taxonomical and phytogeographical investigations on the flora and

TAXONOMICAL AND PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL INVESTIGATIONS
ON THE FLORA AND VEGETATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
AREA
Salvatore Brullo (Full Professor)
salvo.brullo@gmail.com
Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo (Associate
Professor)
Giuseppina Bartolo (Researcher)
Santa Gloria Pulvirenti (Researcher)
Pietro Minissale (Researcher)
Maria Carmen Terrasi (Researcher)
Saverio Sci<strong>and</strong>rello (Scholarship Holder)
Cristian Brullo (Temporary Research
Associate)
Carmelo Maria Musarella (PhD Student)
Leonardo Scuderi (PhD Student)
Fig. 1 Asperula peloritana Brullo et al.
The <strong>investigations</strong> carried out by us are chiefly focused on the flora <strong>and</strong> vegetation of the
Mediterranean area. In particular, our researches regard taxonomy, karyology, plant
distribution, <strong>and</strong> ecology of rare species or critical groups, in order to clarify their systematic
<strong>and</strong> phylogenetic position. Furthermore, the plant communities characterizing the
Mediterranean environment are examined from the ecological, syn<strong>taxonomical</strong>, <strong>and</strong>
conservation viewpoint.
Keywords: Flora, Vegetation, Mediterranean, Taxonomy, Phytogeography
1. Taxonomy, karyology, phylogeny of the Mediterranean plants
The Mediterranean flora is still not well known, since there are many critical species or groups
requiring in-depth studies aiming at clarify their systematic position. Such <strong>investigations</strong> are mainly
based on the observation of living or dried material for the morphological analyses, micromorphological
structures of seeds, fruits <strong>and</strong> pollens, leaf anatomy, chromosome number <strong>and</strong>
structure of the karyotypes, as well as the biomolecular examination of nuclear, plastidial <strong>and</strong>
ribosomal genoma. The nomenclatural researches, based on literature <strong>and</strong> herbarium data, are
extremely useful to trace the type specimens of a given taxon. The ecological requirements,
geographical distributions, conservation status <strong>and</strong> <strong>taxonomical</strong> relationships of the surveyed taxa
are examined too. These <strong>investigations</strong> allow a better definition of the systematic position of the taxa,
often bringing to the recognition of species new to science thus increasing the biodiversity of the
Mediterranean flora. Among the numerous examined genera can be mentioned: Allium, Limonium,
Astragalus, Armeria, Scilla, Silene, Dianthus, Chiliadenus, Anthemis, Centaurea, Peucedanum,
Thapsia, Hypericum, Helianthemum, Sedum, Crassula, Asperula, Ophrys, Limodorum, Serapias,
Epipactis, Bellevalia, Koeleria, Cephalaria, etc., in which many new species were described or was

clarified the <strong>taxonomical</strong> position of many critical species.
2. Chromosomal studies on Mediterranean orchids
Karyological studies on the orchids occurring in Mediterranean territories were carried out. For these
<strong>investigations</strong> were used ovules from immature ovaries <strong>and</strong> treated using Feulgen <strong>and</strong> Giemsa
b<strong>and</strong>ing methods. The first technique allows to examine the metaphase plates in order to verify the
chromosome complement <strong>and</strong> to elaborate the karyotype, while the second one allows to highlight
the heterochromatin distribution in the each chromosome. In particular, the examined species are
Epipactis aspromontana, Epipactis schubertiorum, Neottia nidus-avis, Oprhys ferrum-equinum <strong>and</strong>
Ophrys oestrifera, all coming from various localities of Sicily, Italy <strong>and</strong> Greece.
3. Botanical museology
Investigations regarding the history <strong>and</strong> the present arrangement of the Sicilian Botanical Garden
from Catania allowed to reconstruct the origin <strong>and</strong> the subsequent modifications of the planimetry, as
well as the placing <strong>and</strong> changes of the plants. Since its foundation, this botanical garden undergone
remarkable changes as concerns the architecture <strong>and</strong> floristic settlement. Purposes <strong>and</strong> functions of
the botanical garden changed many times depending to the different historical periods <strong>and</strong>
viewpoints of its Directors. Afterwards, the Sicilian Botanical Garden has been undergone substantial
restorations in line with the most recent ecological criteria. Actually, it is arranged in various sectors
reproducing the typical habitats of the Sicilian l<strong>and</strong>scape. The most characteristic species, most of
which are endemic, has been placed in each habitat. In this view, the Sicilian Botanical Garden has
the purpose to ensure the ex-situ conservation of many endangered species, <strong>and</strong> intends to show to
the public a cross-section of the Sicilian l<strong>and</strong>scape, thus favouring a more acquaint environmental
awareness.
