Studies on Sedum taxa found in Sicily (Italy) for Mediterranean extensive green roofs

TY - JOUR

T1 - Studies on Sedum taxa found in Sicily (Italy) for Mediterranean extensive green roofs

AU - La Bella, Salvatore

AU - Leto, Claudio

AU - Schicchi, Rosario

AU - Tuttolomondo, Teresa

AU - Fascella, Giancarlo

AU - Aprile, Simona

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - One type of green roof whose function is ecological and environmentalrather than aesthetic is the extensive green roof. Manystudies have shown that Sedum performs very well compared toother hardy species in substrates of less than 10 cm. It seems thatSedum species are able to survive in very thin substrates; they tolerateextreme temperatures and sudden variations in temperatures,high levels of solar radiation, strong winds, poor substrate fertilityand extreme drought. In particular, this paper looks at the potentialof a number of species from the Sicilian taxa of the genus Sedum(Crassulaceae), which are considered to be those xerophytes mostsuited for use in extensive green roof systems for Mediterraneanareas. Each taxon was subject to in situ and ex situ observations togain phenological and ecological data, information on its vegetativepropagation capacity and its plant ground cover capacity.Theresults of this study have led to greater understanding of Sicilianpluriennal Sedum genus entities of potential use in green roof systemsin the Mediterranean. The taxa respond particularly well toagamic propagation, showing characteristics suited to nursery productionof green roof systems, with the exception of S. amplexicaulesubsp. tenuifolium. Growth indices and plant development(ground cover) demonstrated the capacity of a number of Sedumtaxa to form a uniform green mantle over time. S. sediforme andS. album subsp. album. showed interesting results, for because oftheir ability to colonize the substrate, and they could be fundamentalin determining the plant structure of the green systems. However, there are also other plants, such as S. amplexicaule var.tenuifolium, and, to a lesser extent, S. dasyphyllum var. dasyphyllumand S. ochroleucum, which are able to contribute to floraldiversification and lead to greater biodiversity in the system.These taxa could be used when creating associations of Sedum atlower percentages compared to the structuring species (≤20%).

AB - One type of green roof whose function is ecological and environmentalrather than aesthetic is the extensive green roof. Manystudies have shown that Sedum performs very well compared toother hardy species in substrates of less than 10 cm. It seems thatSedum species are able to survive in very thin substrates; they tolerateextreme temperatures and sudden variations in temperatures,high levels of solar radiation, strong winds, poor substrate fertilityand extreme drought. In particular, this paper looks at the potentialof a number of species from the Sicilian taxa of the genus Sedum(Crassulaceae), which are considered to be those xerophytes mostsuited for use in extensive green roof systems for Mediterraneanareas. Each taxon was subject to in situ and ex situ observations togain phenological and ecological data, information on its vegetativepropagation capacity and its plant ground cover capacity.Theresults of this study have led to greater understanding of Sicilianpluriennal Sedum genus entities of potential use in green roof systemsin the Mediterranean. The taxa respond particularly well toagamic propagation, showing characteristics suited to nursery productionof green roof systems, with the exception of S. amplexicaulesubsp. tenuifolium. Growth indices and plant development(ground cover) demonstrated the capacity of a number of Sedumtaxa to form a uniform green mantle over time. S. sediforme andS. album subsp. album. showed interesting results, for because oftheir ability to colonize the substrate, and they could be fundamentalin determining the plant structure of the green systems. However, there are also other plants, such as S. amplexicaule var.tenuifolium, and, to a lesser extent, S. dasyphyllum var. dasyphyllumand S. ochroleucum, which are able to contribute to floraldiversification and lead to greater biodiversity in the system.These taxa could be used when creating associations of Sedum atlower percentages compared to the structuring species (≤20%).

UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10447/358934

M3 - Article

VL - 13

SP - 148

EP - 154

JO - ITALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY

JF - ITALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY

SN - 2039-6805

ER -