First record of Scorzoneroides muelleri (Asteraceae) in Apulia: phytosociological analysis and conservation status in Italy

Scorzoneroides muelleri (Sch. Bip.) Greuter & Talavera (Asteraceae), a very rare species, is a hygrophyteoccurring in the southern part of the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, the presence of this species is confirmed for Sicily,while in Sardinia and Liguria it has not been recorded any longer. Three new localities, recently found in Apulia (southernItaly), are here reported. The floristic composition of Scorzoneroides muelleri communities in Italy is here analyzed, inorder to characterize the diversity of populations in relation to different ecological conditions and assess their conservationstatus at regional level. A total of 70 plots were surveyed. For each plot, the floristic composition and cover of the specieswere determined using standard method of relevés. Cluster analysis and Principal Components Analysis (PCA) allowed theidentification of three vegetation types which correlated with ecological gradients ranging from the coast to inland areas. Thefirst is characterized by the presence of Lythrum hyssopifolia (coastal zone, Sicily), the second by the presence of Trisetariaaurea (inland zone, Sicily) and the third by Sphenopus divaricatus (coastal zone, Apulia). The limited distribution of thistaxon is a probably a consequence of the degradation, fragmentation and reduction of its natural habitat.