The non-native vascular flora of Campania (southern Italy)

Abstract

We discuss several aspects of the alien flora of Campania (southern Italy), on the basis of an updated and annotated checklist. The non-native flora includes at present 346 taxa in 231 genera, representing 82 families. However, other 55 taxa were not found later than 1950. Trends in alien plants invasion throughout the investigated area are discussed. Results are therefore compared with similar data from other Italian regions and other European countries. In the Appendix, taxa are listed with essential synonymy, local and general distribution, status, biological form, habitat, diffusion mechanisms, potential threats, literature data, voucher specimens, and miscellaneous ethnobotanical, chronological and taxonomical notes. In addition, 49 escaped taxa are known only for Botanical and private gardens, while 66 taxa are regarded as doubtful aliens. By including also these two categories, the non-native flora of Campania reaches 516 taxa. In addition, numerous doubtful and erroneous indications were discussed. Finally, a reference list for the exotic regional flora from 1500 C.E. to present is proposed.

Keywords:

• Alien species
• biological invasion
• Mediterranean Basin
• floristic databases
• nature conservation

Acknowledgements

This manuscript has been translated into English by Viviana Fiorillo (Caserta), whose work is gratefully acknowledged here. I would also like to express my gratitude to all friends and colleagues mentioned in the text who took part in the field work or provided personal communications, and to Laura Celesti-Grapow (Rome), Lorenzo Peruzzi (Pisa), and Enrico Banfi (Milan) for their valuable suggestions. Roberta Vallariello (NAP) provided specimens from the island of Ischia (Drosanthemum, Nephrolepis). Alessandro Guiggi (Genoa), Duilio Iamonico (Rome) and Adriano Soldano (Turin) identified some specimens of Opuntia, Amaranthaceae and Oenothera, respectively. The help of the herbarium curators at FI and NAP has been invaluable throughout the preparation of the manuscript. We also thank Gabriele Galasso (Milan) and Fabrizio Bartolucci (Barisciano) for useful nomenclatural notes, and Antonino De Natale for having made available his private herbarium. Observations and suggestions by a patient, anonymous reviewer greatly improved the text. Finally, the contribution of Paolo Caputo (Naples), who read and commented various drafts of the manuscript, is gratefully acknowledged.