Taylor and Francis Group, Webbia, 2(69), p. 301-324, 2014
DOI: 10.1080/00837792.2014.966487
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This study is aimed at, first, producing a complete inventory of the vascular flora of the Taormina Region; second, identifying and mapping the species of high naturalistic value. The vascular flora of this area consists of 624 specific and infraspecific taxa, of which four are endemically restricted to this part of the Peloritani Mountains, namely, Colymbada tauromenitana, Limonium ionicum, Limonium tauromenitanum and Brassica raimondoi. The families most represented are Asteraceae (77 taxa), Fabaceae (73 taxa), Poaceae (63 taxa), Orchideaeae (23 taxa), Lamiaceae (23 taxa), and Apiaceae (23 taxa). The life-form spectrum of the vascular flora indicates the predominance of therophytes (40%), with hemicryptophytes (27%) and geophytes (14%). From a chorological viewpoint, most of the species show a Mediterranean distribution (316 taxa). A large number of surveyed taxa are endangered, of which 31 are included in the IUCN Regional Red List, 23 species of Orchidaceae are protected by the CITES and one in the EU 92/43 Habitat Directive. The analysis of the habitats revealed that rare taxa are most abundant on cliffs and dry grasslands.