Giulia Finotti - PlantArea IT by Giulia Finotti https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom Medicinal Plants Module en-us 2019-02-23 10:49:18 UTC 2023-03-02 10:35:32 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Brightnessdown.png Vascular Flora of Italy giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334423316 Italy ranks first in Europe in terms of number of native plants. In the Mediterranean basin, considered to be one of the most important areas of biodiversity, it is the second country for number of species.
Read the full article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/11263504.2017.1419996?journalCode=tplb20]]> 2019-02-23 11:14:22 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334423316 Mediterranean Maquis giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334426531 Mediterranean maquis is the main habitat of south-Italy coasts where summers are hot and dry and rain falls in winter.
The habitat contains densely packed bushes, shrubs and evergreen small trees with coriaceus leaves which restrict their vegetative activity to more humid periods of the year.]]> 2019-02-23 11:43:00 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334426531 Deciduous Forest giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334430875 Deciduous forests interest the mountain and sub-mountain zone of the Alps and most of the Apennines. It accounts for 64% of Italy.
This area is characterized by almost absent summer aridity and by marked differences between summer and winter temperatures. The natural vegetation mainly consists of broad-leaved deciduous trees, where Quercus, Fagus and Carpinus species are dominant.
Some woods present also a luxuriant undergrowth with shrubs, ferns, fungus, mosses and herbaceous plants.]]> 2019-02-23 12:25:23 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334430875 Lagoons and brackish wetlands giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334455727 Brackish wetlands represent a unique environment dominated by salt bushes and grasses, usually flooded during high tides. Plants of this habitat can tolerate high salinity and low oxygen levels. Their ability to withstand wave energy makes them valuable for erosion control. They also act as biological filters where pollutants from freshwater runoff can settle out before reaching the sea. Lagoons and salt marshes are mainly distributed along the Northern Adriatic coast and represent the typical habitat of the Po River Delta.]]> 2019-02-23 16:33:11 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334455727 Important Plant Areas in Italy giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334461128 Important Plant Areas were identified on the basis of a range of taxonomic groups and habitats in order to promote an integrated model of knowledge for the conservation of plant diversity.
Read the full article here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286816143_Between_global_priorities_and_local_urgencies_The_important_plant_areas_programme_in_Italy]]> 2019-02-23 17:17:38 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334461128 Riparian habitats and floodplains giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334573262 The word “riparian” means “related to bodies of water, rivers or streams". Put more simply, riparian areas are the green ribbons of trees, shrubs, and grasses growing along water courses. They are transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial systems
The toughness of riparian plants with dense, strong root systems and stems that slow floodwaters, protect soil and streambanks from erosion. Plants also absorb water, nutrients, and energy from big events and use them to recover from disturbances while improving water quality.
This habitat is well represented in the peninsula, rich of freshwater courses.]]> 2019-02-24 14:44:37 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334573262 Arnica montana L. giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334579895 Scientific classification

Division: Tracheophyta
Subdivision: Spermatophytina
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Arnica
Species: A. montana
Binomial name: Arnica montana L.
Synonimous: Doronicum montanum Lam., Doronicum oppositifolium Lam., Arnica helvetica Loudon, Arnica petiolata Schur, Arnica plantaginifolia Gilib., Arnica lowii Holm, Cineraria cernua Thore
Vernacular names: Wolf's bane, Leopard's bane, Mountain tobacco and Mountain arnica

]]> 2019-02-24 15:36:04 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334579895 Description of Arnica montana giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334761957 Arnica montana is a perennial herb, tall about 18–60 cm. Its basal green ovate-cilitate leaves are aggregated in rosettes, while the upper leaves are opposed, spear-shaped and smaller. The flowering season is between May and August. The hairy flowers are composed of yellow disc florets in the center and orange-yellow ray florets at the external part. The achenes have a one-piece rough pappus which opens in dry conditions.
The latin epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains. Arnica montana grows in nutrient-poor siliceous meadows or clay soils such as alpine meadows and up to nearly 3,000 m or on nutrient-poor moors. However Arnica does not grow on lime soil, thus it is an extremely reliable bioindicator for nutrient poor and acidic soils. It is rare overall, but may be locally abundant. It is becoming rarer, largely due to increasingly intensive agriculture and commercial wild-crafting!
More information here: https://www.floraitaliae.actaplantarum.org/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=6469]]> 2019-02-25 10:02:12 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334761957 A. montana chemistry and medicinal properties giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334765874 Arnica montana is a toxic medicinal plant. The main constituents are essential oils and fatty acids of thymol, pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpene lactones and flavanone glycosides. Amica montana's main pharmacologically active constituent is helenalin, beneficial in the very small quantities as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, healing, antiseptic agent. It is used for coronary heart diseases, in unguents or pills for sprains, chilblains, haemorrhoids, muscle pain, vision problems...]]> 2019-02-25 10:16:40 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334765874 Some literature about Arnica medicinal history and contemporary uses... giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334769869 Medicinal history and contemporary uses approved: http://www.medicinehunter.com/arnica
Uses - effectiveness and insuffcient evidence for: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-721/arnica
Traditional homeopathic practice: http://www.arnica.com/category/arnica-uses/
Orthopedic surgeons: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/39cd/d7afe14783e40072afdfda3fd1e5b0378f79.pdf
Inflammatory Process Modulation:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3035003/

