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Flora Corsica
More than 2500 species of plants grow in Corsica to its natural state. 131 of them are purely endemic, 165 others are endemic to Corsica and surrounding areas!
This original and this scarcity has led to so fortunately protection. Thus, 175 species are protected in Corsica including the Law on Wildlife Protection in France based on the law of 10 July 1976 on the protection of nature. The decree of January 20, 1982, completed a regional list Corsica (Order of June 24, 1986) lists a number of species (that you may request to several organizations such as the environment agency of Corsica, Regional Natural Park of Corsica ...) whose protection is full or partial. In addition five reserves that protect unique flora and fauna: Pond Biguglia, which are about 127 protected species of waterfowl, Lavezzi Islands with 68 species of fish, the islands where Cerbicales nesting shags, Scandola Reserve , World Heritage by UNESCO and the islands Finorcchiarola. Having Flora Corsica is not protected only by laws but anyone in love with nature and neighbor that belongs to comply with or enforce a wonderful natural heritage!
THE BUSH (about 200,000 ha)
A place with a thousand intricate scents!
It says "go underground" to escape and take refuge, but also and above all, as Napoleon, the exiled recognized the smell of their island and several miles of jungle blindfolded ... Fleuri throughout the year, the bush will reveal its charms through the fragrant bloom of mastic and myrtle in July, the cysts and white roses in May and missed strawberry tree in autumn.
But the bush is not just a landscape, it is also an essential element of the ecosystem of Corsican life.
Even today some shrubs and other herbs were used in the design of traditional objects, decoration, luxury products or beneficial and well-being ... variety of applications and operations are possible!
In 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 alpine vegetation and the diminutive scale pit.
The pozzines are plant formations of the high mountains of 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 because of increased attendance at such places, the edges 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.
We extract 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 NOCC)
Although it is toxic, this plant with large leaves and beautiful white, was once known for its medicinal popular.
It was then attending the wounds of animals by heating the juice to get roots and kill the worms, and disinfecting the wound.
Nocca leaves were also used for the protection and conservation of fresh cheeses.
Finally, it is not uncommon to still find an abundance 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 500-2000 meters. Primarily used in cooking - Tripet, meats, sauces - and very popular, it is important not to tear but cut with scissors!
Alder fragrant Corsican
Formerly used for making the roofs of the huts of shepherds, "u Bassu" is a perennial herb that does not exceed 3 meters high.
Its leaves are sticky and resinous aroma, it grows along streams.
The ferrule joint (a ferula)
The ferrule can be toxic and dangerous for animals.
Once more the shepherds manufactured objects such as stools very light, splints for fractures, cane to walk.
To recognize: the ferrule is large, so disproportionate fennel, you'll find roadside in dry, rocky soils, there are loads 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 and mired in secretions. They are then digested with a pepsin contained in the glands of the leaves. To recognize them, they are between 5 and 10 cm long, flowers are white and green leaves arranged at the base of the stalk of rose petals, it is becoming increasingly rare ... watch your fingers!
Asphodel
Sometimes called Taravellu, tirlu, according candellu whether green or dry, the Asphodel adapts to all types of terrain.
Blooming in spring and dry summer, you will recognize the asphodel with its slim, 1-meter average of half a green stem cm thick, 30 cm last several stems are finer flowering by the end white in general.
In the past, our ancestors used the Asphodel for spiritual purposes.
Sometimes cross crafted to protect crops, sometimes used by "Mazzeri" (those who are able to cast a spell), or simply torch to light the stalks of asphodel ... will be remembered as swords games for children ...
The sundew rotundifolia
Very rare in Corsica, we found only two sites, very cold and "pozzines" Crena and Moltifao.
It is also a carnivorous plant, this feature is somehow adapted to its environment which was very poor in minerals.
To capture its prey, it uses its tentacles leaves ending in a sticky drop.
You'll recognize her look very special: it generally has three or four stems ending in balls filamentous, its leaves are green and you can see a small drop at the tip.
