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Platanus orientalis (Platanaceae)

The plane tree of Curinga is considered one of the oldest trees of southern Italy. It is around 800-1000 years old and it was planted by Basilian monks who lived in S. Elia Vecchio of which remain now only ruins.

The specimen grows in a wood of black pines and its dimensions are remarkable. The trunk, which opens into two primary boughs which then branch themselves, has a circumference of 20 m which becomes    10 m when the tree reaches 2 m of height, there is an enormous cavity inside the tree which can host ten people together.

How to reach it:

Drive from the municipality of Curinga (CZ) to the ruins of S. Elia where it is possible to park the car.  Follow a downhill dirt road which crosses a black pine wood and you will reach the tree in 5-10 minutes time.

Botanical characteristics of oriental plant trees:

The specie hails from eastern Mediterranean, occidental Asia and Afghanistan. It grows spontaneously in Sicily and southern Italy. Oriental plane trees are heliophilous and prefer fresh and fertile soils of alluvial origins. They are used principally as road tree, since their resilience is high and dispose of a great tapering radical system which can support the whole plant.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)