]]> 2019-02-25 10:31:57 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334769869 Olea europaea L. giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334779341 Scientific classification
Division: Tracheophyta
Subdivision: Spermatophytina
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Olea
Species: | O. europaea
Binomial name: Olea europaea L.
Synonimous: Olea oleaster Hoffmanns. & Link, Olea europaea subsp. oleaster (Hoffmanns. & Link) Negodi
Vernacular names: Olive tree, European olive]]> 2019-02-25 11:08:18 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334779341 Description of Olea europaea giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334780513 The olive tree, Olea europaea, is an evergreen tree or shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It is short and squat, and rarely exceeds 8–15 m in height. The small, white, feathery flowers, with ten-cleft calyx and corolla, two stamens, and bifid stigma, are born on the previous year's wood, in racems springing from the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a small drupe 1–2.5 cm long, thinner-fleshed and smaller in wild plants than in orchard cultivars. Olives are harvested in the green to purple stage.
The olive tree has adapted its growth to a semi-arid environment including calcareous and sandy, sunny slopes. It is tolerant of hot summers and can be sustained despite limited water supplies.

]]> 2019-02-25 11:12:12 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334780513 Olive chemistry and medicinal properties giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334787262 Olea europaea is a edible, medicinal plant. It contains flavonoids, secoiridoids, iridoids, flavanones, biophenols, triterpenes, waxes and other secondary metabolites with pharmacological use like antidiabetic, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, anticancer, gastroprotective, emollien activities.
The main component of olive tree with medicinal properties is Oleuropein, a polyphenol extracted from leaves and fruits.
Olive oil is used to produce unguents and soaps for hair and skin. ]]> 2019-02-25 11:38:43 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334787262 Some literature about O. europea medicinal history and contemporary uses... giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334787390 Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology:
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2015/541591/
A pharmacological review:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228665678_Olea_europaea_A_phyto-pharmacological_review
Ethno Botanical Medicinal Importance:
http://www.ijpab.com/form/2013%20Volume%201,%20issue%202/IJPAB-2013-1-2-15-18.pdf
Uses - effectiveness and insuffcient evidence for: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-233/olive

]]> 2019-02-25 11:39:14 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334787390 Rocky habitats giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334934839 Rocky habitats are mostly found in the uplands wherever the underlying rock reaches the surface. Rocky habitats include cliffs, crags, rocky outcrops, screes and slopes. Features common to all these habitats are the lack of soil and exposure to the wind and rain. Plants are usually confined to ledges and crevices and they are adapted to cope with a challenging environment, with small, in-rolled leaves and strong roots. The distribution is limited in extention, but they generally support a richer array of plants well adapted to these difficult conditions, including many endemisms. ]]> 2019-02-25 16:19:19 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/334934839 Biogeographical regions of Italy giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335804619 The Italian peninsula is included in 3 different biogeographical regions from north to south: Alpine, Continental and Mediterranean. Italy complex biogeography reflects the variability of its environmental conditions, allowing habitat differentiation and high biodiversity level!
Complete information about

Europe's biodiversity - biogeographical here:

https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/report_2002_0524_154909