4. Phytosociology <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape studies
Environmental studies are extremely important for the recognition of the plant communities
characterizing the Sicilian l<strong>and</strong>scape. In particular, such studies are useful <strong>and</strong> essential for many
types of habitat restoration plans, environmental improvement, plant monitoring programmes, l<strong>and</strong>
management, <strong>and</strong> so on. These studies are chiefly based on the phytosociological method, which
allows a floristic, ecological, structural, syndinamic, functional, <strong>and</strong> syn<strong>taxonomical</strong> characterization
of each plant community. These researches are also implemented with cartographic studies of the
natural vegetation, thus providing an updated informatic database of the distribution of the plant
communities occurring in a given territory. Such database are extremely important since they are
useful for ensuring a better management of the natural areas (Reserves, SCI, SPZ, <strong>and</strong> natural
parks). In particular, several studies have been carried out for the survey of the Sicilian vegetation,
<strong>and</strong> many other Mediterranean territories. Special studies focused on some peculiar vegetation types
(such as dry grassl<strong>and</strong>s, evergreen oak-woods, etc.) have been carried out too.
5. Conservation of plants biodiversity
The biodiversity crisis, due to various human activities, is a topic of great relevance, <strong>and</strong> requires
appropriate management <strong>and</strong> conservation policies supported by adequate knowledge on the
consistency <strong>and</strong> conservation status of species, habitats <strong>and</strong> ecosystems. In this regard, the
implementation <strong>and</strong> updating of "red lists", as strongly suggested by the Global Strategy for Plant
Conservation (GSPC/CBD) <strong>and</strong> the European Plant Conservation Strategy (EPCS), are of
fundamental importance <strong>and</strong> constitute an indispensable tool for the l<strong>and</strong> management. We
developed these issues through the use of st<strong>and</strong>ards proposed by the World Conservation Union
(IUCN), on species of Italian <strong>and</strong> Sicilian flora. Other fields of this issue is the knowledge of plant
biodiversity in protected areas, useful for the planning <strong>and</strong> management of these areas.

Fig. 2 Metaphase plate <strong>and</strong> idiogram of Bellevalia pelagica Brullo et al.
Collaborations <strong>and</strong> Research Grants
• Prof. Cristina Salmeri (University of Palermo, Italy)
• Prof. Giuseppe Bazan (University of Palermo, Italy)
• Dr. Riccardo Guarino (University of Palermo, Italy)
• Prof. Giovanni Spampinato (University of Reggio Calabria, Italy)
• Prof. Gianluigi Bacchetta (University of Cagliari, Italy)
• Prof. Antonio Scrugli (University of Cagliari, Italy)
• Prof. Josep A. Rosselló (University of Valencia, Spain)
• Dr. S<strong>and</strong>ro Bogdanovic (University of Zagabria, Croatia)
• Dr. Antun Alegro (University of Zagabria, Croatia)
• Dr. Corrado Marcenò (Palermo, Italy)
• Dr. Salvatore Pasta (Palermo, Italy)
• Dr. Saverio D'Emerico (Bari, Italy)
• ENI S.p.a (Roma, Italy)
Selected Publications
• Brullo, C., Brullo, S., Pasta, S. (2009). Bellevalia pelagica (Hyacinthaceae), a new species from the islet
of Lampione (Pelagian Archipelago, Sicily) in Edinb. J. Bot. 66(1), 1-11
• Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G., Minissale, P. (2009). Taxonomical revision of Koeleria splendens C.
Presl group (Poaceae) in the Italian territory in Pl. Biosystems 143(1), 140-161
• Bogdanović, S., Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G. & Salmeri, C. (2009). A new autumn-flowering species
of Allium (Alliaceae) from Croatia in Folia Geobot. 44, 83-93.
• Brullo, S., Gianguzzi, L., La Mantia, A., Siracusa, G. (2009). La classe Quercetea ilicis in Sicilia in Boll.
Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. 41(369), 1-77.
• Brullo, C., Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G., Pavone, P., Salmeri, C. (2009). Prospero hierae
(Hyacinthaceae), a new species from Marettimo Isl<strong>and</strong> (Sicily) in Phyton (Horn, Austria) 49(1), 93-104.

• Brullo, C., Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G., Scuderi, L. (2009). Taxonomical notes on the Sicilian
populations of Asperula gussonei Boiss. (Rubiaceae): A peloritana sp. nov. in Anal. Jard. Bot. Madrid
66(1), 85-92.
