The Botanical Features
The Botanical Features
The floristic component of the Giara plateau, very rich from a quantitative and qualitative point of view, consists of 388 entities, 21 of which are subspecies, divided into 70 families and 239 genera. Although there are numerous “foreign” plant species, indicating a certain environmental degradation and the passage of migratory birds, overall the flora has a strong Mediterranean character. Its peculiarity is also enhanced by some botanical particularities, such as endemic plants and several Orchidaceae, found on the plateau within specific habitats of which they are characteristic elements.
Twelve endemic species have been identified on the plateau, representing 3% of the total flora. In addition to the Reveilliere buttercup, typical of the pauli, the Sardinian Gigaro, in the lentisco scrub, the Requien’s Morisia and Zafferanetto detectable in the meadows, are endemic species the celery of Sardinia, the insular aristolochia, the lesser saffron, the euphoria of Cupani, the lesser hen’s milk, the star lily, the Sardinian scrofularia and the thorny sorcery.
On the Giara plateau, orchids are well represented from a qualitative and quantitative point of view: in spring 17 entities belonging to the genera Ophrys, Orchis, Serapias and Neotinea can be detected. This is a large number compared to the size of the area and the similar nature of the soils. The spots and the asphodel grassland are home to most of the orchids detected; in the myrtle spot you can find the yellow orchid, the pointed and tineo orchid; in the paulis you can observe the aquatic orchid. The tongue serapide is particular: it takes on the appearance of the female by attracting the male who slips inside the flowers, soaking in pollen.
