Zelkova sicula explained

Zelkova sicula is a species of Zelkova in the family Ulmaceae, endemic to Sicily.^[1]

Description

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2– tall; its natural mature size is unknown, as all existing specimens have been heavily browsed by goats, limiting their growth. The leaves are oval, 10mm50mm long and 5- wide, with a petiole 1- long; the margins are lobed, with 6–8 lobes on each side.^{[1] [2]}

Conservation

The only known population, found in 1991, consists of 200–250 plants growing on the Monti Iblei area, in Buccheri, in southeast Sicily near Syracuse. This population 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 shrubby vegetation. It is threatened by habitat loss. The IUCN list this species as Critically Endangered.

Accessions

• Icomb Place gardens, as Z. sicula

Further reading

• Garfì, G. . 1996 . Zelkova sicula, raro endemita siciliano. Origine, evoluzione, prospettive di conservazione . Bollettino Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali in 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 . 10.1080/11263504.1997.10654174.
• Garfì G. . Barbero, M. . Tessier, L. . amp . 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. . amp . 1998 . Pollen morphology of Zelkova sicula (Ulmaceae), a recently discovered relic species of European tertiary flora: its description, chromosomal relevance, and paleobotanical significance . . 100 . 27–37. 10.1016/S0034-6667(97)00062-6 .
• Web site: Dipartimento di Botanica Università di Catania . Zelkova sicula . Fitogeografia della Sicilia . Italian.

Notes and References

1. Web site: IUCN Top 50 Campaign Mediterranean Island Plants . Zelkova sicula . . Giuseppe Garfì . 2006 . May 27, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080527072411/http://iucn.org/THEMES/SSC/our_work/plants/Top50/English/Zelkova_sicula_EN.htm . dead.
2. Book: Keith D. Rushforth . 1999 . Trees of Britain and Europe . Collins . 0-00-220013-9.