weynar subsp. pallida (Bory) Heywood ...... I Concluding remarks Other species Rubus ulmifolius Schott II IV . 1 . 2 IV Acanthus mollis L. III I 2 . . I . A synoptic comparison among the Celtis tournefortii Dactylis glomerata L. subsp. hispanica (Roth) Nyman I . . . 1 3 V subsp. aetnensis coenoses is reported in Tab. 3. Mi- Galium aparine L. subsp. aparine III II 2 . . . . Umbilicus horizontalis (Guss.) DC. III I 2 . . . . crowoods dominated by Celtis tournefortii subsp. aet- Geranium robertianum L. subsp. purpureum (Vill.) nensis subject of this paper are scattered throughout Nym. III II . V . . . the Sicilian range of the species, where they form im- Vicia villosa Roth subsp. varia (Host) Corb. III I . . . . II penetrable communities, sometimes even extended, denoting the important pioneer role of this entity in Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods in Sicily 25 the colonization of detrital substrates. The most ex- al., 1973, 1981); 3) Quercus virgiliana woods (Celtido pressive nuclei were found on the carbonate slopes of aetnensis-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo & Marcenò, Pizzo Telegrafo, in the southern part of the Sicani Mts., 1985; Brullo et al., 2009). where they represent the most advanced forest aspects However, these phytocoenoses, dominated by other of an edapho-xerophilous series, located on detrital species, are tied to the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aet- coverages, present along the karst depressions of the nensis microwoods described by us. Indeed, the first mountains, on cones at the base of the slopes or at the two are also located on rocky outcrops placed in ca- bottom of the most xeric canyons. tenal contact with the aforecited microwoods (Eu- In the other phytocoenotic types hitherto described phorbia dendroides maquis in the thermomediterra- in Sicily, Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis has been nean; Quercus ilex woods in the mesomediterranean), instead considered as gregarious element in the fol- whereas the Celtido aetnensis-Quercetum virgilianae lowing vegetation aspects: 1) Euphorbia dendroides (Brullo & Marcenò, 1985) is an oak community where maquis [Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis Trinajstić the species at issue is in any case relegated on small (1973) 1984 subass. celtidetosum tournefortii Marce- rocky surfaces, placed within volcanic Andosols, quite nò et al. 2002; Marcenò et al., 1995, 2002]; 2) Quer- spread on the western side of Mt. Etna. cus ilex woods (Celtido-Quercetum ilicis n.n.; Poli et

Syntaxonomic scheme

QUERCETEA ILICIS Br.-Bl.1947 in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni Rivas-Martínez 1975 Oleo-Ceratonion Br.Bl.1936 ex Guinochet & Drouineau em. Rivas-Martínez 1975 Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum aetnensis ass. nova typicum subass. nova phlomidetosum fruticosae subass. nova artemisietosum arborescentis subass. nova rhamnetosum alaterni subass. nova

