First report of casual populations of Strelitzia nicolai in Sicily (IT)
Strelitzia nicolai (Strelitziaceae) is native to Africa (South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) where it grows in evergreen coastal forests and thicket communities in rich moist soils and full sun to part shade. The species is only known to have naturalised in Southeast Australia. The species has been grown as an ornamental species in the EPPO region since the mid-1800s, particularly for its bright exotic flowers. In Sicily the species was recorded as cultivated in Palermo around 1865 and in 1884 it was recorded as grown in the Botanical Garden of Palermo. Since then, the species has been widely planted in local public, and private gardens throughout Sicily. The first casual individuals of S. nicolai have been observed in three different sites in Northwest Sicily. In the first two sites the plants were found in two private gardens close to one another and located in the plain of Palermo. S. nicolai was introduced in one of the gardens in 1989 and the first ripe fruits were observed in 2005. In 2006, the first seedlings started to grow around 30 m from the nearest mother plants. Currently four new plants have been observed, i.e. 3 reproductive adults dating from 2009 and 2010 and one young plant from 2014. Another single plant was recorded growing in an abandoned orchard some 300 m from the garden. In the Bioparco di Sicilia (Palermo province) there is evidence of casual populations of S. nicolai from over the last 10 years. Some 50 individuals were originally introduced and since 2011/2012 these individuals have flowered and there is evidence of seed dispersal. Numerous seedlings and saplings occur, growing up to 12 m from the original plantings. Further observations of S. nicolai should be carried out in order to verify if casual or naturalized populations of S. nicolai already occur elsewhere in Sicily, Italy and in the whole Mediterranean area.
Sources
Collesano G, Fiorello A, Pasta S (2021) Strelitzia nicolaii Regel & Körn. (Strelitziaceae), a casual alien plant new to Northern Hemisphere. Webbia. Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography 76(1), 135-140. https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-10183