]]> 2019-02-27 09:51:40 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335804619 Alpine region giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335808325 Ranges of mountains from the Mediterranean to Siberia constitute the alpine region. Altitudinal gradients, climatic influence, soil types and geology influence the distribution of species, the development of vegetation types and the diversity of species.
In general, the region exhibits a great variety of ecosystems and habitat types, of which 90% are natural or semi-natural. Forests cover more than 40% of the region’s area and grasslands ca 25%. More than 7000 species of plants are registered (Ozenda, 1994) and most of the mountain areas have a high degree of endemism. The region is of great importance as refuges for plants but it is also very fragile, affected by human impacts and activities. The high reaching Alps severely influences the climate of central Europe and connects the Mediterranean climate in the south and with the temperate climate in the north. The annual and spatial distribution of rainfall is highly variable, generally increasing with altitude.]]> 2019-02-27 10:05:12 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335808325 Continental region giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335808488 The Continental Region covers over a quarter of the European Union, stretching from central France to the eastern edge of Poland, including the territory of 13 countries. The climate is generally characterised by strong contrasts between the cold winters and hot summers. In the east, the extreme conditions of hot and cold, wet and dry, have a strong impact on the vegetation. Moving west, the characteristics become less noticeable due to the oceanic influences of the Atlantic Region which bring milder conditions. The landscape of the Continental Region is generally flat in the north and hillier in the south, with the exception of the extensive floodplains in the Po and Danube basins. Formed by glaciers, this vast area was once covered in beech, oak and hornbeam forests, interspersed with extensive floodplains, marshland and bogs. Unfortunately much of this forest has been cleared for fuel and timber and replaced by agricultural production. The Continental region is rich in biodiversity: at the crossroads of many different region, it shares many species with them.]]> 2019-02-27 10:05:43 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335808488 Mediterranean region giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335808573 The Mediterranean region meets the Mediterranean Sea in 12 countries and covers 11% of Europe’s territory. It is characterised by a hilly mountaneous landscapes with inland plateaus between low mountain ranges. The coasts are rocky, interspersed with sandy beaches.
Climate is often unpredictable, with diurnal temperature fluctuations, significant influences of winds, short lived but powerful deluges and occasional prolonged droughts. Average annual rainfall range varies between 600 and 1200 mm/year. Summers are hot and dry, winters are humid and cool.
Mediterranean wildlife and habitats are very specific as the region was not affected by the last Ice Age. The rate of endemism is exceptionally high. The Mediterranean is one of the world's top biodiversity hotspots.

