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Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor...
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Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 December 2024 | Viewed by 11548

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Giuseppe Venturella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Palermo, Italy
Interests: fungal and plant taxonomy; biodiversity; medicinal mushrooms; forest and urban diversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gianniantonio Domina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: plant nomenclature; taxonomy; Mediterranean flora; alien plants; conservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a collection of botanical articles published in honor of Professor Francesco Maria Raimondo to celebrate his 80th birthday and his activity in the field of botany. their will be a collection of contributions from scholars and colleagues who know and often collaborate with him on different aspects of botany in the Mediterranean area. Flora is one of Raimondo’s major scientific interests, which was investigated by him from the points of view of systematics, chorology, phytogeography and ecology; in particular, he has discovered and described new Mediterranean species. Other research carried out by Prof. Raimondo has been related to the biodiversity of different taxonomic groups in the Mediterranean area, with particular regard for Mountain vegetation, wetlands, cartography, geobotany, ornamental flora of parks and gardens, phytochemistry, etc.

This Special Issue will include all of these aspects of the most advanced botanical research in the Mediterranean Area.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Venturella
Dr. Gianniantonio Domina
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Mediterranean
  • plant Science
  • flora
  • vegetation
  • taxonomy
  • conservation
  • phytochemistry
  • aliens
  • fungi
  • lichens
  • bryophytes
  • ornamental plants
  • seed banks

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 810 KiB  
Article
Protective Effects of Wild Sulla coronaria (Fabaceae) Flowers Phytocomplex in Human Dermal Fibroblasts Stimulated with Interleukin-1β
by Giuseppe Antonio Malfa, Simone Bianchi, Vivienne Spadaro, Ekaterina Kozuharova, Pasquale Marino, Francesco Pappalardo, Claudia Di Giacomo and Rosaria Acquaviva
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2748; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192748 - 30 Sep 2024
Abstract
Sulla coronaria is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. It is grown as fodder in southern Italy because it contains various secondary metabolites with beneficial activities on animals. Recently, its potential use in cosmeceutical treatments for skin problems was reported. In this scenario, to [...] Read more.
Sulla coronaria is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. It is grown as fodder in southern Italy because it contains various secondary metabolites with beneficial activities on animals. Recently, its potential use in cosmeceutical treatments for skin problems was reported. In this scenario, to contribute to a possible cosmeceutical application, we characterized the phytochemical profile of Sulla coronaria flowers’ hydroalcoholic extract by HPLC-DAD, Folin-Ciocalteu, Aluminum Chloride methods, DPPH assay, and, for the first time, we evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities on dermal fibroblasts. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the significant content of phenolic compounds (TPC 69.8 ± 0.6 mg GAE/g extract, TFC 15.07 mg CE/g extract) and the remarkable presence of rutin, quercetin, and isorhamnetin derivatives that give to the phytocomplex a good antioxidant activity as highlighted by the DPPH assay (IC50 of 8.04 ± 0.5 µg/mL). Through the reduction in NO• and ROS levels in human dermal fibroblasts, the biological tests demonstrated both the safety of the extract and its ability to counteract the inflammatory state generated by Interleukin-1β exposure. Our findings indicate that the antioxidant activities of the phytocomplex are strictly related to the anti-inflammatory action of the Sulla coronaria flowers extract, confirming that this plant could be a valuable source of bioactive molecules for cosmeceutical and nutraceutical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
23 pages, 4666 KiB  
Article
Checklist of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and Succulents of Apulia (Southern Italy)
by Giuseppe Venturella, Emilio Di Gristina, Raimondo Pardi, Fortunato Cirlincione and Maria Letizia Gargano
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2463; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172463 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 186
Abstract
In this study we focused on the need to fill a knowledge gap among Italian botanical studies namely that of ornamental species census. In particular, we addressed one of the regions in southern Italy with less knowledge in the field of such studies [...] Read more.
