Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional 1 Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional (LISFA): Fasc. XVIII 3. The vegetation of Madeira VIII: Advances on the phytosociological survey of nonnitrophyllous vegetation of the Madeira archipelago 1. Myrto communis - Hypericetum canariensis ass. nova hoc loco Thermomediterranean, dry to low sub-humid high scrub dominated by Hypericum canariensis, Myrtus communis, Globularia salicina, Maytenus umbellatus and Asparagus scoparius found along most of the southern slope of Madeira island in the 100-450 m.s.m. altitude range. This high-scrub is the first sub-seral stage of the Apollonias barbujana thermomediterranean forest. Thus, defines the southern slope syn-facies of the Semele androgynae-Apollonio barbujanae sigmetum. [The equivalent high scrub stage in the northern slope, in the same series, is Globulario salicinae-Ericetum arboreae]. Syntaxonomical affinities with the Mayteno umbellatae-Oleetum maderensis are obvious. Nevertheless the later is in itself the permanent climax community of the lower vegetation stage between the sea level and the Semele-Apollonietum on rocky habitats (ca. 100-150 m.s.m. in the southern slope): Mayteno umbellatae-Oleeo maderensis sigmetum. Both series seem to share the thermomediterranean tree-spurge com-munities [Euphorbietum piscatoriae] and sometimes the Cisto-Micromerietalia communities as shruby stages. [Typus: Table 1, rel. # 1; Rhamno crenulatae-Oleetea cerasiformis; Rhamno crenulatae-Oleetalia cerasiformis; Mayteno umbellatae-Oleion maderensis]. Table 1 - Myrto communis-Hypericetum canariensis # order of relevé Altitude Área m2 Aspect 1 340 100 NW 2 60 50 NW Characteristics Hypericum canariensis Myrtus communis Globularia salicina Maytenus umbellata Asparagus aspargoides Laurus novocanariensis Euphorbia piscatoria Asparagus scoparius Tamus edulis Erica maderinicola Phyllis nobla Apollonias barbujana 4 1 1 1 1 (X) . . . . . . 5 2 1 1 1 (X) 1 1 + + + (X) 1 2 + 2 + + Companions Opuntia tuna Aeonium glutinosum Hyparrhenia sinaica Mais: nº 1: 1Rhus coriaria, 1Bituminaria bituminosa +Melica canariensis, +Geranium purpureum, +Brachypodium sylvaticum, +Davallia canariensis, +Vitis vinifera, +Leontodon taraxacoides, +Picris echioides, +Galium productum, nº 2: 1Argeratina adenophora, +Rubus ulmifolius Sites: 1 Sítio das Fontes, Quinta Grande; 2 Ribeira Brava 1. Helichryso melaleuci-Sideroxyletum marmulanae ass. nova hoc loco In the northern slope of Madeira, between Porto da Cruz and Porto Moniz, in the thermomediterranean sub-humid stage, in steep shallow soil rocky habitats, exposed to the trade winds, from 0 to 150 m.s.m., low micropha-nerophytic forest communities are found forming patches where Sideroxylum marmulano dominates. Pruno-Laurelatia elements (Phyllis nobla, Hedera maderensis, Hypericum grandifolium, Teucrium betonicum, Smilax pendulina, Semele androgyna, Myrica faya) are combinated with more xeric elements of the Rhamno-Oleetea class such as: Helichrysum melaleucum, Maytenus umbellata, Globularia salicina, Echium nervosum. Asparagus scoparius subsp. lowei and Juniperus canariensis, wich is rare in Madeira, belong also to the characteristic combination of the community. It seems to be the climax of a thermomediterranean series of rocky steep slopes [HelichrysoSideroxylo marmulanae sigmetum] close to the sea, in a ecological situation analogous [vicariant] Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional 2 to the Mayteno-Oleeo maderensis sigmetum. The water availability in the