• Brullo, S., Guglielmo, A., Pasta, S., Pavone, P., Salmeri, C. (2009). Note citotassonomiche sul genere
Thapsia L. (Apiaceae) in Inf. Bot. Ital. 40(suppl.3), 41-48.
• Brullo, C., Brullo, S. (2009). Considerazioni su alcune specie critiche della flora sicula in SBI Gruppo per
la Floristica, 43-44, Roma.
• Alegro, A., Bogdanović, S., Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G. (2009). Astragalus croaticus (Fabaceae), a
new species from Croatia in Ann. Bot. Fennici 46, 569-573.
• Rosselló, J.A., Cosín, R., Bacchetta, G., Brullo, S., Mayol, M. (2009). Nuclear <strong>and</strong> chloroplast DNA
variation in Cephalaria squamiflora (Dipsacaceae), a disjunct Mediterranean species in Taxon 58(4),
1242-1253.
• Brullo, S., Pavone, P., Salmeri, C., Terrasi, M.C (2009). Allium garganicum (Alliaceae), a new species
from Apulia (SE Italy) in Pl. Biosyst. 143(Suppl.), 78-84.
• Brullo, C, Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G, Guarino, R., Minissale, P., Scuderi, L., Siracusa, G.,
Sci<strong>and</strong>rello, S., Spampinato, G. (2010). The Lygeo-Stipetea class in Sicily in Ann. Bot. (Roma) 0, 57-84.
• Bacchetta, G., Brullo, S., Casti, M., Giusso del Galdo, G. (2010). Taxonomic revision of the Dianthus
sylvestris group (Caryophyllaceae) in central-southern Italy, Sicily <strong>and</strong> Sardinia in Nordic J. Bot. 28, 137-
173.
• Brullo, C., Brullo, S., Giusso del Galdo, G., Salmeri, C. (2010). Allium makrianum (Alliaceae), a new
autumnal species from Greece in Phyton (Horn, Austria) 49, 267-278.
• Bazan, G., Brullo, S., Raimondo, F.M., Schicchi, R. (2010). La serie di vegetazione della Regione Sicilia
in Blasi C. (ed.), La vegetazione d’Italia, 429-469. Palombi & Partner S.r.l., Roma.
• Bacchetta, G., Brullo, S. (2010). Astragalus tegulensis Bacch. & Brullo (Fabaceae), a new species from
Sardinia in C<strong>and</strong>ollea 65, 5-14.
• Bacchetta, G., Brullo, S., Salmeri, C. (2010). Hypericum scruglii sp. nov. (Guttiferae) from Sardinia in
Nordic J. Bot. 28, 469-474.
• Bartolo, G., Brullo, C., D'Emerico, S., Pulvirenti, S , Scrugli, A. & Terrasi, M.C. (2010). Advances in
chromosomal studies in Neottiae (Orchidaceae): constitutive heterocromatin, chromosomal
rearrangements <strong>and</strong> speciation in Caryologia 63(2), 184-191.
• Bartolo, G., D'Emerico, S., Pulvirenti, S. (2010). Studio cariologico di Ophrys ferrum–equinum
Desfontaines e Ophrys oestrifera Steven della Grecia (Orchidaceae) in J. Eur. Orch. 42(3/4), 535 540.
• Bartolo, G., Brullo, C. & Pulvirenti, S. (2010). Storia scientifica e assetto attuale dell’Orto siculo
dell’Università di Catania in Boll. Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. 42(372), 139-160.
• Brullo, C., Giusso del Galdo, G., Marcenò, C., Minissale, P., Sci<strong>and</strong>rello, S. (2010). Schede per una
Lista Rossa della Flora Italiana - Leopoldia gussonei Parl. Inform. Bot. Ital. 42(2), 609-611.
• Brullo, C., Giusso del Galdo, G., Minissale, P., Sci<strong>and</strong>rello, S. (2010). Schede per una Lista Rossa della
Flora Italiana - Helianthemum sicanorum Brullo, Giusso & Sci<strong>and</strong>rello. Inform. Bot. Ital. 42 (2), 604-605.
• Messina, F., Minissale, P. (2010). Schede per una Lista Rossa della Flora Italiana - Sisymbrella dentata
(L.) O.E.Schulz. Inform. Bot. Ital. 42(2), 624-626.
• Minissale, P., Sci<strong>and</strong>rello, S. (2010). Flora e vegetazione terrestre della Riserva Naturale di Vendicari
(Sicilia sud-orientale). In: Petralia A.. Atti del convegno "L'area protetta di Vendicari" - Case Cittadella
Vendicari 25-26 ottobre 2008. p. 131-194, NOTO: Ente Fauna Siciliana.