In this study we focused on the need to fill a knowledge gap among Italian botanical studies namely that of ornamental species census. In particular, we addressed one of the regions in southern Italy with less knowledge in the field of such studies and with an obvious presence of non-native species. A widespread census of the Apulian territory was carried out between 2021 and 2024 in both urban and suburban areas including street trees, parks, and private and historic gardens. The inventory of ornamental trees, shrubs, and succulents of Apulia (southern Italy) was carried out in six provinces, i.e., Bari, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, and Taranto. The checklist comprises 287 taxa (including 265 species, 6 varieties, 5 subspecies, and 11 forms) included in 179 genera belonging to 78 families. We evaluated the number of taxa per families and genera, the presence of each taxa in the provinces of Apulia, the number of taxa per occurrence status, growth forms, geographical origin, and the number of native and alien taxa and also the artificial hybrids. Remarks of the most significant taxa and evaluation of geographical distribution in Italy were also taken into consideration. A large number of surveyed taxa (51.74%) are comprised in the list reported in the recent study on allochthonous vascular flora in Italy with a marked prevalence of Neophyte Casual Alien and Neophyte Naturalized Alien species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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16 pages, 3083 KiB  
Article
Exploring Ethnobotany in the Catalan Linguistic Area: Traditional Plant-Based Knowledge for Addressing Gastrointestinal, Metabolic, and Nutritional Disorders
by Fuencisla Cáceres, Joan Vallès and Airy Gras
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2453; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172453 - 2 Sep 2024
Viewed by 244
Abstract
Ethnobotanical research in the Catalan linguistic area (CLA) is crucial due to the persistence of traditional medicinal plant knowledge. Gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders are major global health issues requiring effective treatments. This study aimed to analyze plants used for these disorders in [...] Read more.
Ethnobotanical research in the Catalan linguistic area (CLA) is crucial due to the persistence of traditional medicinal plant knowledge. Gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders are major global health issues requiring effective treatments. This study aimed to analyze plants used for these disorders in the CLA, compare the findings with phytotherapy literature, and examine correlations between plant use in humans and animals. Data were sourced from the database of the research group of Catalan ethnobotany at the University of Barcelona and the Botanic Institute of Barcelona, representing a collection of ethnobotanical studies. A total of 630 plant taxa were examined, with 15,252 use reports (UR) provided by 2301 informants. Gastrointestinal disorders were the focus, comprising 94.24% of the UR. The high informant consensus factor (0.96) indicated strong reliability of the results. The most often reported species were Matricaria recutita (5.97%), Thymus vulgaris (5.12%), and Lippia triphylla (4.90%). Lamiaceae (19.86%), Asteraceae (18.78%), and Rosaceae (5.55%) were the top botanical families. The main uses were digestive (17.62%), intestinal anti-inflammatory (15.68%), and antidiarrheal (8.91%). The main part of the plant used was the aerial part (33.22%). Tisane (69.25%) was the most cited pharmaceutical form. Traditional uses were confirmed by pharmacological literature in 57.59% of cases. This work highlights the potential of medicinal plants for treating gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders in the CLA. Further research is possible in other territories, as well as in the phytochemical and medicinal aspects of the plants recorded. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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20 pages, 2080 KiB  
Article
Relicts of Threatened Biodiversity: Similarities and Differences among the 7230 EU Habitat Plant Communities on Montane Plateaus of Central Apennines, Italy
by Giampiero Ciaschetti, Safiya Praleskouskaya and Roberto Venanzoni
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101282 - 7 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 897
Abstract
The habitats protected by the European Union (EU) include most peat vegetation, such as mires, swamp mires, fens, and peat bogs—all belonging to the classes Oxycocco–Sphagnetea and Scheuchzerio–Caricetea fuscae and carrying the Habitat Codes 71xx and 72xx. These types of [...] Read more.
