Article

The authors report on the results of their floristic researches conducted on the Island of Molara (north-eastern Sardinia) as regards changes in the ruderal element linked to land use over the past 80 years. Our present-day research has identified 384 taxa, belonging to 83 families and 252 genera, whereas past floristic composition was 402. Comparison of present-day flora with that of the past showed that 86 taxa were new to the island, 285 were confirmed and 104 were no longer observed. Amongst the taxa no longer found, some 25% were ruderal. Their disappearance was due to changes in land use, in particular over the past 50 years, during which time farming activity ceased and stock rearing declined to minimal terms.