Vulpia sicula and the Genus Vulpia

Abstract

Vulpia sicula Link, a rare perennial grass of the western Mediterranean region, is of vital significance in studies of the evolution and taxonomy of the genus Vulpia. The most recent herbarium specimens we have found either in Britain or abroad date from the 1880s, and a field expedition to areas where the plant is native was made to obtain living plants or viable seed. In May/June 1972 we visited various parts of Sicily (the centre of its distribution) and located the plant in great abundance in the Bosco della Ficuzza at about 800 m on the northern slopes of Rocca Busambra, 30 km south of Palermo, and sparsely on the lower slopes of La Pizzuta at about 750 m just west of Piana degli Albanesi, 15 km south of Palermo. It grows in permanent, rich, closed pastures in a habitat quite unlike that of any other Vulpia. Although other species of Vulpia (V. bromoides (L.) Gray, V. myuros (L.) C.C.Gmel., V. broteri Boiss. & Reut., V. ciliata Link and V. ligustica Link) occur in the vicinity they all occupy open or disturbed areas similar to their British habitats. We were unsuccessful in our searches for V. sicula in its recorded localities in the hills of Le Madonie, 60 km south-east of Palermo. All of the seven plants we collected have grown vigorously and flowered in a cool glasshouse at Manchester.