The habitats protected by the European Union (EU) include most peat vegetation, such as mires, swamp mires, fens, and peat bogs—all belonging to the classes Oxycocco–Sphagnetea and Scheuchzerio–Caricetea fuscae and carrying the Habitat Codes 71xx and 72xx. These types of vegetation are typical of cold and cool temperate climates, while they become rarer in Southern Europe where Mediterranean influences prevail, representing relic fragments of the past glacial climatic conditions there. Because of their limited extension and the increasing warmth and drought due to climate change, they are seriously threatened. Even if many studies were performed, their richness and distribution across Europe are still not well–understood, and only a few examples are known from the Central and Southern Apennines to date. In order to provide the syntaxonomical classification of the alkaline fens referable to the EU Habitat 7230 found on the mountain plateaus of the Central Apennines, we analyzed their species structure and flora composition, together with their chorological and ecological characteristics. We also evaluated their conservation status, pressures, and threats. The alkaline fens of the Central Apennines are found to be poorer in diagnostic species when compared to similar communities of Central and Northern Europe. However, they are rich in the species of the surrounding meadows and pastures. Among them, the new subassociation Caricetum davallianae caricetosum hostianae is described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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44 pages, 524 KiB  
Article
The Greuter Herbarium in Palermo: An Inventory of Its Type Specimens Available Online, with Some Thoughts on Type Terminology (Occasional Papers from the Herbarium Greuter, N° 5)
by Werner Greuter
Plants 2024, 13(8), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13081086 - 12 Apr 2024
Viewed by 804
Abstract
The separately stored type herbarium of the Herbarium Greuter in Palermo is comprised of 339 sheets, corresponding to 336 specimens pertaining to 328 different names. Material from the Mediterranean area, especially Greece, predominates, followed by that from the Caribbean (Cuba) and Australia. The [...] Read more.
The separately stored type herbarium of the Herbarium Greuter in Palermo is comprised of 339 sheets, corresponding to 336 specimens pertaining to 328 different names. Material from the Mediterranean area, especially Greece, predominates, followed by that from the Caribbean (Cuba) and Australia. The list includes transcribed label data and links to the digital specimen images and to the protologue texts. A new type of terminology is introduced, with the terms “first-step holotype” and “second-step holotype” designating type categories parallel to the similar terms already in use for lectotypes, and the phrase “detailed here” is used as an equivalent to “designated here” in second-step typification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
11 pages, 1208 KiB  
Article
Main Poisonous and Allergenic Plant Species in Sicilian Gardens and Parks: Applications and Recommendations for Use
by Gianniantonio Domina, Emilio Di Gristina and Giulio Barone
Plants 2024, 13(7), 1031; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071031 - 5 Apr 2024
Viewed by 965
Abstract
This study identified the most common poisonous and allergenic plants occurring in Sicilian gardens and parks. Based on a survey conducted at 100 sites, a list was drawn up that reports the main biological and toxicological characteristics and ornamental uses of these plants. [...] Read more.
This study identified the most common poisonous and allergenic plants occurring in Sicilian gardens and parks. Based on a survey conducted at 100 sites, a list was drawn up that reports the main biological and toxicological characteristics and ornamental uses of these plants. A total of 137 taxa were recorded, of which 108 were poisonous and 32 were allergenic. The most represented families were the Solanaceae, Moraceae, Apocynaceae and Fabaceae. The most represented geographical contingents were the European and the Mediterranean. A large number of toxic and allergenic plants recorded in Sicilian parks and gardens cause gastrointestinal disorders, 21 of which are deadly poisonous. Based on the results, actions for the management of existing gardens and the construction of new ones are discussed. The importance of environmental education for the population starting from school age is stressed. These recommendations aim to preserve cultivated biodiversity and, at the same time, protect human and pet health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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14 pages, 1768 KiB  
Article
Wild and Micropropagated Artemisia eriantha Infusions: In Vitro Digestion Effects on Phenolic Pattern and Antioxidant Activity
by Rachele Rocchi, Marika Pellegrini, Paola Pittia and Loretta Pace
Plants 2024, 13(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13010085 - 27 Dec 2023
Viewed by 920
Abstract
This study investigated the in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion (GID) effects on wild and micropropagated Apennines Genepì infusions. Wild and micropropagated infusions were compared for their antioxidant activity, phenolic contents, and polyphenolic profiles before and after GID. Before digestion, the wild infusions had [...] Read more.
