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(by Marta Corsi)

The Botanical Garden “Daniela Brescia” in S. Eufemia, Majella, Pescara, is part of the Majella National Park and was established in 2001 to safeguard the floral patrimony of the territory of Central Apennine Park through the cultivation in the garden and scientific research. Soldanella minima Hoppe subsp. samnitica Cristofolini & Pignatti is the symbol of the garden and it was chosen for its range, restricted to the Majella.

The Garden, more than 4 hectares, recreates some of the natural environments typical of the territory in 12 sections with 550 plant species, such as an oak grove with deciduous plants, a Turkey oak grove and a pine needle grove.

The part characterised by pine needle has boughs of Juniperus sabina, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Rhamnus alpina.

On the cliffs and screes there are Asian, Artic and native species, such as Androsace vitaliana, Viola eugeniae and Aquilegia magellensis.

In the wet area, Ranunculus lingua, Iris pseudacorus, Carex spp., Filipendula ulmaria, can be observed, along with other species typical of this environment.

The cliff and scree areas are of conservation concern, with their many rare and/or endemic entities of the genus Saxifraga, Sedum, Androsace and Cerastium and the part dedicated to wet environments, with, in particular, Menyanthes trifoliata L., Ranunculus lingua L., Geum rivale L., Salix pentandra L. Carex paniculata L. subsp. paniculata.

Besides these environmental sectors recreating typical natural habitats, the Garden hosts demonstrational learning areas, such as the one dedicated to medicinal plants (Achillea millefolium L. s. l., Calendula officinalis L., Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum, Melissa officinalis L. s. l., Digitalis purpurea L., Tilia cordata L., Gentiana lutea L. subsp. lutea, Tanacetum vulgare L., Satureja montana L. subsp. montana, Atropa bella-donna) or the one of native agricultural biodiversity, where local varieties of apple and pear tree are grown.

Altogether, about 500 floral entities are hosted on a 5 hectares surface, comprising native plants, among which some specimens endemic to the territory of Central Apennines or Majella and the surrounding mountains, but also non-native plants planted together with the other ones for learning purposes.

Flora is not the only interest of the Garden. Two small water courses flow in its area, where one can observe the rare crawfish (Austropotamobius pallipes Lereboullet, 1858), a biological indicator of good water quality.

Furthermore, there are also a nursery and a green house where native plant species are reproduced and transplantated in the various areas of the Garden or used for reforestation and requalification projects in the territory of the Park or sold.

Upon request, it is possible to do internships, write dissertations, consult the books in the library and also create workshops and seminars, both theorical and practical, about many themes, like natural cosmetics, essential oil extraction, gardening, etc.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)