Zelkova sicula

Taxobox
name = "Zelkova sicula"
status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
phylum = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Ulmaceae
genus = "Zelkova"
species = "Z. sicula"
binomial = "Zelkova sicula"
binomial_authority = Di Pasquale, Garfi & Quézel

"Zelkova sicula" is a species of "Zelkova" in the family Ulmaceae, endemic to Sicily.IUCN Top 50 Campaign Mediterranean Island Plants: [http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/our_work/plants/Top50/English/Zelkova_sicula_EN.htm "Zelkova sicula"] ]

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2–3 m tall; its natural mature size is unknown, as all existing specimens have been heavily browsed by goats, limiting their growth. The leaves are oval, 1–5 cm long and 0.5–3.5 cm broad, with a petiole 1–4 mm long; the margins are lobed, with six to eight lobes on each side.Rushforth, K. (1999). "Trees of Britain and Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.]

The only known population, found on 1991, consists of 200-250 plants growing on the Monti Iblei area, in southeast Sicily near Syracuse; they are all thought to derive from possibly just one clone, or at the most only a very few distinct individuals. Its natural habitat is temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrub vegetation. It is threatened by habitat loss. The IUCN list this species as Critically Endangered.

References

*Garfì, G. (2006). [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/61678/all "Zelkova sicula"] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on 24 August 2007.
*Di Pasquale, G., Garfì, G. & Quézel, P. (1992). Sur la présence d'un Zelkova nouveau en Sicile sud-orientale. "Biocosme Mésogéen" 8(4)–9(1): 401–409.
*Garfì, G. (1996). Zelkova sicula, raro endemita siciliano. Origine, evoluzione, prospettive di conservazione. "Boll. Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. Catania" 29 (352): 267–284.
*Garfì, G. (1997). On the flowering of Zelkova sicula (Ulmaceae): additional description and comments. "Plant Biosystems" 131 (2): 137–142.
*Garfì G., Barbero, M. & Tessier, L. (2002). Architecture and growth patterns of Zelkova sicula (Ulmaceae) in south-east Sicily as a response to environmental conditions. "Journal of Mediterranean Ecology" 3 (2-3): 65–76.
*Nakagawa, T, Garfì, G., Reille, M. & Verlaque, R. (1998). Pollen Morphology of Zelkova sicula (Ulmaceae), a recently discovered relic species of European tertiary flora: Its description, chromosomal relevance, and paleobotanical significance. "Review of Paleobotany and Palinology" 100: 27–37.
*itDipartimento di Botanica Università di Catania: [http://www.dipbot.unict.it/fito_new/territori/distribleo/zelkova_sicula.html Galleria immagini di "Zelkova sicula"]
*itLegambiente: [http://www.lanuovaecologia.it/natura/vegetali/5790.php Progetto di conservazione di "Zelkova sicula"]