Viola ucriana

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	MAGNOLIOPSIDA	VIOLALES	VIOLACEAE

Scientific Name:	Viola ucriana
Species Authority:	Erben & Raimondo

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Critically Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2006
Assessor/s:	Gianguzzi, L. & La Mantia, A.
Reviewer/s:	Strahm, W. & de Montmollin, B. (Mediterranean Island Plants Red List Authority)
Justification: Listed as Critically Endangered due to the extremely restricted area in which the single subpopulation is found, and the fact that its area, quality of habitat, and number of individuals are predicted to decline.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This perennial plant is only found on Mt. Pizzuta, near Palermo in northwestern Sicily, growing at an altitude of 800-1,300 m. The only known population extends over two localities (Mt. Pizzuta and Mt. Fratantoni), covering a total area of 0.2 km².
Countries:	Native: Italy (Sicilia)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	One known subpopulation, but the exact number of individuals is not yet known.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This little herbaceous violet grows on eroded, sunny calcareous mountain slopes where rock outcrops or gravel substrates are sometimes covered by a garrigue vegetation characterized by the heath Erica multiflora, or more steppic vegetation dominated by the tall grass "Diss" (Ampelodesmos mauritanicus). This species only reproduces by seed. There are over 400 species of violets (Viola spp.) in the world, with more than 90 found in Europe. Taxonomic opinion on the species in Sicily has been divided, with some botanists "lumping" this species into the more common species Viola nebrodensis. However it is now generally recognised that V. nebrodensis is divided into three separate species with localized distribution: V. ucriana Erben & Raimondo (Pizzuta Mt.), V. tineorum Erben & Raimondo (Rocca Busambra), and V. nebrodensis Presl (Madonie Mts.).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This little herbaceous violet grows on eroded, sunny calcareous mountain slopes where rock outcrops or gravel substrates are sometimes covered by a garrigue vegetation characterized by the heath Erica multiflora, or more steppic vegetation dominated by the tall grass "Diss" (Ampelodesmos mauritanicus).

This species only reproduces by seed. There are over 400 species of violets (Viola spp.) in the world, with more than 90 found in Europe. Taxonomic opinion on the species in Sicily has been divided, with some botanists "lumping" this species into the more common species Viola nebrodensis. However it is now generally recognised that V. nebrodensis is divided into three separate species with localized distribution: V. ucriana Erben & Raimondo (Pizzuta Mt.), V. tineorum Erben & Raimondo (Rocca Busambra), and V. nebrodensis Presl (Madonie Mts.).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The area where V. ucriana persists is often subject to fire due to human activities, and these periodic sumer fires pose a major threat to the conservation of this species. Forestry plantations of exotic conifers and other species are changing the ecological conditions of its habitat, and any human action could exterminate the one remaining subpopulation.

Major Threat(s):

The area where V. ucriana persists is often subject to fire due to human activities, and these periodic sumer fires pose a major threat to the conservation of this species. Forestry plantations of exotic conifers and other species are changing the ecological conditions of its habitat, and any human action could exterminate the one remaining subpopulation.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Actions in Place Legally: This species is included in Red Lists at different levels (regional, national and international), either as part of the taxon Viola nebrodensis or as a variety of the latter. However, it is not protected by any particular law or convention. In situ: The entire area of occurrence is included in the "Monte Pizzuta, Costa del Carpineto, Moarda" SIC (Site of Community Importance). However only the Mt. Pizzuta site is part of ?Serre della Pizzuta? Nature Reserve. Ex situ: Seeds are conserved in the germplasm bank of the Department of Botanical Science, Palermo University, and cultivated in the botanic garden of Palermo. Actions Needed It is important to immediately stop forestry plantations in the species' habitat to limit the ecological transformation of the area. A protection scheme against fire is needed for the relevant sites. Ideally the entire population should be included in the Nature Reserve.

Conservation Actions:

Actions in Place
Legally: This species is included in Red Lists at different levels (regional, national and international), either as part of the taxon Viola nebrodensis or as a variety of the latter. However, it is not protected by any particular law or convention.

In situ: The entire area of occurrence is included in the "Monte Pizzuta, Costa del Carpineto, Moarda" SIC (Site of Community Importance). However only the Mt. Pizzuta site is part of ?Serre della Pizzuta? Nature Reserve.

Ex situ: Seeds are conserved in the germplasm bank of the Department of Botanical Science, Palermo University, and cultivated in the botanic garden of Palermo.

Actions Needed
It is important to immediately stop forestry plantations in the species' habitat to limit the ecological transformation of the area. A protection scheme against fire is needed for the relevant sites. Ideally the entire population should be included in the Nature Reserve.

Citation:	Gianguzzi, L. & La Mantia, A. 2006. Viola ucriana. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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