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Pigelleto Nature Reserve takes its name from 'pigellum' the
ancient term for fir tree, the most common tree of the area.
The woods on Monte Amiata are very similar to the ones you
will be able to find in the Apennines because the two areas
share the same climate: mountanous vegatation, thermal excursion,
rainy and damp weather. Historic documentation proove that
the area has remained unchainged since the last 2000 years.
The table below show how the flaura is distributed in this
area. |
fig
1 = distribution of some species of trees on P.gio
Pampagliano (mt 969 above sea level)
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On
the highest part of the mountain and down until 800 mt there
are beeches (Fagus sylvatica) followed by hop hornbeams
(carpinus betulus) and turkey oaks (Quercus cerris) with
isolated groupes of Silver firs (Abies alba). The dry lands
are occupied by Black hornbeams (Ostriya carpinifolia) and
flowering ash trees (Fraxinus ornus). This area is characterised
by large gaps between one species and another (fig. 2).
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fig
2 = species of trees in a niche created by a landslide
in the beech forests: wetter lands are occupied by elders
and some hop hornbeams.
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Along
the water streams where there are landslides you can find
Aspens (Populus tremula), willow trees (Salix caprea) and
the weeping/drooping sedge (Carex pendula). There are mixed
forests of sycomor trees and beeches, forests of Italian Maple
trees, Field maple trees and turkey oaks. Here and there you
will be able to find some young Yews (Taxus baccata) a once
undangered species and sessile oaks ( Quercus robur), chestnut
trees (Castanea europea), and Bigleaf Linden (Tilia platyphyllos).
At lower heights there are service trees ( Sorbus domestica).
Among the species of bushy trees there are junipers (Juniperus
europeus), the Estrella Gold (Erica arborea) blackthorns (Prunus
spinosa), English Broom (Sarothamnus scoparius) and broom
trees (Spartium iunceum). Besides the many species of fern
trees, there are many species of weeds such as liverwarts
(Hepatica trifolia), flowering onion (Allium ursinum), belladonna
(Atropa belladonna) and Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis).
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