]]> 2019-02-27 10:06:03 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335808573 Alexander von Humboldt and the Phytogeography giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335819299 Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a Prussian naturalist, founder of phytogeography, science concerned with patterns and process in plant geographic distribution.
Humboldt recovered the word cosmos from the ancient Greek, assigning it to his multi-volume treatise in wich he tried to unify all scientific knowledge (Kantian framework), inspirated from German romanticism with its holistic perception. Kosmos was Humboldt's later effort to write a work bringing together all researches from his long career and his numerous expeditions. There was not a consensus on the importance of Kosmos defined as" his most influential book" or as "little more than an academic curiosity"...]]> 2019-02-27 10:48:34 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/335819299 Environmental adaptation and tolerance of plant: Drougth giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336026128 Mediterranean floristic region that includes the south part of Italian peninsula is characterised by warm summers with a distinct drought period. This climate requires plant adaptation to a lack of water, lasting 2-5 months.
They generally have a deep root system, usually taproots; evergreen, small, coriaceous leaves, a short
life cycle or they completed their reproductive cycle before the dry season (early seed maturation).
Some of them have Succulent stems and they can accumulate water in parenchyma tissue.]]> 2019-02-27 17:26:10 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336026128 Environmental adaptation and tolerance of plants: Floods giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336050440 Floods and the temporary overflow natural events along many rivers. Flood-tolerant species evolved specific mechanisms and features to contrast this phenomenon. Some species thanks to ethylene hormone are able to elongate petioles and stems in order to protrude above the water surface. Renewed contact between leaves and the open air after submergence stimulates the formation of a new aerenchymatous root system. Increased porosity enables the plants to perform longitudinal transport from aerial and photosynthetic oxygen to the rhizosphere. Another mechanism plants use to survive flooding is to change their timing of reproduction, producing seeds in the intervals between the inundations.]]> 2019-02-27 18:04:29 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336050440 Environmental adaptation and tolerance of plants: Salinity giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336051326 Halophytic plants are the flora of saline environments, such us coastal salt marshes. These plants generally have a great root system, more developed than earial parts, with many long root hairs. A lipid cuticle, dense hairs and stomata in cryptes completed the adaptations of the hypogeum structure. Physiological mechanisms, including secretion of salt through the salt glands, regulation of cellular ion homeostasis and osmotic pressure, detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and alterations in membrane composition, allow them to survive in stressed environment.]]> 2019-02-27 18:05:48 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336051326 Environmental adaptation and tolerance of plants: Ice and Snow giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336542722 Plants living in cold environment, such us the top of the mountains, generally grow close to the ground or in specific shapes that help them shed heavy snow during the winter. In most alpine species, small stature is a genetic adaptation to low temperatures. An important evolutionary adaptation under seasonally cold conditions is the fine-tuning of plant phenology that controls the reproduction timing and the termination of growth activity before damaging freezing temperature.
In other cases physiological mechanisms allow water extraction from cell through extracellular ice formation thanks to a fluid outer cell membrane, protective compounds to safeguard membranes, and enzymes against damage during dehydration. ]]> 2019-02-28 17:59:33 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/336542722 Theme 3, Step 1 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337500285 ANSWER 2. Tropical Andean trees migrate to higher altitudes where the air is cool enough to support their existence. Due to the fast climatic change they have to move faster in order to remain in equilibrium with their preferred temperatures.
ANSWER CONFIRMED
"In the Andes, plants are ‘on the run’, trying to move to higher ground, where the air is
cool enough to support their existence. Researches show that tropical species are
frantically migrating upslope as they reproduce. But they may not be moving fast enough because climate change is
happening too fast."]]> 2019-03-04 15:23:38 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337500285 Theme 2, Step 4 Compare your PlantArea with PlantAreas of your co-learners and look for differences or similarities giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337559161 Most of my co-learners chose to describe a PlantArea located in the Mediterranean region, showing climate, habitat and biodiversity similarities with the south-central Italy. Many medicinal plants described for Greece and Portugal are very common in Italy too.
