August 2023

Bitter willow 🌳🌿

2024-08-02T17:36:26+02:00

Bitter willow The bitter willow (Salix eleagnos) is a small tree that grows to a height of 7-8 meters, sometimes reaching 15 meters. It lives along rivers and streams, occasionally even in the damp sands of riverbeds that are periodically flooded. It can be found from the plains up to 1800 meters in elevation. Its branches are long and slender, and its leaves are lanceolate, measuring 6-12 cm in length. It can be easily confused with other willow species. The flowers are inconspicuous and clustered in catkins, appearing in March-April, and they constitute one of the first sources of food [...]

Bitter willow 🌳🌿2024-08-02T17:36:26+02:00

Purple loosestrife

2023-08-28T10:31:14+02:00

Purple loosestrife Three different flowers The purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Lythraceae family. During late summer, the banks of ditches light up thanks to its purplish-red flowers. This plant easily grows in damp areas where willows are particularly common: its leaves resemble those of willows, hence the species name "salicaria." The purple loosestrife can produce 3 different types of flowers that differ in the length of styles and stamens, but each plant carries only one type of flower. This feature was studied by Darwin. A bee that feeds on nectar from one type of [...]

Purple loosestrife2023-08-28T10:31:14+02:00

Podalirio

2023-08-28T10:28:20+02:00

Scarce swallowtail The Most Elegant Flight The Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius, Papilionidae family) is a beautiful butterfly, large and striking, with a distinctive and delicate flight. The background color is a pale yellow, with six thin black bands in a V shape. The Scarce swallowtail is very common and widespread, even in orchards and gardens. It is associated with mild climates and is rarely observed in Northern Europe. The caterpillar primarily develops on Rosaceae plants, such as peach, apricot, blackthorn, etc. Adult butterflies feed on nectar , playing an important role as pollinators. Did you know? The colorful spots on [...]

Podalirio2023-08-28T10:28:20+02:00

Common hazel

2023-08-28T10:26:24+02:00

Common hazel A treasure trove of energy The Common hazel is a widely spread plant, it grows everywhere and is splendid in February, when it's completely covered with inflorescences . Its scientific name is Corylus avellana: Corylus comes from the Greek word "corys," meaning helmet , referring to the shape of the green bracts that cover the fruits; avellana comes from Avella, a town in Campania, known since Roman times for its flourishing hazelnut production activity. The male inflorescences are formed by numerous small flowers, the female ones are similar to buds. The core represents one of the first sources [...]

Common hazel2023-08-28T10:26:24+02:00

Clustered bellflower

2023-08-28T10:20:53+02:00

Clustered bellflower An enchanted flower Its scientific name, Campanula glomerata, describes the shape and arrangement of its flowers: "Campanula" refers to the bell shape , while "glomerata" indicates that the flowers are gathered in clusters at the top of the stems. The individual flower is up to 2 cm long and has 5 pointed lobes . This plant grows in meadows and dry, rocky places, up to an altitude of 1500 meters. It can reach a height of up to 70 cm, standing out among other vegetation with its beautiful blue-violet flowers, an irresistible invitation to pollinating insects . Campanula [...]

Clustered bellflower2023-08-28T10:20:53+02:00

Mining bees 🐝⛏️

2024-08-02T17:36:51+02:00

Mining bees Bees belonging to the Andrena genus (Andrenidae family) closely resemble honey bees. However, unlike honey bees, they are all solitary and build their nests in the ground, preferring soft and sandy soil. Sometimes, you can find many nests close to each other, but in reality, each female works alone, digging a small hole to lay her eggs. They are particularly common insects on flowers in the spring Andrena flavipes, in particular, is a champion in pollinating apple trees! Did you know? The mother doesn't tend to the eggs and shows no further interest in the nest after constructing [...]

Mining bees 🐝⛏️2024-08-02T17:36:51+02:00
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