Evergreen oaks of the Monti Pisani

On the Monti Pisani

A large part of the slopes of the Monti Pisani are covered by an evergreen which is a typical feature of Mediterranean vegetation: the evergreen oak (leccio). It is also a demonstration of the close link between these mountains and the nearby sea. The evergreen oak (quercus ilex) is an oak with characteristic dark green leaves which are very shiny on the upper side. The underneath side, on the other hand, is distinctive; it is pale and downy due to the presence of star-like hairs which retain moisture, limiting transpiration, thus making the plant suitable to dry climates.

Text and picture: Cinzia Pezzani & Sergio Grillo
Translation: Jeremy Carden