Environmental conditions and plants cited for northernmost countries, such us Belgium and Scotland, present characteristis in common with the continental part of the peninsula. Thanks to its high climatic and topographical variability, Italy looks like a transition zone! ]]> 2019-03-04 17:07:13 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337559161 How Climate Change is affecting Italy? giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337560615 A sad summary:
goodbye glaciers, flooded cities, more extreme weather, forget wines and other crops, vanishing of biodiversity...and probably some other impredictable events!
https://www.thelocal.it/20151201/five-ways-climate-change-is-affecting-italy]]> 2019-03-04 17:10:14 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337560615 Possible consequences of Climate Change! giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337566105 Agriculture at risk: https://www.cmcc.it/article/agriculture-at-risk-the-potential-impacts-of-climate-change;
http://www.isci.it/sipeaa/tools/ClimGen/Lit_Ewert_4.pdf
Weather scenarios:
https://www.cmcc.it/article/come-cambiera-il-clima-in-italia
Economic impacts:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228243821_Economic_Impacts_of_Climate_Change_in_Italy_and_the_Mediterranean_Updating_the_Evidence
Health deseases and strategies for prevention: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/260380/WHO-FWC-PHE-EPE-15.52-eng.pdf;jsessionid=CDBFA7377988176E5B6EE7EBE9CB3261?sequence=1
Impacts on habitat distribution and biodiversity:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237071750_The_likely_impact_of_climate_change_on_the_biodiversity_of_Italian_forests; s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/45701592/j.envsci.2005.11.00720160517-4453-1n244d5.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1551724457&Signature=n7J9x987wfK%2BlzmjXWtihe43wmM%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DClimate_and_land_use_changes_biodiversit.pdf; http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/archive/news-and-other-events/ispra-news/year-2015/may/biodiversity-in-italy;
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1890/1540-9295%282007%295%5B360%3AUIOCCO%5D2.0.CO%3B2]]> 2019-03-04 17:18:44 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337566105 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337579310 Impacts of climate change in Italy by P. Faggian]]> 2019-03-04 17:45:20 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337579310 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337580825 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies In Italy
by C. Carraro and A. Sgobbi ]]> 2019-03-04 17:48:17 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337580825 Theme 3, Step 4. Compare your PlantArea with PlantAreas of your co-learners and look for differences or similarities with regards to climate change giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337586369 Climate change results to be a perceptible phenomenon, able to produce relevant impacts in most countries described by my co-learners. It adds up to the other anthropic factors causing ecosystem changes and biodiversity loss, amplifying their negative effects.
The Mediterranean region seems to be particularly affected by this problem: major threats are the risk of drought, the rise of the sea level and its acidification, higher temperature of the land and of the sea, with all the consequences this means!]]> 2019-03-04 17:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337586369 How to include the impact of climate change in the extinction risk assessment of policy plant species? giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337588060 2019-03-04 18:00:59 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337588060 Theme 4, Step 1 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337840132 ANSWER 3. Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels is highly controversial since it solves one problem but creates new ones.
ANSWER CONFIRMED
Plants grown specifically for any type of biofuel are not ideal due to the amount of energy required and the
pollution balance, environmental impacts and
emissions associated with harvest and
transport, the increase in global food prices, deforestation of areas destined to
grow Biofuel plants.]]> 2019-03-05 10:53:13 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/337840132 Alcoholic Drink: Mirto giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338118882 Mirto (licòre/-i de murta in Sardinian) is a popular liqueur in Sardinia island (Italy). It is obtained from the myrtle plant through the alcoholic maceration of the berries or a compound of berries and leaves. It is consumed in 2 varieties:
- Mirto rosso (simply murta) is made with the berries of the black variety and is sweet
- Mirto bianco (murta arba) is made with the berries of the white variety or, less commonly, from young leaves.
Myrtus communis is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean region. It typically grows to 5-6’ tall with glossy dark green leaves strongly aromatic. White aromatic flowers bloom in late spring/summer (May-July) followed by blue-black edible berries. Dried flowers, leaves and fruits are used to flavor foods. ]]> 2019-03-05 20:07:50 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338118882 Alcoholic Drink: Limoncello giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338128093 Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the gulf of Naples and the Sorrentin Peninsula. In northern Italy, the liqueur is often referred to instead as Limoncino. It is also a popular homemade liqueur, with various recipes available online and in print! Lemon peels are steeped in grappa or vodka until the oil is released. The resulting yellow liquid is then mixed with syrup.
The lemon, Citrus limon, is a small evergreen tree of the Rutaceae family.

