Islands of lichen diversity in urban environments: a hidden richness in botanical gardens
Journal: Italian Botanist
Year: 2024

Botanical gardens in city centres are green islands, offering a sanctuary for diverse plant and fungal species amidst urban landscapes. Although lichens are not usually a primary focus in botanical gardens, these spaces can serve as important refuges. In this work, the epiphytic lichen biota has been investigated in the Botanic Garden of Pisa, to uncover the hidden elements of biodiversity of botanical gardens in terms of non-target organisms. A total of 57 epiphytic lichen taxa and one non-lich