This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

Sorbus aria (Rosaceae)

In the Valsolda Nature Reserve, there is a single large specimen of common whitebeam (Sorbus aria) surrounded by a thick wood. This secular tree was planted to attract birds between 1700-1800, in a large prairie that is now covered by woods.

In the growing season, the large tree (with a circumference of 9.35 ft) reaches its maximum splendour, showing a round crown with two-colour leaves dancing in the wind.

The lower part of the trunk features dry branches due to the competition for light with other nearby plants, larches and beeches.

How to reach it:

A prominent path, which starts in the hamlet of Dasio (municipality of Valsolda), will take visitors to the foot of this large tree in about 1h and 40 minutes.

Botanical card

In Italy, the common whitebeam (Sorbus aria) is distributed throughout the peninsula, and on its islands.

This species is meso-thermophilic and vegetates mainly in the sub-alpine and low mountain areas, although it can potentially grow at altitudes between 0 and 3.900 ft.

It grows well on rocky terrain, debris and limestone soil, while it prefers well-sunny environments.

Its fruits are rich in tannins, citric acid, malic acid and sugars; for this reason, they are used for preserves, herbal teas, and syrups; since they’ve got a floury consistency, they were once mixed with flour to produce simple bread which eventually gave this very plant the nickname of “farinaccio”.

The wood is red-brownish, quite hard, solid and nonperishable – it’s therefore ideal for carving.

Photo source: http://malatidimontagna.blogspot.it/2017/04/nel-silenzio-della-riserva-naturale.html

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)