The yellow fruit is used for culinary purposes throughout the world, primarily for its juice, which has both culinary and cleaning uses. The juice of the lemon is about 5%-6% citric acid, with a pH of around 2, giving it a sour taste!
Lemon was introduced as ornamental and cultivated plant and it is now widespread in all southern region of Italy.

]]> 2019-03-05 20:28:57 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338128093 Christmas tree giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338136065 The main tree species decorated during Christmas in Italy are Firs (Abies) and Spruces (Picea)! The genus include various species of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae, normally occurring in mountains or in temperate regions of the world.
There are 2 many species used in my country: Abies alba and Picea abies.
The sad story of "Spelacchio" in Rome: http://italiaanse-toestanden.duepadroni.it/christmas-tree-rome/]]> 2019-03-05 20:47:51 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338136065 Prunus fruit plants giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338485208 Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs native to the temperate regions but widely cultivated for their fruit! Prunus fruit are defined as drupes, with fleshy mesocarp edible surrounding the endocarp. Most Prunus fruits and seeds are commonly used in processing, such as jam production, canning, drying or roasting. Prunus genus more common friuts include plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds.]]> 2019-03-06 16:58:36 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338485208 Cruciferous "vegetables" giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338492931 Brassica is a genus of plants in the Brassicaceae family. The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables or cabbages. Crops from this genus are sometimes called cole crops—derived from the Latin caulis, denoting the stalk of the plant. Brassica is known for its important agricultural and horticultural crops and includes a number of weeds, both of wild taxa and escapees from cultivation. Most widespread species cultivated in Italy are: B. oleracea with its varieties and cultivars, B. rapa, B. nigra, B. napus. ]]> 2019-03-06 17:11:17 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338492931 Saffron (Crocus sativus) giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338504627 Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, cultivated in Italy too.
The vivid crimson stigmas and styles are collected and dried to be used mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Saffron is among the world's most costly spices by weight! Although some doubts remain on its origin, it is believed that saffron originated in Iran. However, Greece and Mesopotamia have also been suggested as the possible region of origin of the plant.
It contains picrocrocin, safranal and carotenoids which imparts a rich yellow colour to dishes and textiles.
The first record of saffron is attested in a 7th-century BC Assyrian botanical treatise and it is used from millenia. Iran accounts for 90% of the world production! ]]> 2019-03-06 17:30:23 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338504627 Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338513602 Nutmeg is the spice made by grinding the seed of the fragrant nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) tree into powder. The spice has a distinctive pungent fragrance and a warm slightly sweet taste; it is used to flavor many kinds of baked goods, potatoes, meats, sausages, sauces and vegetables. The seeds are dried gradually in the sun over a period of six to eight weeks. During this time the nutmeg shrinks away from its hard seed coat until the kernels rattle in their shells when shaken. The shell is then broken with a wooden club and the nutmegs are picked out.
M. fragrans is native to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas (Indonesia). It is also cultivated Malaysia, in the Carribean and in southern India. In the 17th-century work Hortus Botanicus Malabaricus, Hendrik van Rheede records that learned the usage of nutmeg from the Indonesians through ancient trade routes.]]> 2019-03-06 17:45:27 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338513602 Theophrastus, the father of Botany giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338523960 Theophrastus (371 – c. 287 BC) of Eresos was a greek philosopher interested in natural science. His writings on plants form a counterpart to Aristotle's zoological works.
The treatise "Enquiry into Plants" classified and described varieties of covering trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and cereals; in the last book Theophrastus focused on plant juices and medicinal properties of herbs.
"De Causis Plantarum", instead, talked about plant physiology. Books One and Two are concerned with flowering, fruiting, and the effects of climate. Books Three and Four regarded cultivation and agricultural methods. In Books Five and Six he discussed plant breeding and plant diseases.]]> 2019-03-06 18:03:30 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338523960 Theme 4, Step 4: Compare your PlantArea with your co-learnersPlantAreas giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338524967 I decided to compare my mediterranean PlantArea with that of Luisa Restrapo who described the enviroments and plants of Colombia, intrigued to hear about a tropical area! Even if both Mediterranean basin and Amazon region are biodiversity hotspots, climatic condition provides very different type of habitats and consequently a huge plant diversity. I discovered with pleasure that even Colombia presents an area of Alpine tundra and with surprise I saw she described as medicinal plant Solanum nigrum, very common in my country too! Very sad to know that climate change is affecting Colombia in the same way, except for the precipitation trend. In my opinion she also proposed an interesting idea in her plan, concerning the realization of the vertical gardens. ]]> 2019-03-06 18:05:21 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/338524967 Red List of the Italian Flora giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339395663 Full text of the red list of italian flora below. At page 22 there is a table showing data presented in the previous post.
If you speak italian you can read also this article:
https://www.lastampa.it/2013/05/22/scienza/biodiversit-in-italia-oltre-il-delle-piante-sotto-minaccia-vGk7oDc1Ew3rYnaDh2z68L/pagina.html]]> 2019-03-08 17:21:30 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339395663 A succesfull plant conservation project in Emilia-Romagna region: PP-ICON/ LIFE09/NAT/IT000212 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339411479 The PP-ICON project (Plant Pollinator Integrated CONservation approach) focused on the conservation of a locally rare plant (Dictamnus albus - burning bush) in Emilia-Romagna region and the community of its natural pollinators. European natural populations of Dictamnus albus are declining because of scarcity of pollination service mainly due to climatic changes, soil use changes, habitat fragmentation and pollution, which cause a scarcity of floral resources and nesting sites!
Read more about this pilot conservation project and its results in the link below :)]]> 2019-03-08 17:57:12 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339411479 What about ex-situ plant conservation in my city? Botanic Garden and Herbarium of the University of Ferrara giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339425633 The greenhouses and flowerbeds of the University of Ferrara’s Botanical Garden covers 4500 sq. metres of the garden of Palazzo Turchi-Di Bagno, in the city centre. Established in 1771 in accordance with the wishes of Pope Clement XIV, it now host approximately 2000 species of plants, sub-divided into 5 thematic sections - Systematic, Useful Plants, Themed Gardens, Protected Flora, Exotic Plants. More information here: http://www.unife.it/sma/en/botanic-garden]]> 2019-03-08 18:30:25 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339425633 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339693111 Next events organised in my city about medicinal plants :)]]> 2019-03-10 16:05:14 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/339693111 Group Work Assignment - GROUP 6 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/340170117 Provide a description of plant species living in the most extreme environment of your
PlantArea, with notes in particular on how they manage to survive.

