 The
present flora on the Tuscan islands, characterised by the Mediterranean
bush, is completely different from the original one with high
trees, such as leeches that man started to cut centuries ago
to be able to use the ovens of the foundries. The presence of
man determined the disappearing of the high tree forests that,
as time went by became the Mediterranean bush, leaving evident
signs in the landscape of the islands: beautiful Roman thermal
baths and villas, bastions, fortresses and watch towers on the
hills for the guard the ports and the defence against the incursions
of the pirates, churches from the beginning of the Christianity
and in the soundings, fascinating wrecks which testify the tough
battles on the scene of the Tuscan archipelago. Today the Mediterranean
bush dominates the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, giving
it its extraordinary nuances and the smell of the flower and
fruit essences. |
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The
highest trees are leeches, strawberry trees, heathers, cork.oaks
and bay-oaks, while among the lower plants we find the sun yellow
broom, which covers the sunniest parts on the slopes of the
hills, but also the mastic tree, the myrtle and the rock roses.
The fresh slopes of Monte Capanne on Elba are covered with chest
nut forests and the yew, a prehistoric specie which goes back
to the glaciation era. The Fenician junipers on the rocks surrounded
by lavendel and rosemar. The geographical isolation has determined
the presence of several endemic vegetal species such as the
Corsican violet, the sea-lily, the Capanne corn-flower, the
 Capraian
toad-flax with its delicate pink flowers. Giannutri is the island
where the Mediterranean vegetation is best preserved due to
the fact that its private property and that has saved from fires.
Gorgona still has high trees such as pines, leeches and secular
olive trees which stand out from the Mediterranean vegetation
which is here particularly luxuriant. The Monte Castello lake
is an oasis in the oasis of Capraia and here you find the flexuous
rush , which is similar to the one in Corsica and in Sardinia,
thanks to the particular ecosystem with sweet water. Pianosa,
which, as the name indicates, is the only island of the Tuscan
archipelago without hills or mountains, has a very low and intricate
vegetation, while on Montecristo, savage and bare, there are
secular leeches along the central slope of the mountain. Here
the original vegetation has been altered by the owners of the
luxury residences who introduced citrus-fruits and other exotic
plants in order to decorate their parks and gardens. |
Photos from APT Tuscan Archipelago and Mediaweb srl.
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