This study investigated the in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion (GID) effects on wild and micropropagated Apennines Genepì infusions. Wild and micropropagated infusions were compared for their antioxidant activity, phenolic contents, and polyphenolic profiles before and after GID. Before digestion, the wild infusions had higher amounts of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity than the micropropagated ones. Instead, after digestion, the differences in the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity between wild and micropropagated infusions were less pronounced. The changes in the TPC and phenolic profiles revealed the presence of several chemical transformations and rearrangements that resulted in compounds with different reactivity and antioxidant potential. Without enzyme actions, the wild infusion digest undergoes higher modifications than those obtained from the micropropagated ones. The current study offers the first concrete proof of the impact of GID on the polyphenolic chemicals present in infusions of wild and micropropagated Apennines Genepì and their antioxidant properties. Our findings are essential for future in-depth analyses of Apennine Genepì infusions and their potential impacts on human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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25 pages, 6138 KiB  
Article
Plants as Symbols of Power in the Achaemenid Iconography of Ancient Persian Monuments
by Giulia Caneva, Alessandro Lazzara and Zohreh Hosseini
Plants 2023, 12(23), 3991; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12233991 - 27 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3490
Abstract
The art of the Achaemenid Empire flourished in Ancient Persia from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE, and featured stone-carved monumental structures adorned with recurring zoological and floral patterns. Such representations clearly had a symbolic meaning intimately connected to religious expression and the [...] Read more.
The art of the Achaemenid Empire flourished in Ancient Persia from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE, and featured stone-carved monumental structures adorned with recurring zoological and floral patterns. Such representations clearly had a symbolic meaning intimately connected to religious expression and the will of deities. Considering the lack of any comprehensive analysis of botanical features, we investigate the recurring plant patterns and the variety of plants depicted. An analysis of the documentation referring mainly to monuments in the two main capitals of Darius I, Persepolis and Susa, showed the presence of certain repetitive elements, such as the so-called rosettes (composed variously of Asteraceae capitula and Nymphaea flowers), palms (Phoenix dactylifera, the tree of life), pines, flowers or bunches and metamorphic elements. Some plants are described in this paper for the first time in the context of Persian iconography, such as Mandragora officinalis in offering scenes as a symbol of fertility and protection against evil spirits, Pinus brutia var. eldarica as a symbol of immortality and elevation to the gods, and the capitula of Matricaria/Leucanthemum as solar symbols. Further interesting elements include cf. Myrtus communis in some crowns and probably cf. Ephedra sp. in offering scenes. Achaemenid art was deeply influenced by the Zoroastrian religion of ancient Persia with its great attention to nature as well as by the nearby civilizations of the Mesopotamian area and Egypt. Most elements were also associated with psychotropic or medicinal attributes, which contributed to their position as symbols of power. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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Review

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20 pages, 2533 KiB  
Review
Wild Species from the Family Apiaceae, Traditionally Used as Food in Some Mediterranean Countries
by Ekaterina Kozuharova, Giuseppe Antonio Malfa, Rosaria Acquaviva, Benito Valdes, Alla Aleksanyan, Daniela Batovska, Christina Stoycheva, Moh Rejdali, Abdel Rahman Al-Tawaha, Pasquale Marino and Vivienne Spadaro
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2324; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162324 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 555
Abstract
Mediterranean countries are a cauldron of cultural exchange, with a strong emphasis on wild plants in cuisine traditions. Many of these plants belong to the family Apiaceae. The common climate determines the common range of distribution. While many plants have wide distribution, the [...] Read more.
