La flora vascolare e lichenica della Riserva Naturale Grotta Conza (Sicilia nord-occidentale). – Naturalista sicil., s. 4, 33 (1-2): 3-68.

Abstract

Vascular and lichenic flora of Grotta Conza Nature Reserve (NW Sicily). Based on field investigation, bibliographic and herbarium researches we present a vascular and lichen flora of Grotta Conza Nature Reserve, a protected area of speleological and antropological interest located along the northern slopes of Pizzo Manolfo, very close the city of Palermo. The main outcrops of the area are represented by limestones of mesozoic and tertiary origin, while, bioclimate can be referred to thermomediterranean thermotype with subhumid ombrotype. Landscape, strongly influenced by the past prolonged historical utilization of the territory, shows total absence of primary woodlands, whose place is now taken by secondary vegetation aspects (grasslands, shrublands etc.). Vascular flora of this area includes 372 infrageneric taxa, belonging to 254 genera and 73 families. Endemic taxa are represented by 14 entities (3,76% of total) among which there are: Asperula rupestris Tineo, Cymbalaria pubescens (C. Presl.) Cufod., Helichrysum panormitanum Tineo ex Guss., Eryngium bocconii Lam., Ophrys explanata (Lojac.) P. Delforge, Polygala preslii Sprengel, Dianthus rupicola Biv. subsp. rupicola, Iberis semperflorens L., Micromeria fruticulosa (Bertol.) Šilič. Other taxa are of a certain phytogeographical interest, such as Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br. subsp. rupestris (Rafin) Nyman, Crepis bursifolia L. e Klasea flavescens (L.) Holub subsp. mucronata (Desf.) Cantò & Rivas Mart. The lichenic flora is represented by 49 entities, belonging to 5 orders, 16 families and 25 genera.