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The Sibillini Mountains National Park, established in 1993, safeguards some 180 acres divided between the eastern side of the Apennine ridge (featuring several narrow valleys) and the western one (marked by the typical high-altitude depressions). The landscape, wonderful in every season, is a favourite place for nature photographers always eager to capture the spectacular series of green meadows.

The vegetation tends to change from the foot of the mountains – at an average altitude of 1.640 ft, to the higher peaks. Up to about 3.280 ft, there are downy oaks, black hornbeams and ash trees, then there’s the beech forest, with mixed trees and then and then pure species grouped together.

The forest ends at about 5.577-5.741 ft, due to the past deforestation to create grazing areas. Beyond the natural boundaries of the forest, there are several pastures where very rare and unusual plant species can be found, like Artemisia petrosa ssp. Eriantha, the Apennine edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum ssp. Nivale), and also Viola eugeniae, Anemone millefoliata, Gentiana dinarica, as well as Dryas octopetala.

Screes and detrital areas offer the perfect habitat to Drypis spinosa ssp. “spinosa” , Isatis allionii, Linaria alpina, Robertia taraxacoides, etc.
The presence of Ephedra nebrodensis in Valnerina and Carex disticha is quite relevant in the area of Pian Grande area.

Text source: http://www.sibillini.net/il_parco/index.php

Photo source: http://sinergienaturali.com/viola-eugeniae-parl/

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)