The endemic vascular flora of Sardinia: a dynamic checklist with an overview of biogeography and conservation status

The vascular flora of Sardinia has been investigated for more than 250 years, with particular
attention to the endemic component due to their phylogeographic and conservation interest.
However, continuous changes in the floristic composition through natural processes, anthropogenic
drivers or modified taxonomical attributions require constant updating. We checked all
available literature, web sources, field, and unpublished data from the authors and acknowledged
external experts to compile an updated checklist of vascular plants endemic to Sardinia. Life and
chorological forms as well as the conservation status of the updated taxa list were reported. Sardinia
hosts 341 taxa (15% of the total native flora) endemic to the Tyrrhenian Islands and other
limited continental territories; 195 of these (8% of the total native flora) are exclusive to Sardinia.
Asteraceae (50 taxa) and Plumbaginaceae (42 taxa) are the most representative families, while the
most frequent life forms are hemicryptophytes (118 taxa) and chamaephytes (106 taxa). The global
conservation status, available for 201 taxa, indicates that most endemics are under the ‘Critically
Endangered’ (25 taxa), ‘Endangered’ (31 taxa), or ‘Least Concern’ (90 taxa) IUCN categories. This
research provides an updated basis for future biosystematics, taxonomic, biogeographical, and
ecological studies and in supporting more integrated and efficient policy tools.