Acknowledgements Biosystems 145 (2): 261-273. Blasi C. (Ed.), 2010. La vegetazione d’Italia, Carta This work was carried out with financial support from delle serie di vegetazione, scala 1:500000. Palombi Università degli Studi di Palermo (Ricerca d’Ateneo & Partner S.r.l., Roma. ex 60%: “Vegetazione dei corsi d’acqua della Sicilia in Blasi C., Biondi E. & Izco J., 2011. 100 years of plant sistemi paesaggistici con problematiche d’impatto am- sociology: A celebration. Plant Biosystems 145 bientale”, resp. Prof. L. Gianguzzi). The authors wish (suppl. 1): 1-3. to thank Daniela Gigante for her valuable suggestions. Braun-Blanquet J., 1964. Pflanzensoziologie. Sprin- ger, Wien-New York. Bibliographic references Brullo S., Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A. & Siracusa G., 2009. La classe Quercetea ilicis in Sicilia. Boll. Ac- Bazan G., Brullo S., Raimondo F.M. & Schicchi R., cad. Gioenia Sci. Nat. Catania 41 (369): 1-77. 2010. Le serie di vegetazione della Regione Sicilia. Brullo S. & Marcenò C., 1985. Contributo alla cono- In Blasi C. (Ed.), La vegetazione d’Italia. Carta delle scenza della classe Quercetea ilicis in Sicilia. Not. serie di vegetazione, scala 1:500000: 429-470. Pa- Fitosoc. 19 (1): 183-229. lombi & Partner S.r.l., Roma. De Castro O. & Maugeri G., 2006. Molecolar notes Biondi E., 1994. The phytosociological approach to on the Mediterranean species of the genus Celtis L. landscape study. Ann. Bot. (Roma) 52: 135-141. (Celtidaceae). Plant Biosystems 140 (2): 171-175. Biondi E., 2011. Phytosociology today: Methodologi- Di Stefano P. & Vitale F., 1992. Carta geologica dei cal and conceptual evolution. Plant Biosystems 145 Monti Sicani (Scala 1:50.000). Università degli Stu- (suppl. 1): 19-29. di di Palermo, Dipartimento di Geologia e Geodesia, Biondi E., Feoli E. & Zuccarello V., 2004. Modelling Palermo. environmental responses of plant associations: A re- Drago A., 2005. Atlante climatologico della Sicilia. view of some critical concepts in vegetation study. Seconda edizione. Riv. Ital. Agromet. 2: 67-83. Crit. Rev. Plant. Sci. 23 (2): 149-156. Elias T.S., 1970. The genera of Ulmaceae in the sou- Biondi E., Casavecchia S. & Pesaresi S., 2011. Phyto- theastern United States. J Arnold Arbor. 51: 18-40. sociological synrelevés and plant landscape map- Fiori A., 1823-29. Nuova Flora Analitica d’Italia. I-II. ping: From theory to practical application. Plant Tip. Ricci, Firenze. 26 L. Gianguzzi et al.

Géhu J.M. & Rivas-Martínez S., 1981. Notions fonda- Marcenò C., Ottonello D. & Romano S., 1995. Note mentales de phytosociologie. In Dierschke H. (Ed.), corologiche, ecologiche e fitosociologiche su nuovi Syntaxonomie: 5-33. Berichte der Internationalen popolamenti di Celtis aetnensis (Torn.) Strobl rinve- Symposien der Internationalen Vereinigung für Ve- nuti in Sicilia. Giorn. Bot. Ital. 129 (2): 275. getationkunde. J Cramer, Vaduz. Marcenò C., Ottonello D. & Romano S., 2002. Inqua- Géhu J. M., 2011. On the opportunity to celebrate the dramento fitosociologico dei popolamenti a Celtis centenary of modern phytosociology in 2010. Plant tournefortii Lam. di Caltabellotta (Sicilia sud-occi- Biosystems 145 (suppl. 