Willdenowia 36
Willdenowia – Annals of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem
ISSN 0511-9618
© 2006 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem.
Junikka, L., Uotila, P. & Lahti, T.: A phytogeographical comparison of the major
Mediterranean islands on the basis of Atlas Florae Europaeae.
Willdenowia 36 (Special Issue): 379-388.
doi:10.3372/wi.36.36134
Abstract
The phytogeographical affinities of Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily,
Crete, the Maltese and the Balearic Islands are analysed on the
basis of the chorological information in the Atlas Florae Europaeae
1-13. Data for 1109 indigenous phanerogam species were used for the
production of a similarity matrix and taxon richness maps for each
island, showing the representation of its flora in Europe. Jaccard's
similarity index values of each island and related mainland areas
show a strong floristic similarity between the large W Mediterranean
islands Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, and parts of their adjacent
mainland, which reflects a common geological history. The maps show
that the Balearic Islands have many species in common with Malta,
which depends on the prevailing pan-Mediterranean element. Many
Sicilian taxa show up in the Balkans, while many species of (the
mountains of) Corsica, Sicily and to a lesser extent of Sardinia
appear in Central Europe. Such an element is absent in Crete, Malta
and the Balearic Islands. Crete deviates widely from the other
investigated areas as it has many species in common with the
Cyclades and mainland Greece, but less so with the Balkans.
Key words:
phanerogams, phytogeography, Balearic Islands, Corsica,
Crete, Malta, Sardinia, Sicily.
