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This Nature Reserve extends for about 5.000 acres on a vast plain of volcanic origin, in the typical hilly landscape of upper Lazio and southern Tuscany – between the northern spurs of the Vulsini and Monte Amiata mountain ranges.
Selva del Lamone is, on the whole, a large forest of often impenetrable woods, holm oaks, and broad-leaved trees. The flat area is abruptly interrupted, at its margins or outside the Selva, by deep waterway erosions.

FLORA

In the thick wood, there are a lot of Turkey oaks (Quercus cerris), downy oaks (Quercus pubescens), field maples (Acer campestre), Montpellier maples (Acer monspessulanum), European hop-hornbeams (Ostrya carpinifolia), manna ashes (Fraxinus ornus), and European nettle trees (Celtis australis).
The undergrowth and the bushes are mainly made of field elms (Ulmus minor), sorb trees (Sorbus domestica), wild service trees (Sorbus torminalis), European crab apples (Malus sylvestris), wild pears (Pyrus pyraster), Japanese medlars (Eriobotrya japonica), hawthorns (Crataegus monogyn), blackthorns (Prunus spinosa), Cornelian cherries (Cornus mas), and common holly (Ilex aquifolium).
In the dampest patches, we can find Italian maples (Acer opalus), common hornbeams (Carpinus betulus), and common holly (Ilex aquifolium). Wild, small-leaved limes (Tilia cordata) are also abundant in this reserve.

FAUNA

Otters are abundant along the banks of the Olpeta River; the thick forest is perfect for martens, badgers, weasels, skunks, and a lot of wild cats. Among other species of this protected habitat, there are foxes, hedgehogs, porcupines, dormice, squirrels, and hares. Even wild boars are abundant.
Diurnal birds of prey include buzzards, honey buzzards, sparrow hawks, kestrels, lesser kestrels, and the rare Montagu’s harriers.

Hedges and bushes are the ideal habitats for various passerines such as great tits, blue tits, blackbirds, robins, wrens, nightingales, cuckoos, and blackcaps.
Among the amphibians, smooth and crested newts, agile frogs, common and emerald toads are present in large numbers.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)