1): 4-8. dentale). Fitosociologia 39 (1): 109-113. Gianguzzi L., 1999. Flora e vegetazione dei Nebrodi. Marino P., Castellano G., Bazan G. & Schicchi R., Itinerari didattici. Regione Siciliana, Sezioni Opera- 2005. Carta del paesaggio e della biodiversità vege- tive per l’Assistenza Tecnica nn° 5, 7, 8, 10 e 11, pp. tale dei Monti Sicani Sud-Orientali (Sicilia centro- 232. Arti Grafiche Zuccarello, S. Agata di Militello occidentale). Quad. Bot. Amb. Appl. 16: 3-60. (ME). Marino P. & Castellano G., 2006. La popolazione di Gianguzzi L., Cusimano D., Gianguzzi G. & Roma- Celtis asperrima Lojacono (Ulmaceae Magnolio- no S., 2014. Distribution, ecology and conservation phyta) dei monti Sicani sud orientali (Sicilia centro- survey on the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis occidentale). Naturalista Sicil. n.s. 30 (1): 127-130. (Celtidaceae-Cannabaceae) populations in Sicily. Mascle G., 1974. Carte géologique des Monts Sicani Webbia 69 (2) (in press) (scale 1:100000). Officine Grafiche Ires, Palermo. Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A. & Rigoglioso A., 2000. Micevski K., 1993. The Flora of the Republic of Ma- Fitosociologia applicata alla conservazione di aree cedonia. Vol. 1, book 2. Macedonian Acad. Sci & protette in Sicilia: indagini preliminari per una car- Arts. Skopje (in Macedonian). tografia della vegetazione del Bosco della Ficuzza e Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d'Italia 1-3. Edagricole, Bo- Rocca Busambra (scala 1:10000). Atti del 95° Con- logna. gresso Società Botanica Italiana su “Problematiche Podani J., 2001. SYN-TAX 2000. Computer programs di Biologia Vegetale in Ambiente Mediterraneo”, for data analysis in ecology and systematics. User’s Messina 28-30 Settembre 2000, 195 pp. manual. Scientia, Budapest. Gianguzzi L., La Mantia A. & Rigoglioso A., 2002. Poli E., Maugeri G. & D'urso A., 1973. La Celtis Synphytosociological and ecological analysis of tournefortii Lam. sull'Etna. Arch. Bot. Biogeogr. landscape applied to the management of protected Ital. 50 (1-2): 27-50. areas in Sicily. 3. “Bosco Ficuzza-Rocca Busambra“ Poli E., Maugeri G. & D'urso A., 1974. La Celtis Natural Reserve. In Procedings IUFRO Conferen- tournefortii Lam. sull'Etna. Inform. Bot. Ital. 5 (2): ce (Corona P, Folving S, Marchetti M, editors) on 157-158. Collecting and analyzing information for sustainable Poli E., Maugeri G. & Ronsisvalle G., 1981. Note il- forest management and biodiversity monitoring with lustrative della carta della vegetazione dell'Etna. special reference to mediterranean ecosystems, 4-7 C.N.R., P.F. "Promozione Qualità dell'Ambiente". december 2001, Palermo (Italy), pp. 72-75. Serie AQ/1/131. Roma, 29 pp. Gianguzzi L. & La Mantia A., 2004. Le serie di ve- Pott R., 2011. Phytosociology: A modern geobotanical getazione della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Bosco method. Plant Biosystems 145 (suppl. 1): 9-18. Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Rivas-Martínez S., 2005. Notions on dynamic-catenal Gorgo del Drago” con allegata carta della vegetazio- phytosociology as a basis of landscape science. ne (scala 1:20 000). Naturalista Sicil. 28 (1): 205- Plant Biosystems 139: 135-144. 242. Rivas-Martínez S., Fernández-González F., Loidi J., Giardina G., 1990. Segnalazioni Floristiche Italiane: Lousa M. & Penas A., 2001. Syntaxonomical chec- 574-576. Inform. Bot. Ital. 20 (2-3) (1988): 678-679. klist of vascular plant communities of Spain and Giardina G., Raimondo F. M. & Spadaro V., 2007. A Portugal to association level. Itinera Geobotanica 14 catalogue of plants growing in Sicily. Bocconea 20: (2): 5-341. 1-582. Rivas-Martínez S., Díaz-González T.E., Fernández- Jalas J. & Suominen J. (Eds.), 1976. Atlas Florae Eu- González F., Izco J., Lousa M. & Penas A., 2002. ropaeae. Distribution of vascular plants in Europe: Vascular plant communities of Spain and Portugal. 