Vegetation of the Gullies

The composition of the flowers and vegetation within the gully area is strongly influenced by the area’s particular biology and geology; its morphology (plant and animal structure), pedology (soil structure), hydrogeology (distribution of water) and microclimate.  The clay soil supports primarily herbal species with a short biological cycle that allows them to escape the dry summer weather.

This type of terrain dries rapidly in the summer, leading to the development of more fissures in the soil, thus aggravating the water deficit by the loss of water even in the deepest layers of the subsoil.  On the steep clay slopes there are no species of trees; the absorption of water and consequent swelling of the clay soil causes produces landslides and the instability of the soil makes it impossible for long-lived species to survive.

Elena Mosciarello Photo

However, on the slopes that are less steep, where there is an accumulation of tufo debris, there are  groups of trees, primarily elm (Ulmus campestris), dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), and willow (Salix sp.).  On those gentler slopes there are also varieties of bushes, principally blackberry (Robur sp.), clematis (Clematis vitalba) and Scotch broom.  On the terrain where the sub-stratum is mainly volcanic there are other varieties of trees, including chestnut (Castanea sativa), turkey oak (Quercus cerris), pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens), ash (Fraxinus ornus), willow (Acer campestris), and the southern nettle tree (Celtis australis).  Near the Fosso di Lubriano, in the little valleys at the bottom of the valley, you can observe species that are typical of moist zones, such as the poplar (Populus sp.), willow (Salix sp.) alder (Alnus sp.) and elder (Sambucus sp.).

Also, from ancient times, the activities of mankind have affected the vegetation in the area. You can find diverse varieties of olive trees, some extremely old, planted in an irregular manner.  There are also small numbers of various fruits and nut trees, including fig, hazel, peach, apricot, walnut and pomegranate.