Helichryso-Sideroxyletum marmulanae habitat seems to be due mostly from fog and humid winds. Low altitude rock thickets of both slopes share a wealth of Rhmano-Oleetea elements, but Helichryso-Syderoxyletum has a wealth of mesic elements, and climbers that are absent in Mayteno-Oleetum maderensis and favours syntaxonomical positioning in Pruno-Lauretea novocanariensis rather than in RhamnoOleetea cerasiformis. Another argument favouring Pruno-Lauretea is that S. marmulano, although rare inside the Apollonias barbujana forest in Madeira, is a common and typical forest element in the understory of the vicariant thermomediterranean communities of the Visneo mocaneraeApollonion barbujanae in the Canary islands (e.g. Anaga, Tenerife). [Typus: Table 2, rel. # 5; Pruno hixae-Lauretea novocanariensis, Pruno-Lauretalia novocanariensis, Visneo mocanerae-Apollonion barbujanae]. Table 2 – Helichryso melaleuci-Sideroxyletum marmulanae # order of relevé Altitude Área m2 Aspect 1 90 40 N 2 3 4 5 100 70 95 80 60 60 50 80 NW N NW N Characteristics 4 4 4 Sidroxylon marmulano . . . Phyllis nobla . . . Hedera madeirense . . + Hypericum grandifolium . . . Argyranthemum pinnatifidum . + + Sonchus pinnatus . . . Teucrium betonicum . 1 . Smilax pendulina . 1 + Asparagus lowei . . . Myrica faya . . . Semele androgyna . . . Prasium medium . . . Carduus squarrosus Characteristics of Oleo-Rhamnetea crenulatae 1 1 + Helichrysum melaleucum 1 1 2 Maytenus umbellatus 3 1 1 Globularia salicina 1 + 1 Echium nervosum . . . Carlina salicifolia . . . Juniperus canariensis . . . Euphorbia piscatoria Companheiras + 1 + Aeonium glandulosum + . + Psoralea betuminosa + + + Dactylis hilodes + + + Davallia canarienis + + . Brachypodium sylvaticum . . . Rubus ulmifolius . . . Pteridium aquilinum + . . Synapidendron gymnocalix + . . Plantago leiopetala 6 7 8 50 30 280 60 50 100 NE NW NE 3 + . + + + . . . . . + . 4 + 1 + + . . . . . . . . 3 + + + . . . . . . . . . 4 2 + . . . 2 1 . . . . . 2 1 1 . 1 . 1 . . 2 1 . + 2 1 2 2 . . . 1 2 + 1 . . . 2 2 1 1 + . . + 2 2 1 + . 1 2 1 . . . 3 . 1 + + 1 + . + . + 1 + . . . . . . . 1 + + + . . . + . 1 + + + . 1 . . . + . + . . 1 1 . . More: nº 2: +Polypodium macaronesicum; nº 4: +Hyparrhenia sinaica; nº8: 1Argeratina adenophara, +Aeonium glutinosum Sites: 1, 4 Véu da Noiva; 2 Ribeira do Inferno; 3, 5 S. Vicente; 6 Seixal; 7 Ribeira da Janela; 8 Rocha do Navio 3. Campanulo erini - Wahlenbergietum lobelioidis ass. nova hoc loco Low-biomass annual non-nitrophyllous community of small annuals on which Campanula erinus, Briza maxima, Wahlenbergia lobelioides, Trifolium campestre, Leontodon taraxacoides subsp. longirrostris, Vulpia myurus, Brachypodium distachyon. Dominate. This association is an endemic of Madeira and probably reaching also the Canary Islands, in rocky grounds with discontinuous patches of soil. It is found mostly in the thermomediterranean area of the southern slope of Madeira (Semele-Apollonio barbujanae sigmetum). [Typus: table 3, rel. # 2; Helianthemetea, Tuberarietalia, Tuberarion guttatae]. Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional 3 Table 3 - Campanulo erini-Wahlenbergietum lobelioidis # order of relevé Altitude Área m2 Aspect 1 2 3 4 100 120 150 540 2 1 6 4 NW SW W SE Characteristics Campanula erinus Briza maxima Wahlenbergia lobelioides Trifolium campestre Leontodon longirostris Vulpia myurus Brachypodium distachyon Linum tryginum Trifolium arvense Vulpia muralis Lotus ornithopoides Petrorhagia nanteuilii Cynosurus echinatus Trifolium striatum Medicago minima Aira caryophylla Vulpia bromoides Ornithopus pinnatus Tolpis barbata Logfia galica Companions Avena barbata Polycarpon tetraphyllum Trifolium glomeratum Misopates orontium 3 + 3 . 