The columbine Bernard (piattu amore)
Attention picking is prohibited! It grows in the shade of rocks between 1000 and 2500 meters. This little blue flower looks so delicate, measuring 5 to 10 cm at the end of its stem, the flower seems to look at you. Its leaves are green and look like big clubs.
The Serapias (boca di Gallu)
The Serapias is a plant of 10-30 cm that grows primarily around the ponds and swamps, and blooms in April. Very nice, the base of the stem is green to deteriorate gradually to orange tones.
Arbutus (the Albitru)
Shrub thickets of 0-900 meters, it is often surrounded by the cyst and heather, the flower is the main component of honey winter (it is 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 water spirits.
Please understand that epilepsy is strongly discouraged.
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 corsu Pavone)
For its scientific name Paomia Mascula, two varieties are present on the island: the Mediterranean and the variety Russoi Corsica, Corsica specific (we found especially its large pink flowers in the south of Corsica).
Unfortunately it is a species that is scarce.
This phenomenon is due to excessive harvesting.
Corsican pine (U Lariciu)
Majestic and fragrant, as is his code name!
One can easily recognize the extreme rectitude of its trunk - which was used in it's time for Roman to make the masts of their boats - in forests Aitone, Valdu Niellu, Vizzavona Bavella and between 800 and 1800 meters, now estimated at approximately 50,000 hectares.
Up to 50 m high and 2 meters in diameter for the oldest (some even 400 years), the pine is a component Lariciu emblematic of our forests.
He is recognized for its small pine cones.
You now understand the hatred of some island 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, at altitudes around 500 meters. Its fruit is the acorn, it is particularly appreciated by the riders pigs. It is distinguished from other oaks by its bark with fine cracks. Its green leaves and spiny toothed 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, the oak sees its development slowed so that it can happen to find form bushy!
The olive
It is a perennial tree that grows in stony soils 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 persistent, hard and long, the flowers are arranged for them in clusters at the base of leaves.
The fruits are legendary black and green olives come to maturity.
Olive tree blooms in May or June
Also note that the wood of the olive tree is very popular in traditional joinery (because it is very hard and very veiny!).
Formerly used by the ancients to heal a fever - then said he is febrifuge - (Corsican fever itself "has Freba"), also known as the Olive Tree Tree immortal!
The nickname is due to the fact that even the trunk destroyed, its release may revive a tree!
You will find lots of olive Balagne on the sunny slopes. 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 Corsican olives ...
Chestnut
As legendary as the Corsican pine Lariciu, the chestnut is an essential component of life culinary island.
It is indeed very exploited for its fruit.
At the time of the Genoese, production and operation of this magnitude took chestnuts gave it to a certain region called ... Castagniccia (Corsican chestnut itself "has castagna).
Its white wood yellow looks a little pink in oak with mesh less.
It is prized for its strength and beauty in the frame construction, stairs, flooring and other furniture value, if not luxury.
Eucalyptus (the Ocalitu)
"Eucalyptus ... your smell, your scent intoxicates 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'll understand, Eucalyptus is best known for its fragrance, as elsewhere you say, yes, but here the smell is magnified by the proximity of other fragrances of the maquis!
Did you here that is one of the best anti-viral and antiseptic, it is for this reason that we put in the baths to clean the atmosphere.
Apart from that, the board of U Biancu: when the fruit and some 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, so sauna!
What we found Under the sea ...
Posidonia (a fulasca - erba marina)
Knowing that his name was 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 somehow the equivalent of forests on the mainland as it is true that it provides a lot of oxygen to the marine environment, it also set the sandy bottom, it produces vegetable and protects the beaches attenuating wave.
A lot of this flower is a pledge of a healthy marine environment in which it operates, so their presence in large numbers on some beaches along 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 name is not the only magician in our magical waters, there are many brown algae, green, red, whether hard or soft, big or small, for you to discover throughout your dives ...
Photos: Cyril Vienna Yoruno, Jean-François Bonachea, Maurice Bernard, BerndH, Loic Colonna.
