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Flora
The Park with 2,400 registered species, is one of the protected areas with the largest vegetable biodiversity
- 2,364 plants counted
- 139 endemic to Italy
- 12 endemic to the Park
- 73 protected by international conventions
- 67 protected by regional laws
- 59 spontaneous orchids
- 2 carnivorous plants
Certain endemisms are also found at lower altitudes, such as: Goniolimon italicum and Astragalus aquilanus. Furthermore, Gran Sasso is the only Italian location where you can still find the Adonis vernalis.
The Gran Sasso is characterized, especially on the L'Aquila side, by its extensive pastures, while Monti della Laga are mainly covered by forests. At lower altitudes oak woods and chestnut groves are present, originally planted during roman times. The beechwood is the most extended forestal formation, and has developed between 1,000 and 1,800 meters of altitude.
Beech trees are mixed with, or subsituted, by yews and hollies, while maples, lime trees, ash trees and mountain elms cover the gorges. Monti della Laga are home for silver fir woods and groups of birch trees.
The presence of blueberries is significant, which with its large carpets at high altitude forms a true moor among woods and altitude pastures. Species of notable interest are found in fields cultivated with traditional techniques, such as: Agrostemma githago, Centaurea cyanus and extremely rare floral entities such as: Falcaria vulgar, Ceratocephala and Androsace maxima.