1 . . . . + + . . . + . . . . . 1 1 2 2 . 1 2 . . + . + . . . + . . . . 3 3 2 2 1 + . + 1 . + + 1 . . . + + . . + 1 . 2 2 4 2 2 + . . . . 1 . . . . + + + 2 . . + 1 1 . 1 + + + + . . 1 More: nº1: +Sonchus oleraceus, +Silene gallica; nº 2: +Carlina salicifolia (pl.); nº3: 1Lagurus ovatus, +Euphorbia peplus, +Sherardia arvensis; nº 4:1Erodium chium, +Bromus diandrus, +Galactites tomentosa Sites: 1, 2, 3 Meia Légua, 4 Cabo Girão 4. Cytisus scoparius and Ulex latebracteatus community The probable neophytes Cytisus scoparius and Ulex latebracteatus [=U. europaeus subsp. latebracteatus] are abundant in the higher altitudes of Madeira and frequently replace natural communities after wildfire or other disturbances. It ranges from the mesotemperate to supratemperate, sub-humid to ultra-hiper-humid in the scope of the series Polysticho falcinelloEricetum arboreae and Clethro arboreae-Ocoteetum foetentis. To consider the presence of the Cytisetea scopario-striati vegetation class in Madeira, would imply that all the communities dominated by neophytes in the island should be systematized in the syntaxonomical system. This assumption would create methodological problems yet to be solved. Table 4 - Cytisus scoparius and Ulex latebracteatus community # order of relevé 1 2 Altitude 1710 1650 Área m2 20 20 Aspect E SE 5 4 Cytisus scoparius . + Ulex latebracteatus . Pteridium aquilinum . . . Cytisus striatus . . Erica arborea 2 2 Agrostis castellana 2 1 Erica maderensis 2 + Viola paradoxa . 1 Teline maderensis . Erygeron kransvikianu . . . Rubus ulmifolius Meloselinum . . decipens . . Digitalis purpurea Anthoxantum + + maderensis 3 4 5 6 740 1550 1500 800 40 50 40 20 SW SW W SW + + 4 3 5 5 2 3 . 2 2 3 2 . . . . . . . . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . 1 . . . 1 7 840 60 SW 3 + 1 2 2 . . . + . + + . . . + . . + + . . . . . . Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional 4 More: nº 1: 2Ranunculus minor, 1Hypochaeris radicata, +Andryala varia, +Polypodium vulgare; nº 3: 2Rubus lusitanicus; nº 7: 2Erica maderinicola, 1Phyllis nobla, 1Festuca donax, +Rumex maderensis Sites: 1 Pico do Cidrão; 2 Pico do Gato, 3 Vale Paraíso; 4, 5 Bico da Cana; 6 between Rabaçal and Calheta; 7 Encumeada 5. Vicio capreolatae-Odontitetum hollianae ass. nova hoc loco In the higher altitudes of Madeira, around Pico do Areiro and Pico Ruivo, in the clearings of the Polysticho falcinelli-Ericetum arboreae forest community [semi-nitrophyllous, shady habitats], the madeiran endemics Odontites holliana and Vicia capreolata are found along with Cardamine hirsuta, Centranthus calcitrapa, Draba muralis, Galium murale, Geranium purpureum, Teesdalia nudicaulis. etc. We propose, for sake of typology, the new name Vicio capreolatae-Odontitetum hollianae to stand for these communities [Typus: Table 5, inv. # 3; Cardamino hirsutae-Geranietea purpurei, Cardamino-Geranietalia, Geranio perpusilli-Antheriscion caucalidis]. Table 5 - Vicio capreolatae-Odontitetum hollianae # relevé Altitude Area Aspect Characteristics Odontites holliana Cardamine hirsuta Centranthus calcitrapa Draba muralis Vicia capreolata Galium murale Geranium purpureum Geranium rotundifolium Cynosurus echinatus Myosotis ramosissima Cerastium diffusum Anthriscus caucalidis Fumaria capreolata Companions Teesdalia nudicaulis Senecio vulgaris Arabidopsis thaliana Aphanes microcarpa Senecio sylvaticus Vulpia bromoides Silene vulgaris Leontondon longirrostris 1 2 3 4 5 6 1570 1700 1590 1710 1600 1550 2 4 2 4 2 1 NW E NE W SW E 1 1 1 3 . 