Link to the group padlet:
https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/2krpcifrc8p2

Group members: Giulia Finotti, Mónica Patrícia Pinto, Marianna
Georgoulaki, Alexandra Voulgari, Andri Michaelidou, Ágnes Molnár, Fannie Papatoli.]]> 2019-03-11 21:01:10 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/340170117 Endangered plant species of Italy giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/341994311 Consulting the List of Earth's Endangered Creatures Italy results to host 20 endangered plant species. The information of this global database don't match with the data of the Red List of the Italian Flora which reports 96 species critically endangered, 76 endangered and 22 vulnerable! ]]> 2019-03-16 11:10:51 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/341994311 Plant diversity Threats giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/341996083 As part of the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, the Italian flora is particularly rich of species, many of them endemic to restricted territories. In some areas of Italy endemic plant species reach very high percentages (13%-20%). However, plant diversity is facing several threats due to human activities, responsible for:
- habitat loss, fragmentation and overexploitation
- pollution
- soil consumption
- chemical and physical alteration of soil, water and atmosphere
- invasion of alien speciese
- global climate change
Italy is not an exception and urgent conservation measures are needed to preserve its rich biodiversity, with particular attention to the more threatened species. ]]> 2019-03-16 11:35:46 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/341996083 Calendula suffruticosa subsp. maritima giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342489943 Description: Calendula maritima, known as the sea marigold, is a rare species of Asteraceae family. It is a perennial halophytic chamaephyte, endemic to the western part of Sicily, living in small coastal habitat from Marsala to Monte Cofano and on the two nearby islets Isola Grande dello Stagnone and Isola la Formica.
The most significant population is in a small 10 km2 area within the Riserva Naturale Saline di Trapani e Paceco.
Threats: C. maritima habitat outside the nature reserve is under serious threat of destruction due to urban development, tourism pressure and illegal dumps, meanwhile in the nature reserve the species suffer for the air pollution from the nearby salt-works. Another huge problem is the competition of invasive species, first of all the Hottentot fig' (Carpobrotus edulis), widespread in all native locations. ]]> 2019-03-18 16:24:06 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342489943 Conservation measures proposed for Calendula maritima giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342503420 1) Extension of the protection status to the three populations outside the nature reserve (sites of San Giuliano, San Cusumano, Isolotto Colombaia)
2) Integrated management of the surrounding territory: ban on building and construction expansion
3) Eradication of Carpobrotus edulis where it can be possible
4) Some information about the subspecies are still unknow: it is necessary to fill the poor genetic and demographic information. Particularly it need to ensure genetic variability and inbreeding phenomenon.
5) In-situ conservation: effort to increase the populations size ]]> 2019-03-18 16:49:32 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342503420 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342531283 The 20 species listed for the Italian Peninsula in the List of Earth's Endangered Creatures are all critically endangered plants and predominantly endemisms of Sicily or Sardinia. I will select some of them reported in the IUCN Top 50 and for each I will provide a brief description, the main threats and the conservation measures proposed for the recovery and the maintenance of their populations. ]]> 2019-03-18 17:41:21 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342531283 Polygala sinisica giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342540045 Description: Sinis milkwort is a perennial herb of Polygalaceae family grows under hot and dry climatic conditions on a limestone hillside within xerophilous Mediterranean plant communities. It is only found in a single population (70 individuals ca) along the coast of the Sinis Peninsula (Central-Western Sardinia).
Threats: The main threats for the single population of P. sinisica are agricultural activities, in particular pine plantations, followed by touristic and sport activities, such as off-road racing and unregulated human trampling. Other factors of risk are the increase of coastal roads and the construction and expansion of touristic infrastructures.

]]> 2019-03-18 17:57:30 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342540045 Conservation measures proposed for Polygala sinisica giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342549957 1) Provide a regional law for the protection of this endemic plant species (there is a not yet approved proposal by the Regional Council of Sardinia since 2005)
2) As a precautionary measure, the population could be protected through fencing in order to avoid or to reduce disturbance from sport activities
3) Further studies are needed in order to better understand the reproductive biology and ecology of the species
4) In- situ conservation: effort to increase the population size (The only population of P. sinisica falls within the Natura 2000 site ITB030038 ‟Stagno di Putzu Idu).
5) Ex-situ conservation: after further studies should be considered an introduction plan]]> 2019-03-18 18:15:28 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342549957 Centaurea gymnocarpa giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342948724 Description: Velvet centaurea is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, endemic to a single island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Capraia.
Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation in dry rocky areas.
Pay Attention: Floral comparison!!

