Italian dendroflora biodiversity

Abstract

In the vascular flora native to Italy,which consists of about 7,000 species, trees include few units. that, between Gymnosperms and Angiosperms, are not more than 188 species and infraspecific taxa.Indeed the Italian tree flora is diversified and enriched by woody polistemmed or shrubby species that, growing old and in special conditions, could reach a tree-likesize. Genetic expressions of classic tree-like species, variously treated from the taxonomical point of view, are also to be added. The tree like flora here taken into account amounts to 53 genera (7 Gymnosperms and 46 Angiosperms) on the whole consisting of 188 specific and infraspecific taxa (21 Gymnosperms and 167 Angiosperms). Several genera (Pinus,Quercus, Salix, Pyrus, Tamarix) are highly diversified. The Rosaceae family, including Crataegus, Malus, Pyrus, Prunus and Sorbus is the richest in genera. In the Fagaceae family, consisting of Castanea, Fagus, and Quercus, the first two genera are monospecific while Quercus is highly diversified from the taxonomical point of view. In the Salicaceae family, the genus Salix alone is taxonomically diversified almost as the whole genus Quercus. Under the the phyto-geographycal aspect, the Italian tree flora is mainly correlated to the European characteristics, rather than the Mediterranean ones; endemism is more remarkable as far as infraspecific taxa are concerned;nevertheless there are also several noteworthy endemic species belonging to the genera Abies, Betula,Malus and Pyrus.