About a tetraploid ivy in Sicily: from autochthonous Hedera to horticultural-invasive-hybrid package?

Abstract

AbstractIn Sicily, H. helix is the unique known native species whereas H. helix susbsp. poetarum is putatively naturalized in some forests and H. canariensis cultivated in various urban’s garden. Trichome morphology and genome size of some ivies from various west Mediterranean forests were compared to Sicilian ones. Ivies from southern Italy, continental France, Corsica and Mallorca belong to typical European diploid stellate trichomes Hedera helix. Hexaploid ivies from southern Spain have been identified as native H. iberica. Contrariwise, Sicilian ivies studied are related to western European H. hibernica (tetraploids with stellate trichomes). Is H. helix the most widespread and indigenous ivy in Sicily? Therefore, it would be the first time that tetraploid would be reported in Sicily where it could possibly correspond to an unnoticed autochthonous taxon. However, our results let us think it rather represents an invasive which impact on this island rich in endemic species could be considerable.