DISTRIBUZIONE PRESENTE E PASSATA DI ZIZIPHUS LOTUS (L.) LAM. SUBSP. LOTUS (Rhamnaceae) IN SICILIA

Past and present distribution of Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. subsp. lotus (Rhamnaceae) in Sicily.

The
present distribution of Ziziphus lotus subsp. lotus in Sicily is defined, mainly based on field surveys
and bibliographic investigations; the monitoring of the remnant patches allowed to find several new
locations here reported.
Moreover, the analysis of the past occurrence of the species according to literature data has been
carried out, pointing out that some of the previous nuclei were destroyed due to the deep modifica
tion
affecting the peri-urban area of the city of Palermo during last three centuries. Finally, some eco
logical
and phytogeographic observations were carried out which made it possible to place the Sicil
ian
population of the species within an overall distribution framework and to support the hypothesis
of indigenous status.