THE FLORA
The flora of the Park, reach and interresting, has a total of 1870 species of superior plants. In the Park are also present several endemisms, i.e. plants living only in the area, among these we quote the Park Iris (Iris Marsica) blossoming in the period may-june. Another rarity is the Black Pine (Pinus nigra) of Villetta Barrea, a sort of pine which sems originated in the tertiary period.
While in the spot of Coppo Oscuro of Barra is present the Birch(Betula Pendula).
However, what characterises the vegetal landscape of the park is the magnificent wood of Beeches, covering more than 60% of the park surface. The Beech (Fagus sylvatica), is a species of spontaneous origin, growing between the 900 and the 1800 metres of altitude. From their branches hang abudant tufts of "Wood's Beard" (Usnea florida) typical lichen of this ambient of Apennines.
In the forest grow several other species like different sort of Maple,among which we cite here the "Lobelius" (Acer lobelii), recognised as an endemism of the Meridional Apennines. In the ambient of the medium mountain, we can findthe mixed wood, constituted in prevalence by oaks and fruit trees.
In zones reacher of water, along the rivers and the torrents, there is the domination of the bank vegetation, characterised by the White Hornbeam (Carpinum betulus), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Black Poplar (populus nigra), White Poplar (Populus alba), White Willow (Salix alba), Big Willow (salix caprea).
In Latium side, a zone certainly cooler than the others, is present the Chestnut (castanea sativa).
In some localities, in particular in the high zones of Apennines, have survived portions of virgin forest, evenr more rare in rest of Apennines. These small areas are nowadays protected not only for theri ecological, biological and naturalistic value,
but also because they constitute examples of natural forest to be followed to requalify the woods that in the past have been modelled and modified by the human intervention. A characteristic of such natural forests is the presence of the "patriarchs", the big secular trees, some time of a height of 30 metres, with a trunk of more than a metre of diameter. An example is given by the colossal Mountain Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) of Monte Tranquillo.
And, to finish, we can mention the grasslands in the altitude, large "carpets" of Gramineae and Cipereae. They are growing at 2000 m of altitude and, in good season, they give hospitality to the yellow blossoming of the Major Gentian.
But the most famous flower of the Park is without doubts the Little Shoe of Venus or Slipper of the Virgin Mary (Cypripedium calceolus), a yellow and black orchid, located in the integral reserve and a wreck of remote ages. To avoid its extinction, the species is of course adequately protected.
