Contributo alla conoscenza floristica dell’area archeologica del Palatino (Roma)

The present work shows the results of a floristic research carried out from the years 1998 to 2000 in the archaeological area of Palatine (in the centre of Rome). The conservative management adopted in respect of the ancient rests has allowed to maintain and protect here precious green areas; these places give hospitality to a rich and various spontaneous flora. We have found 342 species, belonging to 78 families and 231 genera; some are interesting because new for Rome (Cuscuta planiflora, Orobanche picridis and Romulea columnae subsp. columnae) or for their rarity in the Roman e Latial contest (Polygonum rurivagum, Orobanche ramosa subsp. nana, Sisymbrium irio, Securigera cretica, Ruta chalepensis, Trachelium caeruleum and others like Allium subhirsutum, Minuartia hybrida, common in the examined area but not in Rome). The spontaneus orchids Ophrys sphegodes, Orchis coriophora, Serapias vomeracea, Serapias parviflora and Spiranthes spiralis deserve a particular attention because, in the urban context of Rome, they find at the Palatine a “privileged” place. The biological spectrum shows the prevalence of therophytes (45,9%), followed by hemicriptophytes (28,1%), in accordance to the pedo-climatic features and the type of management of the area. The chorological analysis underlines the predominance of Euri-Mediterranean (26%) on Steno-Mediterranean elements (18,1%), indicating a less dry microclimate in comparison with the surrounding zones, because of the presence of relatively vast green areas. The widespread entities have an high percentage (25,1%), in relation to the synanthropic contest in which the research has been carried out.