1 . 3 2 2 2 1 1 . 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 + . + 3 + 1 + 1 . 1 3 2 + . . + 2 1 + . . + . 1 + 2 . . + . . . . . + . . . . . . 1 . . . . . + . . . . . 2 1 2 1 . 1 + 1 . + . + . + 1 + . . . + . + . . . . . . . + . 1 + . . 2 + + + + . . . . + + . . Mais: nº 1: 1Galium parisiense, 1Trifolium hirtum, +Geranium rotundifolium; nº 2: +Logfia minima; nº 3: +Hypochaeris glabra; nº 4: +Tolpis barbata; nº 5: +Ornithopus perpusilus; nº 6: 1Agrostis castellana, +Umbilicus rupestris Sites: 1 Pico das Torres; 2, 6 Pico do Gato; 3 Near the gate to the old track to Pico Ruivo; 4 Pico do Cidrão; 5 near the new gate to Pico Ruivo 6. Notholaeneteum subcordatae ass. nova hoc loco Termophyllous association of mafic substrata, namely trachyte and andesite rock walls in exposed, hot, biotopes, dominated by Notholaena marantha subsp. subcordatum. It occurs on rocky spots in the scope of Mayteno umbellatae-Oleetum madeirensis potential area. [Typus: table 6, rel. # 2; Asplenietea trichomanes, Cheilanthetalia maranto-maderensis, Cheilanthion pulchellae]. Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional 5 Table 6 - Notholaenetum subcordatae # relevé Altitude Area Aspect 1 100 1 S 2 120 1 E Characteristics Notholaena marantha 3 3 subsp. subcordatum Companions 1 1 Aeonium glutinosum . 2 Davallia canariensis + . Wahlembergia lobelioides Polypodium macaronesicum + . . . Aichrysum villosum . . Umbillicus rupestris . . Sedum nudum . . Mercurialis annua Sites: 1, 2, 3 Meia Légua (Ribeira Brava); 4 Ribeira Brava; 5 Boletos 3 150 1 SE 4 5 6 50 55 200 1 1 1 W W S 2 1 1 3 1 4 + . . . . . 1 1 1 + + + . + 1 + . + + + . . 3 + . . . . 1 . 7. Adiantetum reniformis ass. nova hoc loco In rock crevices and walls of basalt, in the bioclimatic thermo-mesomediterranean humid to hiper-humid stages, a species-poor community of Adiantum reniforme subsp. reniforme can be found. It occurs in the scope of the Semele-Apollonio barbujanae sigmetum and Clethro-Ocoteetum foetentis sigmetum series. It is a madeiran vicariant of the Adianto pusilli-Cheilanthetum pulchellae from the Canary Islands. [Typus: Table 7, rel. # 6; Asplenietea trichomanis, Cheilantheletalia marantho-maderensis, Cheilanthion pulchellae] Table 7 - Adiantetum reniformis # relevé Altitude Area Aspect Characteristics Adiantum reniforme Asplenium trichomanes Asplenium monanthes Notholaena marantha Companions Davallia canariensis Polypodium macaronesicum Selaginella denticulata Aeonium glandulosum Cystopteris diaphana Aichrysum villosum Aichrysum divaricatum Aeonium glutinosum 1 2 100 80 NW W 1 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 900 950 960 800 600 50 N NE W SW S NW 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 . . . 3 . . . 3 . . . 2 . 1 . 3 . + . 3 1 . . 5 + . . 3 + . + 1 . . + . . . . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . 1 . . . . . . + . + . . . . . + . 2 . 1 . . . + . . + . . . + 1 + . . . . . . Sites: 1, 2, 8 Ribeira da Janela; 3 Levada do Caldeirão Verde; 4, 5 Ribeiro Frio, 6 Levada de João de Deus; 7 Curral das Freiras 8. Soncho maderensis-Asplenietum marini ass. nova hoc loco In the northern slope of Madeira in the sea-cliffs where salt spray from both waves and salt-rich winds is present (up to a 40 m.s.m.), a arero-halo-nitrophillous rock community is found: Soncho maderensis-Asplenietum marini. Catenal [spatial] contacts are with the rosetted communities of Sinapidendro angustifoliae-Aeonion glutinosae. Nevertheless, its very specific ecology, combining the presence of sodium cloride, nitrogen compounds and the rock habitat associated with the presence of a specific floristical combination supports its independence from the communities of Sinapidendro-Aenion glutinosae. [Typus: table 8, rel. # 3; Parietarietea, Parietarietalia, Asplenion marini]. Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional 6 Table 8 ‐ Soncho maderensis-Asplenietum marini Nº de ordem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 # relevé 15 5 5 7 5 2 20 Altitude 4 2 2 2 4 4 2 Area NW NE NE NW W N NE Characteristics 2 3 3 2 2 4 2 Asplenium marinum . . 2 2 + . . Tolpis succulenta Adiantum capillus-veneris . . . + + 1 . . . . . . 1 + Parietaria judaica . . . . . + . Cymbalaria muralis . + . . . . . Cyrtomium falcatum Companions 1 + + 1 1 + 1 Sonchus maderensis + 1 1 + . + + Aeonium glandulosum . + + 1 + . + Crithmum maritimum . 2 1 2 + . + Plantago coronopus . 1 + + 1 . . Andryala varia + . . . . . . Helichrysum devium . . . + . . Mathiola maderensis . . . + Helichrysum melaleucum . . . Sites: 1 Foz d Ribeira da Janela; 2, 3, 4, 6 Sítio da Laje (Seixal); 5 Porto Moniz; 7 Foz da Ribeira do Inferno 9. Selaginello denticulatae - Cystopteridetum viridulaee ass. nova hoc loco The briophyte and fern communities of earthy walls, in conditions of shade, high soil moisture, and organic thin soil, that can be found, for instance, along the sides of the levadas channels correspond to a great extent to a single community combining Cystopteris viridula (Desv.) Desv. [syn.= Cystopteris diaphana (Bory) Blasdell] with other pteridophytes, mosses and hepaticae. Altough its floristical character and variation will only be known when studies in briosociology are carried out, from the point of view of the pteridophyta alone we can nevertheless recognize it clearly as an independent and well characterised community. [Type: table 9, rel # 2; Anomodonto- Polypodietea, Anomodonto-Polypodietalia, Sellaginello denticulatae-Anogrammion leptophyllae]. Table 9 - Selaginello denticulatae-Cystopteridetum viridulae # relevé Altitude Area Aspect Characteristics Selaginella denticulata Cystopteris viridula Anogramma leptophylla Asplenium anceps Frullania polisticha Davallia canariensis Polypodium macaronesicum Porella canariensis Frullania microphylla Companions Stenogramma pozoi Briophyta Anthocerus sp. Sibthorpia peregrina Viola stellata Asplenium monanthes Aichrysum divaricatum Carex peregrina Erygeron karwiskianus 1 2 3 4 5 1540 900 905 1365 1000 1 2 2 1 2 N N N N N 4 + 2 . . . 3 3 . 1 . . 1 2 . . . . 1 3 . . . . 4 2 . . 1 + . . . . + . . . . . . . . + + . . 2 . . . . . . 1 2 + 2 + + . . . 2 3 + 3 + . + + + 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . + + + + + + More: nº 1: 2Corcenia coriandrena, 1Targionia hypophylla, 1Trifolium dubium, 1Bryum sp., 1Funaria sp., +Eryophila verna, +Myosotis ramosissima, +Sagina procumbens, +Polia; nº 2 Conocephalum sp., +Woordia radicans (plant.); nº 4: 3Marchantia sp.; nº 5: +Huprezia suberecta Sites: 1 Pico das Torres; 2, 3 Vereda do Caldeirão Verde; 4 Vereda do Montado dos Pessegueiros; 5 Folhadal Notas do Herbário da Estação Florestal Nacional 7 10. Hymenophylletum thumbrigensi - maderensis ass. nova hoc loco Very rare filmy-fern (Hymenophyllaceae) community of shady humid biotopes, occuring in dead wood on the ground of the Clethro-Ocoteetum foetentis forest. Endemic to Madeira [Typus: dead log near the levada of Caldeirão Verde, 2 m2, R. Jardim & J. Capelo: 2Hymenophyllum maderense, 3Hymenophyllum thumbrigense, 2Sellaginella denticullata, 1Trichomanes speciosum, 1Asplenium anceps, +Asplenium monanthes, +Stenogramma pozoi, +Erygeron karvinskianus, 4Briophyta; Anomodonto-Polypodietea, Anomodonto-Polypodietalia, Hymenophyllion thumbrigensis]. 