Considering the current climate conjuncture, it is a consensus that green spaces in large contemporary urban areas should be increasingly more numerous and simultaneously more sustainable, being adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the site, and with reduced maintenance costs. In the case of Algarve, where this research is focused, the current and future water availability, assumes a preponderant role in the design of green spaces, where the demands mentioned above can only be achieved if we deviate from conventional landscape practices and develop holistic strategies of management and design of green spaces that integrate different areas of knowledge and not merely aesthetic issues. In this context, this work aims to develop more adapted and resilient landscaping practices to the current and future climatic conditions of the Algarve, thus reinventing the concept of landscaping in the south of Portugal. Thus, it will be of paramount importance to develop more sustainable, resilient and tolerant projects to worsening ecological conditions, particularly limitations associated with water availability. The xeromorphic succulents are a group of plants with mechanisms of tolerance to water stress and with very specific characteristics, being succulence one of the most relevant. Studies on these mechanisms are increasingly frequent, which may prove to be very advantageous in our adaptation to future climatic challenges. In addition, their ornamental potential is enormous, since their bold forms and colours are a veritable sensory explosion, which, combined with their morphological and physiological characteristics, make them the species of choice in the reconversion or creation of xerophytic gardens.

While alien organisms, vascular plants included, are progressively increasing their worldwide impact on habitats, the present research confirms a similar dangerous trend for Calabria, the southernmost and floristically richest region of Italian Peninsula. The set of additional alien taxa here recorded for the vascular flora of Calabria includes: Acacia melanoxylon, Bidens subalternans, Buddleja davidii, Cucurbita moschata, Cyclospermum leptophyllum, Erigeron annuus subsp. annuus, Hesperocyparis glabra, Ligustrum ovalifolium, Mahonia aquifolium, Morus indica, Oenothera speciosa, Prunus serotina, Pyracantha fortuneana, Rudbeckia laciniata, Solanum nitidibaccatum, Sparaxis bulbifera, Tradescantia cerinthoides, Ulmus pumila. These additional 18 taxa bring the total number of alien species from 382 to 400. The most represented biological forms are scapose therophyte and scapose phanerophyte with 5 species (27.8% of the total). The most frequent biogeographic origins of the surveyed species are North America (6 species; 33.3%), followed by Asia and South America both with 4 species (22.2%). The most common habitats hosting the recorded alien taxa are roadsides (8 species; 44.4%), although all surveyed plants have been found in deeply anthropized environments. The altitude of occurrence, extending 3 to 1,286 m a.s.l., together with other ecological data provided, demonstrate the ability of aliens to potentially colonize a wide range of environments in the region.

Costus afer is a well-known medicinal plant abundant in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The successful growth of Costus afer plant on crude oil contaminated soil adds to the list of plants that has potential to get rid of harmful chemical compounds to save human life as well preserve the environment. This study investigates the remediation potential of Costus afer plant at different ages (7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days old) to decontaminate petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. To achieve this, contamination of sandy-loam soil was simulated by mixing T0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 L of Bonny-Light crude oil with 48 kg of the soil in three separate reactors to achieve conditions of low, medium, and high contamination, respectively. The reactor with medium-level contaminated soil served as the control. The plants were nursed and transplanted at the stated ages to each reactor except the control. Controlled irrigation was applied, and the setups were housed to shield them from rainfall. After 90 days of treatment, results showed that the 7 days old plants produced the highest amounts of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (TPAH) reduction of 99.71, 90.10, and 84.06 % in the soil with low, medium, and high contamination, respectively. Furthermore, the sequence of TPAH reduction by the plants was 14 days old > 21 days old > 28 days old > 35 days old > 42-days old. Thus, in addition to its medicinal value, Costus afer plant also has the potential to restore crude oil-contaminated soils.

This work presents the results of an ethnobotanical research carried out in the territory of Serre Calabre, province of Vibo Valentia (Calabria, southern Italy). In this territory, the bond between the residents and the rural environment is still strong, because the small urban centers are placed in a predominantly agricultural and forestry environment still managed in a traditional way. The survey took place between January 2019 and July 2021. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with locals. As many as 17 informants were interviewed and a total of 185 interviews were recorded. Plant specimens were collected under the indication of the informants and then deposited at the herbarium of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria (REGGIO). The data were stored on a digital database and then statistically analyzed some synthetic indexes have also been calculated, such as Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and the Cultural Importance Index (CI). The investigation allowed to identify 84 taxa belonging to 39 different families, among which the most represented are Lamiaceae (23 interviews, 9 taxa), Asteraceae (22 interviews, 12 taxa). The identified taxa were prevalently cited for alimentary (46 interviews, 32 taxa) and healing (55, 27) uses. The results obtained show how the traditional knowledge about plants in the Serre Calabre area is still alive, however it is exclusive heritage of elderly people and often only in one or just a few informants. In fact, many practices are no longer in use and will not be transferred to the new generations.