There are a high number of very similar Centaurea species along the Italian coastline and distinguishing between them is very difficult. One of the ways botanists differntiate these species is by the finge on their involucre bracts!
Threats: The risk level of the species was downgraded because an increase in the number of individuals has been recorded with respect to the 2005 assessment, so that the Criterion B cannot be applied anymore. Moreover, during the years 2013-2014 the alien invasive Carpobrotus, whose competition was the main risk factor for C. gymnocarpa as reported the plant in the previous assessment.

]]> 2019-03-19 16:16:30 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342948724 Conservation measures proposed for Centaurea gymnocarpa giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342972269 1) Legally this species is protected by the Regional Law 56/2000, according to which it is forbidden to collect any species belonging to genus Centaurea. Despite this, it is difficult to prevent the tourists from picking the flowers. Probably adequate fencing should be done (the eight known populations), together with initiatives to informe local people and tourists about the importance and rarity of the species
2) During the years 2013-2014 the alien invasive plant Carpobrotus acinaciformis was eradicated with the subsequently increase of seedlings in Centaurea population. But on the other hand, the second most invasive alien species, Senecio angulatus and Opuntia spp., are performing a fast expansion in the area. These species too should be eradicated to avoid any damage to endemic species.
3) Ex situ conservation: the species is already cultivated in the Botanical Garden of Florence but probably other effort to henance the wild populations can be done. Further studies in botanica garden can help to understand how to increse seedlings. ]]> 2019-03-19 16:58:27 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342972269 Abies nebrodensis giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342988414 Description: Sicilian fir is native to the Madonie mountains, in northern Sicily. It is a medium-size evergreen coniferous tree growing to 15–25 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. It occurs at altitudes of 1400–1,600 m.
It is closely related to silver fir, Abies alba, which replaces it in the Apennine Mountains of Italy and elsewhere further north in Europe; some botanists treat Sicilian fir as a variety of silver fir, as Abies alba var. nebrodensis.
Threats: As a result of deforestation it is now extremely rare, with only 30 mature trees surviving. The poor health of the seedlings and saplings grown in the tree nurseries and the low sexual performance of adult individuals should be considered as an issue of a bottle-neck effect due to the limited population size, even if a significant genetic variability has been detected.
Replanting programmes are meeting with limited success due to heavy grazing pressure by livestock belonging to local farmers and trampling of young individuals by introduced herbivores such as boars and fallow deers .]]> 2019-03-19 17:25:45 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342988414 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342993339 2019-03-19 17:34:20 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342993339 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342995905 2019-03-19 17:38:35 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342995905 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342998092 2019-03-19 17:42:14 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/342998092 giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343007661 2019-03-19 17:57:16 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343007661 Conservation measures proposed for Abies nebrodensis giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343009990 1) Considering the low sexual performance of mature individuals and the low survival rate of seedlings and saplings, grazing and trampling damages may represent a serious threat for the natural regeneration of the species. Strict grazing management measures are urgently needed in order to reduce and control the impact of herbivores
2) The species has grown well in several European botanical gardens. However, soil degradation of the natural habitat has made re-introduction or increasing of the population very difficult. Assisted colonization should be encouraged in new selected areas, previous further studies about the habitats and the ecology
3) Eradication of the Abies species occurring in the surrounding areas in order to prevent genetic contamination due to hybridization]]> 2019-03-19 18:00:47 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343009990 The Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plants: Wild plants at the brink of extinction and what is needed to save them... giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343026544 More information about the endemic plants trated in the previous posts in the link below. In the PDF is possible to also find information concerning the other species listed for Italy in the List of Earth's Endangered Creatures.]]> 2019-03-19 18:28:54 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343026544 Theme 5, Step 4: Compare your conservation business plan with the business plan of other learners giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343030640 I compared my work about theme 5 with that of my co-learners and I noticed we set up the business plan on threatened species in different and personal ways. I decided to focus my attention on some characteristic endemisms critically endangered, for which the conservation measures in place seem to be not sufficient to well protect them, ensuring their maintenance in the future.
Somebody like me, has preferred to propose conservation plan for the single species described, somebody else presented a general plan referred to a specific environment or habitat in his/her PlantArea, describing all hosted species. I think these are two different but good methods to proceed! ]]> 2019-03-19 18:37:59 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/343030640 Group work assignment: the contribution about my PlantArea giuliafinotti92 https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/344495870 Xerophytic plants and their adaptations strategies to drought in Mediterranean maquis and garrigue of Italy ]]> 2019-03-23 21:25:43 UTC https://padlet.com/giuliafinotti92/5cmfyq7xcqom/wish/344495870