Sexual polymorphism and spatial segregation of Thymelaea hirsuta in Liguria (north-west Italy)

Flowering phenology, sexual polymorphism and spatial segregation were studied over two consecutive years in a population of Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. (Thymelaeaceae) growing on coastal clifIs in north-westem ltaly. The study population was geographically segregated and, together with Croatian sites, it constituted the northemmost margin of the species' distribution range. Very frequent observations highlighted a sexual tendency towards dioecy already shown by T. hirsuta in other parts of the Mediterranean coast. The flowering period lasted 10-11 months, more or lesso A high proportion of female flowers and a low number of hermaphrodite flowers were recorded, in conttast with the abundance home by the species elsewhere; gender segregation into two different subgroups was noted, ODe consisting mainly of male and protogynous plants, the second consisting basically of remate and protandrous specimens.