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Flora Corsica
Over 2 500 species of plants grow in Corsica in its natural state. 131 of them are purely endemic, 165 others are endemic to Corsica and surrounding areas!
The originality and the scarcity have so fortunately led to protection. Thus, 175 species are protected in Corsica including the Law on Wildlife Protection of France based on the law of July 10, 1976 on the protection of nature. The decree of January 20, 1982, completed in Corsica by a regional list (Order of June 24, 1986) lists a number of species (which you can request free several agencies such as the environment agency of Corsica, Parc Naturel Régional de Corse ...) whose coverage is fully or partially. In addition five reserves that protect unique flora and fauna: the Etang de Biguglia, which are about 127 protected species of waterfowl, Lavezzi Islands with 68 species of fish, nesting islands Cerbicales crested cormorants, Scandola Reserve classified World Heritage by UNESCO and the islands Finorcchiarola. Having Flora Corsica does not protect only with legislation but is anyone loving nature and his neighbor that belongs to comply with or enforce a wonderful natural heritage!
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THE BUSH (approximately 200 000 ha)
A place with a thousand intricate scents!
They say "go underground" to escape and take refuge, but also and above all, as Napoleon, the exiled recognized the smell of their island and bush several miles blindfolded ... Fleuri throughout the year, the bush will reveal its charms through the fragrant bloom of mastic and myrtle in July, the cists and white roses in May and missed the strawberry tree in autumn.
But the bush is not just a landscape, is also an essential element of the ecosystem of Corsican life.
Even today some shrubs and other herbs used in the design of traditional objects, decoration, beneficial products or luxury and well-being ... moult applications and operations are possible!
For pity, therefore, preserve it!
All too often "eradicated" by the fires, many lunar landscapes become without him!
The pozzines (pozzines)
If we break down the word, we find i "pozzi" (wells) and the suffix "ine", which refers to the alpine vegetation and the diminutive small wells.
The pozzines are plant formations of the alpine Corsica.
They are evergreen and grassy lawns that are more like foam than grass, forming small water holes of various shapes and varied through the action of streams.
Very sensitive, avoid trampling them under pain of seeing them disappear within a few years given the increasing attendance at such places, borders of lakes and rivers.
Myrtle
Up to 3 meters in height, myrtle found mainly in the plains and near the sea, is a bushy shrub with evergreen leaves sessile elongated central ribs marked.
Is extracted from the berries, myrtle liqueur which should be red if it is natural (berries macerated in brandy and addition of sugar).
The Corsican hellebore (a nocca)
Although toxic, this plant with large leaves and beautiful white, was once known for its medicinal popular.
We then nursed the wounds of animals by heating the roots to recover the juice and kill the worms, and disinfecting the wound.
Nocca leaves were also used for protection and conservation of fresh cheeses.
Finally, it is not uncommon to still find plenty of fountains around the plant whose leaves are used to channel water from the pipe outlet.
Thyme Corsican (erba barona)
It is a plant that you find in the mountainous regions of 500 to 2000 meters. Primarily used in cooking - Tripet, meats, sauces - and very popular, it is important not to tear but cut with scissors!
The fragrant alder Corsica
Formerly used to make the roofs of the huts of shepherds, "u Bassu is a shrub endemic does not exceed 3 meters high.
Its leaves are sticky and resinous smell, it grows along streams.
Communist rule (a ferula)
The rod can be toxic and dangerous for animals.
Once more the shepherds manufactured objects such as stools very light splints for broken bones, sticks to walk.
To recognize that the ferrule is large, so disproportionate fennel, you'll find in roadside soils in dry and rocky, we see many on the road to Porto.
Butterwort
The peculiarity of this little plant is the diet ... it is carnivorous! When an insect passes close to its fleshy leaves and sticky they are trapped in the sticky secretions. They are then digested with a pepsin contained in the glands of the leaves. To recognize it is between 5 and 10 cm long, the flowers are white and green leaves arranged at the base of the stem of rose petals, it is becoming increasingly rare ... watch your fingers!
The asphodel
Sometimes called Taravellu, tirlu, according candellu whether green or dry, Asphodel suits all types of terrain.
Blooming in spring and dry summer, you will recognize the Asphodel with its slim, 1-meter average of green stem a half inch thick, the last 30 cm are several finer flowering stems by the end white in general.
Previously, our ancestors used the Asphodel for spiritual purposes.
Sometimes made up on the cross to protect crops, sometimes used by "Massoni" (those who are able to cast a spell), or simply torch to light ... Asphodel rods will be remembered as swords games for children ...
The Drosera rotundifolia
Very rare in Corsica, we found only two sites, very cold, "pozzines" Crena and Moltifao.
It is also a carnivorous plant, this feature is somehow adapted to its environment that was very poor in minerals.
To capture its prey, it uses its sprawling sheets completed by a drop sticky.
You will recognize its look very special: it generally has three or four stems ending in filamentous balls, its leaves are green and you can see a small drop at the tip.
The columbine Bernard (Piattu amore)
Attention collection is prohibited! It grows in the shade of rocks between 1 000 and 2 500 meters. This little blue flower looks so delicate, measuring 5 to 10 cm at the end of its stem, the flower seems to watch you. Its leaves are green and look like big clubs.
