CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR PTILOSTEMON GREUTERI (ASTERACEAE), AN ENIGMATIC CLIMATE RELICT FROM SICILY (ITALY)

Ptilostemon greuteri (Asteraceae) is a narrow endemic and highly threatened woody plant from the northwestern coast of Sicily (Italy), restricted to two microrefugia on NE-facing calcareous cliffs and humid, shaded gorges. To support its conservation, we developed an action plan combining species distribution modelling (SDM), field surveys, and translocation activities. The SDM, based on high-resolution topographic data, identified a few suitable areas, which were subsequently validated in the field. Translocation experiments using plantlets and seedballs were monitored for survival and growth. This integrated approach provides a solid foundation for targeted conservation and underscores the value of combining modelling with field experimentation.