Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization
<i>Thelypteris palustris</i> Schott (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>), known as “marsh fern”, is infrequent in the Mediterranean area. The occurrence of this species is known for almost all the Italian regions (except for Sardinia and Sicily), but with rare and declining populations....
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| author | Saverio Sciandrello Salvatore Cambria Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo Gianmarco Tavilla Pietro Minissale |
| author_facet | Saverio Sciandrello Salvatore Cambria Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo Gianmarco Tavilla Pietro Minissale |
| author_sort | Saverio Sciandrello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> Schott (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>), known as “marsh fern”, is infrequent in the Mediterranean area. The occurrence of this species is known for almost all the Italian regions (except for Sardinia and Sicily), but with rare and declining populations. During floristic fieldwork on the Sicilian wetlands, a new unknown population was found. The aim of this paper is to analyze the morphological traits of the species, as well as its ecological features and the floristic composition of the plant communities where it lives. According to IUCN guidelines, here we provide the regional assessment (Sicily) of <i>T. palustris</i>. To analyze its morphological features, many living plants were examined, with particular attention to the spore structure. A total of <b>179</b> plots (110 species) and <b>34</b> pools were sampled. Our results highlight the relic character of the species which is at the southernmost border of its distribution range. The micro-morphological investigations on the spores show that the Sicilian population belongs to the subsp. <i>palustris</i>. The floristic analysis confirms the clear dominance of perennial temperate-cold zones Eurasian taxa. Finally, a new association, <i>Thelypterido palustris-Caricetum paniculatae</i>, within the <i>Caricion gracilis</i> alliance (<i>Phragmito-Magnocaricetea</i> class) is described. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:07:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e96eb9ac5e44b38b26f79c7d2989920 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:07:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e96eb9ac5e44b38b26f79c7d29899202023-11-23T01:05:54ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-11-011011244810.3390/plants10112448Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat CharacterizationSaverio Sciandrello0Salvatore Cambria1Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo2Gianmarco Tavilla3Pietro Minissale4Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, Italy<i>Thelypteris palustris</i> Schott (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>), known as “marsh fern”, is infrequent in the Mediterranean area. The occurrence of this species is known for almost all the Italian regions (except for Sardinia and Sicily), but with rare and declining populations. During floristic fieldwork on the Sicilian wetlands, a new unknown population was found. The aim of this paper is to analyze the morphological traits of the species, as well as its ecological features and the floristic composition of the plant communities where it lives. According to IUCN guidelines, here we provide the regional assessment (Sicily) of <i>T. palustris</i>. To analyze its morphological features, many living plants were examined, with particular attention to the spore structure. A total of <b>179</b> plots (110 species) and <b>34</b> pools were sampled. Our results highlight the relic character of the species which is at the southernmost border of its distribution range. The micro-morphological investigations on the spores show that the Sicilian population belongs to the subsp. <i>palustris</i>. The floristic analysis confirms the clear dominance of perennial temperate-cold zones Eurasian taxa. Finally, a new association, <i>Thelypterido palustris-Caricetum paniculatae</i>, within the <i>Caricion gracilis</i> alliance (<i>Phragmito-Magnocaricetea</i> class) is described.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2448distributionecologyrelic fernMediterranean wetlandsconservation statuspteridophytes |
| spellingShingle | Saverio Sciandrello Salvatore Cambria Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo Gianmarco Tavilla Pietro Minissale Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization Plants distribution ecology relic fern Mediterranean wetlands conservation status pteridophytes |
| title | Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization |
| title_full | Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization |
| title_fullStr | Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization |
| title_short | Unexpected Discovery of <i>Thelypteris palustris</i> (<i>Thelypteridaceae</i>) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization |
| title_sort | unexpected discovery of i thelypteris palustris i i thelypteridaceae i in sicily italy morphological ecological analysis and habitat characterization |
| topic | distribution ecology relic fern Mediterranean wetlands conservation status pteridophytes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2448 |
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