Vitis ×instabilis

Ardenghi, Nicola M. G. & Cauzzi, Paolo, 2015, Alien grapes (Vitis, Vitaceae) in Sicily (Italy): novelties for the Sicilian and Mediterranean flora, Natural History Sciences 2 (2), pp. 137-148 : 139-140

Vitis ×instabilis �rdenghi, Galasso, Banfi & Lastrucci,

Phytotaxa, 166 (3): 182. 2014.

(= V. riparia Michx. × V. rupestris Scheele )

New neophyte to the flora of Sicily.

Distribution. Rather rare, concentrated in the northern and north-western parts of the region; recorded from the provinces of Catania, Messina, and Palermo ( Fig. 2 ).

Habitat. Roadsides, waste land, walls, fences, often associated with nitrophilous perennial vegetation (Bromo-Oryzopsion miliaceae O.Bolòs 1970) and Mediterranean shrub communities with Rubus sp. pl.; 4-411 m.

Invasion status. Invasive.�lmost monospecific stands, covering the surrounding vegetation, have been recorded mainly along roadsides. The spread of this nothotaxon, already ascertained as invasive for the Italian peninsula (Ardenghi et al., 2014), might be enhanced by the production of fruits (recorded from most of the populations), nearly ripe already at the beginning of June in the study area.

Use. Despite its high resistance to phylloxera, vigor and easy reproduction from cuttings, V. × instabilis rootstocks are susceptible to drought and displays low affinity in grafting with Sicilian V. vinifera cultivars, deficiencies which limited their diffusion in this region and across the Mediterranean area, especially during the second half of the 20 th century ( Rossi, 1955; Galet, 1988; Eynard & Dalmasso, 1990; �rdenghi et al., 2014).

Specimina visa

ITALY. Sicily. Prov. Messina: Tusa, Castel di Tusa, SS 113, lato S, ca. 100 m a W da via Tusa (UTM WGS84: 33 S 434016.4207085), 34 m, N, recinzione di incolto con Asparagus acutifolius e Rubia peregrina , 11.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi 74 ( MSNM); Ficarra, SP 145, lato NE, San Mauro (UTM WGS84: 33 S 484231.4218761), 372 m, NE, scarpata stradale con Rubus cfr. ulmifolius, Oloptum thomasii e Foeniculum vulgare , 12.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi 78 ( MSNM); Ficarra, SP 145, lato E, tra l’abitato di Ficarra e Martini di Sinagra (UTM WGS84: 33 S 485587.4217222), 411 m, SW, scarpata a ridosso della strada con Olea europaea , Opuntia ficus-indica , Foeniculum vulgare , Arundo collina , Artemisia arborescens , 12.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi 80 ( MSNM); Gioiosa Marea, Contrada Saliceto, lato NE (UTM WGS84: 33 S 496702.4223300), 7 m, no exp., ciglio e guard rail con Arundo donax , Opuntia ficus-indica e Smyrnium olusatrum , 12.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi 86 ( MSNM). Prov. Palermo: Lascari, via Piane Nuove, lato N (UTM WGS84: 33 S 404726.4207061), 4 m, no exp., ciglio e sponda di canale con Equisetum ramosissimum , Oloptum thomasii , Arundo donax , Daucus carota , Rubus cfr. ulmifolius, 11.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi 71 ( MSNM).

Localities recorded only in the field

ITALY. Sicily. Prov. Catania: Cannizzaro, via Nazionale, ca. 150 a m E da via Stazzone (UTM WGS84: 33 S 511897.4155385), 38 m, no exp., recinzione, 13.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi. Prov. Messina: Terme Vigliatore, Vigliatore, A 20 Messina-Palermo, direzione Messina, lato S, all’altezza di via Giovanni Gronchi (UTM WGS84: 33 S 511067.4219869), 10 m, no exp., ciglio e guard rail, 12.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi; Milazzo, A 20 Messina-Palermo, lato SE dell’area di servizio Olivarella sud (UTM WGS84: 33 S 522104.4225952), 44 m, NE, recinzione di confine con sterrata tra gli uliveti, tappezzante questa e gli ulivi, con Oloptum miliaceum , Avena sterilis e Parietaria judaica , 12.06.2015, N. Ardenghi & P. Cauzzi.

Figures

Fig. 2 - Geographical distribution in Sicily of Vitis labrusca (green dots), V. ×instabilis (red dots), and V. ×koberi (blue dots).