3. Salicaceae to Balanophoraceae. Helsinki, 128 pp. Addenda to the syntaxonomical checklist of 2001. Lentini F., Catalano S. & Carbone S. (a cura di), Itinera Geobotanica 15 (1): 5-432; (2): 433-922. 2000. Nota illustrativa della Carta geologica della Romano R., 1999. Mt. Etna, Carta naturalistica e turi- Provincia di Messina (Sicilia nord-orientale), scala stica (scala 1:60.000). C.A.I. Club Alpino Italiano, 1:50000, 3 fogli. S.El.Ca, Firenze, 70 pp. S.E.L.CA. Lojacono Pojero M., 1888-1909. Flora sicula I (1-2), II Schicchi R. & Marino P., 2011. Taxa relitti della flora (1-2), III. Tip. Virzì, Palermo. forestale siciliana e problemi di conservazione. Bio- Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods in Sicily 27

geogr 30: 141-150. 17 of Tab. 1); rel. 19, Pizzo Telegrafo (Caltabellotta, Sytsma K.J., Morawetz J., Pires J.C., Nepokroeff M., Agrigento), at Contrada Cavallaro, 08.04.2008; rel. Conti E., Zjhra M., Hall J.C. & Chase M.W., 2002. 20, Pizzo Telegrafo (Caltabellotta, Agrigento), east of Urticalean Rosids: Circumscription, Rosid ancestry, Contrada Inchiusa, 03.06.2008; rel. 21-24, Pizzo Te- and phylogenetics based on rbcL, trnL-F, and ndhF legrafo (Caltabellotta, Agrigento), detrital coverages sequences. Amer. J. of Bot. 89: 1531-1546. in the depressions between Contrada Canneria and Troìa A., 1997. Taxonomic and eco-geographical notes Contrada Catusa, 03.06.2008; rel. 25, Pizzo Telegra- on Celtis tournefortii Lam. (Ulmaceae, Celtidoide- fo (Caltabellotta, Agrigento), upper part of Contrada ae) in Sicily. Naturalista Sicil. s. 4, 21 (1-2): 83-92. Inchiusa, 03.06.2008; rel. 26, Pizzo Telegrafo (Bi- Troìa A. & Ilardi V., 2002. Segnalazioni floristiche per sacquino, Palermo), at Cozzo Pozzillo, 03.06.2008; la provincia di Agrigento. Naturalista Sicil. s. 4, 26 rel. 27-28, Pizzo Telegrafo (Caltabellotta, Agrigen- (3-4): 147-153. to), detrital coverages in the depressions west of the Tutin T.G., Heywood V.H., Burges N.A., Valentine summit, 22.10.2008; artemisietosum arborescentis D.H., Walters S.M. & Webb D.A. (Eds.), 1964-1980. subass. nova (rel. 29-30): rel. 29, Cesarò (Messina), Flora Europaea. Vol. 1-5. Cambridge University south-eastern slope of Rocca Rapiti, 22.10.2008; rel. Press, Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne. 30, Cesarò (Messina), south-western slope of Rocca Tutin T.G., Heywood V.H., Burges N.A., Chater A.O., Nadore, 22.10.2008; rhamnetosum alaterni subass. Edmonson J.R., Heywood V.H., Moore D.M., Valen- nova (rel. 31-36): rel. 31, Bronte (Catania), along a ro- tine D.H., Walters S.M. & Webb D.A. (Eds.), 1993. cky escarpment on the Simeto River, 22.10.2008; rel. Flora Europaea. 2nd Ed. Cambridge University 32-36, Etna, Adrano (Catania), on an old lava flow in Press, Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne. Contrada Fumata, at the Bronte-Schettino crossroads, Ueda K., Kosuge K. & Tobe H., 1997. A molecular 10.06.2011. phylogeny of Celtidaceae and Ulmaceae (Urticales) based on rbcL. Journal of Plant Research 110: 171- Appendix 2: Sporadic species 178. Weber H.E., Moravec J. & Theurillat J.