Strelitzia nicolaii Regel &amp; Körn. (Strelitziaceae), a casual alien plant new to Northern Hemisphere

Giuseppe Collesano,Antonina Fiorello,Salvatore Pasta

doi:10.36253/jopt-10183

Abstract

The ongoing naturalization of the blue giant paradise bird tree, Strelitzia nicolaii, is here reported for the first time for NW Sicily (Italy). Native to SE Africa, this ornamental plant was locally introduced around mid XIX century. During last two decades the first cases of pollination and dispersal have been recorded, and within last 10 years several individuals were able to establish in abandoned Citrus orchards or in private gardens subject to moderate soil management.

Highlights

Is home of around 400 fully naturalized or causal alien plants (Galasso et al, 2018)
The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) lists as much as 34 binomial epithets referred to the genus Strelitzia, nowadays just five taxa are recognized at species rank (Argent 2011; Cron et al 2012; Baijnath and McCracken 2019)
The first 50 individuals of S. nicolaii were introduced in the ‘dinosaur area’ at the same time the park was founded (1998), and subsequently more blue giant paradise bird trees have been planted in the other sectors of the park

Summary

Introduction

Is home of around 400 fully naturalized or causal alien plants (Galasso et al, 2018). Most of – if not all – the previous records of S. augusta and all the available specimens of tree-like Strelitzia observed and studied in Sicily belong to S. nicolaii (Speciale and Domina 2016).

Results

Conclusion