11. Davallio canariensis-Saxifragetum portosanctanae R. Jardim, J. Capelo, M. Sequeira, C. Aguiar ass. nova hoc loco In Porto Santo island, a community of earthy crevices in rocky habitats combi-ning the endemic Saxifraga portosanctana, Davalia canariensis and Polypodium macaronesicum is found. For this community the name Davallio canariensis-Saxifragetum portosanctanae is proposed. [Typus: at the summit of Pico Branco mountain, Porto Santo, 4 m2, R. Jardim, J. Capelo, M. Sequeira & C. Aguiar: 3Saxifraga portosanctana, 4Davallia canariensis, 1Polypodium macaronesicum; AnomodontoPolypodietea, Anomodonto-Polypodietalia; Polypodion serrati, Bartamio strictae-Polypodienion cambrici]. 12. Erysimo arbusculae-Artemisietum argenteae R. Jardim, J. Capelo, M. Sequeira, C. Aguiar & J. C. Costa ass. nova hoc loco Agricultural field that were abandoned a few years ago are, in Porto Santo island, now covered by a species-poor community dominated by Artemisia argentea. In primary positions, this community is found combined with Erysimum arbuscula, which is endemic to Porto Santo. Affinities with the Pegano-Salsoletea vegetation [c.f. communities of A. thuscula in the Canary islands] are evident, we prefer to keep it in the Cisto-Micromerietalia for the sake of biogeographical consistency. [Typus: Chão da Farinha, Porto Santo, 20, R. Jardim, J. Capelo, M. Sequeira, C. Aguiar; 4Artemisia argentea, 2Erysimum arbuscula, +Phagnalon hansenii; Rhamno-Oleetea cerasiformis, Cisto-Micromerietalia hyssopifolia, Soncho ustulati-Artemision argentei]. 13. Sonchetum pinnati ass. nova hoc loco The endemic caulirostted Sonchus pinnatus seems to stand for this peculiar physiognomic – evolutive strategy in dryer extra-forest habitats, [regardless of thermotype] in Madeira. We now propose that the communities of this plant shoud be included in the caulirosetted canarymadeiran alliance Euphorbion melliferae. [Typus: S. Vicente, moisty wall, 85 msm, SE, 4 m2 characteristic: 4Sonchus pinnatus companions: 3Aonium glutinosum, +Davalia canariensis, 1Ageratina adenophora, +Psoralea bituminosa, 1Rumex maderensis, +Torilis arvensis +Galactites tomentosa; Pruno-Lauretea, Pruno-Lauretalia, Euphorbion melliferae]. Nomenclature Scientific names of vascular plants follow PRESS & SHORT (1994) Flora of Madeira. BM. London and also the Checklist of taxa of RIVAS-MARTÍNEZ, DÍAZ, FERNANDEZ-GONZÁLEZ, IZCO, LOIDI, LOUSÃ & PENAS (2002) Itinera Geobotanica 15(2): 697-813. Sometimes infra-specific names are shortened to the last infra-specific epiteth. Aknowledgment The authors would like to thank the Direcção Regional de Florestas da Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Recursos Naturais da região Autónoma da Madeira for finantial and logistic support. Also to Mr. Paulo Gouveia for fieldwork assistance. Jorge Capelo; Dpto. de Ecologia, Recursos Naturais e Ambiente, Estação Florestal Nacional, jorge.capelo@efn. com.pt; José Carlos Costa; Dpto de Protecção de Plantas e de Fitoecologia, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, jccosta@isa.utl.pt; Roberto Jardim; Jardim Botânico da Madeira, Funchal, robertojardim@gov-mad.pt; Miguel Sequeira, Dpto Biologia, Universidade da Madeira, Funchal, sequeira@uma.pt; Salvador Rivas-Martínez; Dpto Biologia Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Compultense de Madrid rivas-martinez.cif@tsai.es