-P., 2000. Inter- Ferula communis L. subsp. communis + (2), 1 (13), + national Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. (31), + (32), + (33); Thapsia garganica L. subsp. gar- 3rd ed. J Veg Sci 11: 739-768, Translated into Ita- ganica + (4), + (31), + (32), + (33), + (34); Centranthus lian by: Scoppola A. Fitosociologia 39 (1) (suppl. 1): ruber (L.) DC. 1 (11), + (13), 1 (30), 1 (36); Torilis 5-48 (2002). Falconara Marittima, Ancona. arvensis (Huds.) Link subsp. arvensis 2 (4), + (5), + Whittemore A.T., 2005. Genetic structure, lack of (10), + (26); Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. vulgare introgression, and taxonomic status in the Celtis + (16), 1 (17), + (20), + (25); Parietaria judaica L. + laevigata-C. reticulata complex (Cannabaceae). J. (19), + (21), 1 (22), + (28); Bituminaria bituminosa Systematic Botany 30 (4): 809-817. (L.) E. H. Stirton + (11), + (12), + (16), + (25); Lactu- Zieliński J., Petrova A. & Natcheva R., 2012. New ca viminea (L.) J. & C. Presl + (31), + (32), + (34), + species for the Bulgarian flora. Phytologia Balcanica (36); Urtica pilulifera L. + (21), 2 (22); + (28); Fuma- 18 (2): 197-204. ria capreolata L. subsp. capreolata 1 (8), + (9), + (10); Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. nepeta + (14), + Appendix 1: Location and data of relevés (31), 1 (35); Melica ciliata L. subsp. ciliata + (20), + (25), 1 (35); Origanum heracleoticum L. + (23), 1 (24), Table 1: rel. 1-5, Pizzo Telegrafo (Bisacquino, Paler- + (25); Calystegia sylvatica (Kit.) Griseb. + (8), + (26), mo), Contrada S. Biagio, 02.05.2008; rel. 6-7, Pizzo + (27); Isatis tinctoria L. subsp. canescens (DC.) Ar- Telegrafo (Bisacquino, Palermo), Contrada S. Bia- cang. 1 (11), + (36); Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb. + gio, 09.01.2014; rel. 8-10, Pizzo Telegrafo (Bisac- (19), 1 (33); Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke subsp. quino, Palermo), upper part of Contrada S. Biagio, vulgaris + (34), + (36); Rumex scutatus L. + (35), + 04.05.2008; rel. 11, Pizzo Castelluzzo (S. Stefano (36); Polypodium cambricum L. 2 (31); Brassica rupe- Quisquina, Palermo), southern slope, 03.05.2008; rel. stris Raf. subsp. rupestris 1 (25); Elymus panormitanus 12, Rocca Busambra (Corleone, Palermo), below the (Parl.) Tzvelev 1 (25); Theligonum cynocrambe L. + cliffs of Contrada Pirrello, 09.01.2014; rel. 13, Roc- (3); Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth + (26); Galium ver- ca Busambra (Corleone, Palermo), above Piano Pi- rucosum Huds. subsp. verrucosum + (33). lato, at Casale di Sopra, 05.05.2008; rel. 14, Rocca Busambra (Corleone, Palermo), below the cliffs of Appendix 3: List of the other syntaxa reported in Contrada Pirrello, 08.10.2008; phlomidetosum fruti- the text cosae subass. nova (rel. 15-28): rel. 15-18, Pizzo Te- legrafo (Caltabellotta, Agrigento), at Contrada Caval- Aceri campestris-Quercetum ilicis Brullo 1984; Dian- laro (from Marcenò et al. 2002, relevés 13,14,15 and thion rupicolae Brullo & Marcenò 1979; Euphorbie- 28 L. Gianguzzi et al. tum dendroidis Guinochet in Guinochet & Drounieau nò 1985; Oleo oleaster-Quercetum virgilianae Brullo 1944; Euphorbietum dendroidis Guinochet in Guino- 1984; Rhamno alaterni-Quercetum ilicis Brullo & chet & Drounieau 1944 subass. celtidetosum tourne- Marcenò 1985; Teucrio siculi-Quercetum ilicis Genti- fortii Marcenò, Ottonello & Romano 2002; Festuco le 1969 em. Brullo & Marcenò 1985. heterophyllae-Quercetum congestae Brullo & Marce-