Analisi geobotanica del SIC “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa, Sicilia)

The coastal vegetation of the SCI “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa) - The flora and vegetation of the site of community importance (SCI) “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa - Southern Sicily) are examined. The area at issue is characterized by the occurrence of several plant communities, mainly represented by phanerophytic coenosis (Oleo-Ceratonion), chamaephytic thermo-xerophilous coenosis (Cisto-Micromerietea, Helichrysion litorei), hemicryptophytic coenosis (Lygeo-Stipetea), halophilous communities of the coast (Crithmo-Limonietea), communities of the cliffs (Dianthion rupicolae), coenosis of the temporary ponds (Isoeto-Nanojuncetea, Juncion maritimi and Scirpion compacti) and spring-flowering meadows (Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae and Saginetea maritimae). The occurrence of several xerophytes, endemic or quite rare for the Sicilian flora, testifies the importance of this site (Allium lehmannii Lojac., Tillaea vaillantii Willd., Helichrysum conglobatum Viv., Limonium syracusanum Brullo, Lythrum tribracteatum Sprengel, Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach, Damasonium alisma Mill. subsp. bourgaei (Cosson) Maire, Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. var. graeca (Sch.-Bip.) Fiori, Ophrys biancae (Tod.) Macch., Dianthus rupicola Biv. subsp. rupicola. This site is a coastal biotope of particular botanical interest which still survive today interesting patches of vegetation, disappeared over most of the coast of Eastern Sicily, their protection is therefore a priority