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This reserve retains an important forest heritage, mostly the result of an ancient reforestation work, which has covered the whole territory with conifers and eucalyptus; there is still a trace of an ancient oak grove though. Among the conifers, stone pines dominate, and grow above 2.624 ft: this species thrives on sandy soils and produces the so-called “pine nuts”.
There are also Aleppo pines, along with chestnuts, hazelnuts, holm oak sand laurels.

The typical species of this reserve are elderberries (used to make “vastedda cu sammucu”, an ancient traditional recipe), wild pear trees, asparagus, and many other plants.

The undergrowth is quite remarkable too, featuring patches of elmleaf blackberry, dog roses (evergreen roses), thyme, hawthorn, and blackthorn: these and other species form splendid hedges, which flank the paths recently restored to facilitate the hiking, trekking, and scouting activities allowed inside the reserve.

Photo source: https://www.guidasicilia.it/route/la-riserva-naturale-orientata-rossomanno-grottascura-bellia/1001752

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)