THE SARDINIAN FLORA

The island is marked by the typical Mediterranean vegetation, influenced by the climate characterized by hot dry summers and warm winters.

The wood vegetation is characterized above all by Evergreens made up of Holm Oak, Cork and by deciduous leaves forests like Downy oak and Chestnut-tree.

The so-called "Mediterranean scrub" is represented in this region by the formation of arbutus, lentisk, juniper, wild-olive tree, myrtle, heath, broom, rosemary, viburnum, euphorbia

 

Downy oak:

The Downy oak (Quercus pubescens), is the most common oak species in Italy; in fact in many regions it is simply called oak.

It belongs to Fagaceae family. This tree grows in the sunniest areas because is proof against dryness.

Leaves and buds are covered with a thin down, which can be easily felt by touch. Besides, it can be recognized in winter because he keeps the dried leaves hanged on its branches unlike the other oak species.

The wood belongs to the category of hard wood, that is wood characterized by a great calorific value and a slow combustion. That’s why is used as firewood.

 

Holm Oak:

The Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), is also called Holly Oak or Evergreen Oak.

It’s a plant native to Mediterranean countries. In fact it was already known in the ancient time. The sweet and eatable acorns were used to make a kind of bread, called bread of oak.

This tree grows up quite slowly, but it lives very long in fact it can reach 1000 years. It blooms in spring with plain flower, which have or pistils or stamens.

It has a very hard wood, which isn’t easy to process.

Cork Oak:

The Cork Oak (Quercus suber) is an evergreen Oak tree, belonging to the genus Quercus.

It grows up to 20 meters. Cork Oaks live about 250 to 300years, less for those exemplars overworked for the corks.

Its wood isn’t suitable as firewood, while it’s very important the production of cork, which is periodically cut from the bark. This bark can be harvested every 10 to 12 years as cork but the first cut have to be done from at least 15-20 years old trees. The harvesting of cork does not harm the tree and a new layer of cork regrows, making it a renewable resource.

The outer bark is rough so it gives the worst corks; the one produced by the next cuts is smooth and valuable.

The first quality corks are for the productions of caps of bottle, the second quality one are utilized for hangings and feet of beds, the worse one are for the production of ply-wood and insulating materials.

 

Myrtle:

The Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is a genus of one or two species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, typical of Mediterranean scrub. There are more than forty varieties. The most important part is represented by fruits, used for the so called "liqueur of myrtle", obtained by the alcoholic infusion of fruits.

Thanks to a great deal of essential oil, tannins and resins, this is an interesting plant with many aromatic and officinal properties.

The use of myrtle in phytocosmetology goes back to Medieval Age: "The Angels’ water", was distilled water of its flowers.

In the traditional Sardinian kitchen myrtle is an important seasoning to give flavor to some kinds of meat, such as the roasted chicken and pork.


Sardinia: myrtle flowers


Sardinia: myrtle berries

 

Centaurea horrida:

The centaurea Horrida is a rare species of thorny knapweed.
It is endemic only to the isle of Tavolara and a few other fringe areas of western northern Sardinia, such as in the zone of Alghero, some cost-lines of Asinara and Nurra.

 

Smilax:

Smilax is a plant belonging to the liliacee family. Other common names include catbriers, greenbriers, prickly-ivys and smilaxes.

This plant is a climber; it has a fragile stalk, covered with hooked thorns.

The leaves are heart-shaped and prickly. The flower, sweet-smelling, are small, yellowish or greenish and bloom from August to October. The fruits are red berries, rubbery in texture and has a large, spherical seed in the center.
The berries ripen in autumn and allow many species of birds to survive, while are less attractive for man.