Mediterranean countries are a cauldron of cultural exchange, with a strong emphasis on wild plants in cuisine traditions. Many of these plants belong to the family Apiaceae. The common climate determines the common range of distribution. While many plants have wide distribution, the range of distribution of others is restricted to Western Mediterranean or North Africa. This review investigates wild plants from the family Apiaceae traditionally used as food in 13 study sites—11 countries in the Mediterranean and adjacent territories—the mainland and 3 islands. The aim is to trace patterns of native distribution versus consumption. As a result, 81 wild umbellifers are listed, traditionally used as food. Their consumption and distribution patterns are described and discussed. Interestingly in 8 of the 13 study sites (61.5%) are recorded 50 plant taxa (66.7% of all wild umbellifers, traditionally used as food) which are consumed in only one particular country. These are as follows: 8 taxa in Morocco, 9 taxa in Spain, 2 taxa in Sicily, 3 taxa in Bulgaria 3 taxa in Crete, 8 taxa in Armenia, 14 taxa in Turkey, and 3 taxa in Jordan. However, these 50 restrictedly consumed plants are distributed in more than one country (except 15 taxa, which are endemics). Many of the plants that are used in certain countries are not consumed by the neighboring people. The results of the two statistical tests, namely Jaccard index and heatmap clustering (double dendrogram), are discussed. The presence of an outlier, such as Bulgaria, which shares borders, history, and culture with Greece and Turkey, emphasizes the importance of local climate for plant distribution and consumption over cultural interactions. The same was observed for some pairs of countries, such as Spain and Morrocco and Turkey and Armenia, although they had the highest number of common plants that are both distributed and consumed as food. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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8 pages, 251 KiB  
Review
Vertebrate Pollination of Angiosperms in the Mediterranean Area: A Review
by Benito Valdés
Plants 2024, 13(6), 895; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060895 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 897
Abstract
For a long time, it was considered that entomogamy was the only pollination mechanism in the Mediterranean area. However, data recorded in this review prove that ornithogamy and saurogamy also take place. With the exception of the nectarivorous Cinnyris osea (Nectariniidae) which pollinates [...] Read more.
For a long time, it was considered that entomogamy was the only pollination mechanism in the Mediterranean area. However, data recorded in this review prove that ornithogamy and saurogamy also take place. With the exception of the nectarivorous Cinnyris osea (Nectariniidae) which pollinates the mistletoe Picosepalus acaciae in Israel, all birds responsible for the pollination of several plant species in this area are primarily insectivorous, sedentary, or migrating passerine birds, particularly Sylvia atricapilla, S. melanocephala, Phylloscopus collibita and Parus caeruleus. They contribute, together with insects, to the pollination of Anagyris foetida, three species of Scrophularia with big flowers, Rhamnus alaternus, Brassica oleracea, and some other plants. The lacertid lizard Podarcis lilfordi acts as a pollinating agent on several W Mediterranean islands, where it effectively pollinates Euphorbia dendroides, Cneorum tricocum, and presumably Rosmarinus officinalis and Chrithmum maritimum. The flowers of some other plant species are visited by birds or by Podarcis species in the Mediterranean area, where they could also contribute to their pollination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Botanical Research in the Mediterranean Area: Studies in Honor of Prof. Francesco Maria Raimondo on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Biogeographical and ecological patterns of the bryophytic flora inhabiting the small islands surrounding the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia.

Silvia Poponessi1,2*, Michele Aleffi3, Annalena Cogoni1,2, Antonio De Agostini1,2

1. Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy.
2. Co.S.Me.Se., Consorzio per lo Studio dei Metaboliti Secondari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy.
3. Retired Professor of Systematic Botany, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Bryophytes adaptability and stress-resistance make them excellent colonizers. Moreover, bryophytes are key components of almost all terrestrial ecosystems, from aquatic to arid to freezing cold. Bryophytes represent also a unique model to study adaptation and stress-resistance in plants.
Bryological studies in the Mediterranean area are mainly floristic-oriented, and consequently the knowledge of the autecology of the species inhabiting Mediterranean islands and islets is very scarce.
The aim of this study is to analyze the role of different physiographic and ecological variables (such as islands’ area, insularity degree, altitude, substratum type), in shaping bryophytic species richness and diversity in the small islands surrounding the Italian peninsula and its two main islands (Sicily and Sardinia). In the present study the Ellenberg indicators adapted for bryophytes were used to describe from an ecological and functional viewpoint, the species inhabiting the studied islands and to explore to what extent the islands’ features have had a role in shaping the ecological features of the bryophytic floras inhabiting them.
Within this study, an updated overview on the floristic richness and diversity of the small islands surrounding the Italian peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia was presented. The island-related floristic and ecological differences were discussed, and its drivers identified.

Keywords: Mediterranean islands, bryophytes, physiography, ecology, stress-resistance.

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