The Serapias (boca di gallu)
Serapias The plant is 10 to 30 cm that grows primarily around the ponds and swamps, and blooms in April. Very nice, the base of the stem is green but deteriorated gradually to orange tones.
The strawberry tree (the Albitru)
Shrub scrub from 0 to 900 meters, it is often surrounded by the cyst and the heather, the flower is the main component of honey winter (it's fruit from November to January).
His round fruit, red, yellow or green depending on the maturity, has a sweet, sweet and very often used in the manufacture of jams, jellies or eau de vie.
Please understand that it is strongly recommended to epilepsy.
It is easily identified by observing the bush because it is a shrub of 2 to 6 meters which has the characteristic of having colorful fruits and white flowers almost throughout the year.
The peony Corsica (U Pavone corsu)
Its scientific name "Paomia Mascula, two varieties are present on the island, the Mediterranean and the variety Russoi Corsica, the Corsica-specific (especially on meeting its large pink flowers in the south of Corsica).
Unfortunately it is a species becomes rarer.
This phenomenon is due to excessive harvesting.
The black pine (U Lariciu)
Majestic and fragrant, as is his code name!
One can easily recognize the great rectitude of its trunk - which also served as the Romans used to make the masts of their boats - in forests Aitone, Valdu Niellu, Vizzavona Bavella and between 800 and 1 800 meters now estimated at about 50 000 hectares.
Up to 50 m high and 2 meters in diameter for the oldest (some even 400 years), pine Lariciu is an iconic component of our forests.
It is distinguished by its small pine cones.
You now understand the hatred of some island on helplessly when the ravages of fires during the summer on old trees pledges of memory ...
The oak
But short and stocky in general, oak can sometimes reach up to 20 meters high, with altitudes around 500 meters. Its fruit is the acorn, it is especially popular with riders pigs. It is distinguished from other oaks by its bark with fine cracks. Its green leaves toothed and spiny resemble those of holly, its scientific name also leaves no doubt about it: "Ilux. The wood is especially popular among other for heating. Unfortunately too often the victim of fire, oak sees its evolution so constrained that it can happen to find form bushy!
The olive
It is a perennial tree that grows in rocky soil on the coast up to 600 meters.
Its size varies according to both cut (3 or 4 meters) or uncut (10 to 15 meters).
It is easily recognized by its small gray-green leaves are persistent, hard and elongated, its flowers are arranged for them to cluster the leaf base.
The fruits are legendary black and green olives come to maturity.
L'Olivier blooms in May or June
Also note that the wood of the olive tree is very popular in carpentry craft (because it is very hard and veiny!).
Formerly used by the old cure for fever - then said he is febrifuge - (in Corsican fever itself "has Freba"), also known as the Olive Tree immortal!
The nickname is due to the fact that even the trunk destroyed, its release may revive a tree!
You will find many trees in Balagne on sunny hillsides. L'Olivier is still relatively well exploited in Corsica where there is no frost, harvesting can be done normally by the natural fall of the olives, which may explain in part the unique taste of the oil of Corsican olives ...
The chestnut
As legendary as the Corsican pine Lariciu, chestnut is an essential culinary life of the island.
It is indeed very exploited for its fruit.
At the time of the Genoese, production and exploitation of chestnut assumed such proportions that gave a certain area on behalf of ... Castagniccia (in Corsican chestnut is called "Castagna").
Its white wood yellow rose slightly resembles oak with mesh less.
It is prized for its durability and beauty in the frame construction, stairs, floors and other furniture value, if not luxury.
Eucalyptus (the Ocalitu)
"Eucalyptus ... your smell, your scent intoxicate me to lose my reason ... but not my way ... you are my guide, brother of the myrtle, heather and rock rose to guide me to my island of a thousand scents.
What a joy to see you dancing in the wind and bloom in spring .... "
You will understand, Eucalyptus is known mainly for its scent, like everywhere else you might say, yes, but here the smell is intensified by the proximity of other fragrances of the maquis?
Did you here that this is one of the best anti-viral agents and antiseptics, it is for this reason that we put in the baths to clean the atmosphere.
Apart from that, the board of U Biancu: when certain fruits and leaves fall (especially in high winds), pick it up and let the fire burn in the fruit through the leaves beside the fire ... we believe in then sauna!
What is found beneath the sea ...
The Posidonia (a fulasca - erba marina)
Knowing that his name has been given in relation to the sea god Poseidon is imagined how this alga is prestigious!
The Posidonia is a green plant forming extensive meadows on the sand where nestles a large variety of fish come to hide from an intruder or just to spawn in the coming period.
This flowering plant is endemic to the Mediterranean and blooms in fall.
Besides being beautiful, this plant - formerly living on the continent - is a tremendous asset to the seabed.
It is somewhat equivalent to the forests on the mainland as it is true that it provides a lot of oxygen to the marine environment, it can also fix the sandy bottom, it produces vegetable and protects beaches attenuating wave.
A large quantity of this flower is a pledge of a healthy marine environment in which it operates, so their presence in large numbers on some beaches of the coast, although it is not very aesthetic, is necessary for the proper functioning of an entire complex ecosystem!
The flower of Posidonia, despite its enchanting name is not the only magic in our waters, there are many brown algae, green, red, whether hard or soft, big or small, for you to discover over your dives ...
Photo credit: Cyril Vienna Yoruno, Jean-François Bonachea, Maurice Bernard, BerndH, Loic Colonna.
