If you are in the area of the Sierra Norte de Seville Natural Park and have an interest in plants then the Jardín Botánico El Robledo is well worth a visit. The El Robledo botanical garden represents the plants typical of the Mediterranean forest, the adaptations of these species to the peculiarities of the climate, as well as the importance of rivers in a region where water can be very scarce.

The route around the well laid out and labelled gardens simulates an ascent from the lower parts of Sierra Morena between wild olive trees, across rockrose, holm oaks and gall oaks until reaching the plants adapted to live in the higher rocky terrain. The path then descends to the course of a stream habitat highlighting riverside species.

A short video about El Robledo botanic garden

Among the collections presented are

• Herbs from the Sierra Norte de Sevilla.
• Trees such as Quercus canariensis, Quercus faginea, Quercus pyrenaica, Quercus ilex, Quercus suber, Alnus glutinosa alders, wild chestnuts, willows and birches.

The garden also has an area dedicated to endemic and threatened flora and is involved in various protection and re introduction schemes in the area.

Address: On the road from Constantina to el Pedroso, km 1 (Close to the information centre of the same name (El Robledo) for the Sierra Norte de Seville Natural Park)

Entry is free but there are also guided tours (free and at a fee) available by contacting in advance.

Web: https://www.reservatuvisita.es/es/establecimiento/el-robledo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CV.ElRobledoAND/

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.

The San Fernando Botanical Garden (Jardín botánico de San Fernando) is a botanical garden of about 9 hectares located next to the Bahía de Cádiz natural park.

The gardens were created in order to preserve the threatened or endangered and endemic plant species in the Bay of Cádiz as well as to promote the areas flora to the general public.

Look out for Mediterranean Chameleons that inhabit the area in good numbers.

It is easily found in the town of San Fernando, located on Pery-Junquera and San Ignacio avenues, next to the offices of the Bahía de Cádiz natural park.

The whole area is well set up with plants named in both scientific and Spanish common names and houses more than 600 species of plants from various ecosystems of the “Gaditano-Onubo-Algarviense Biogeographic Sector” and is grouped into various sections connected by well laid out paths.

Mediteranean woodland and scrub plants include

Arbutus unedo, Calicotome villosa , Chamaerops humilis, Daphne gnidium, Juniperus phoenicea subsp turbinata, Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus suber, Romeroinus officinalis, Ruscus aculeatus, Phillyrea angustifolia, Erica arborea, Calicotome villosa, Myrtus communis, Genista linifolia, Genista tridentata, Halimium lasianthum subsp. alyssoides, Quercus lusitanica, Phlomis purpurea, Viburnum tinus, Rhododendron ponticum subsp baeticum, Nerium oleander, Dorycnium rectum, Vinca difformis, Rhamnus lycioides subsp oleoides, Abies pinsapo, Prunus spinosa, Ulex baeticus, Genista cinerea.

Lowland, beach, dunes and coastal zone plants include

Ammophila arenaria, Armeria pungens, Artemisia crithmifolia, Carex arenaria, Cistus albidus, maritima Crucianella, Echium Gaditanum, Elymus farctus, Agropyron junceum, paralias Euphorbia, Eryngium maritimum, Helichrysum picardii, Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa, Limonium emarginatum, Lotus creticus, Malcolmia littorea, Otanthus maritimus, Pancratium maritimum, Pinus pinea, Polygonum maritimum, Vulpia fontquerana,Pallenis maritima, Crithmum maritimum, Limonium emarginatum, Pinus pinea, Juniperus phoenicea turbinata, Pistacia lentiscus, Retama sphaerocarpa, Arthrocnemum, macrostachyum, Atriplex tornabenei, Halimione portulacoides, crithmoides Inula, Limoniastrum monopetalum, Salsola vermiculata, ramosissima Salicornia, fruticosa Sarcocornia, Sarcocornia perennis, densiflora Spartina, maritima Spartina, Suaeda vera.

Ponds, lagoons and backwaters of rivers in Cádiz

Arundo donax, Phragmites australis, Scirpus holoschoenus, Scirpus maritimus, Cyperus longus, Eleocharis palustris, Glyceria declinata, Glyceria spicata, Typha angustifolia, Typha dominguensis, Callitriche cribosa, Callitriche stagnalis, Myriophyllum alternifolius, Myriophyllum spicatum, Najas marina, Potamogeton nodosus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Lemna minor, Wolffia arrhiza.

Sandstone dependant plants include

Quercus suber, Sedum hirsutum subsp. baeticum, Dianthus lusitanus, Drosophyllum lusitanicum, Lithodora prostrata subsp lusitanica, Psilotum nudum, Polypodium cambricum, Umbilicus rupestris, Osmunda regalis, Culcita macrocarpa, Cheilanthes guanchica, Davallia canariensis, Rhododendron ponticum subsp baeticum.

Limestone dependant plants include

Biscutella frutescens, Chaenorrhinum villosum, Silene andryalifolia, Putoria calabrica, Lavandula lanata, Rupicapnos africana subsp decipiens, Setaginella denticulata, Asplenium sagittatum, Bupleurum gibraltaricum, Adiantum capillus-veneris.

Non endemic species in the San Fernando Botanical Garden include

Cupressus sempervirens, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Phoenix dactylifera, Pittosporum tobira, Aeonium percarneum, Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Agave americana, Cleistocactus straussii, Crassula ovata ), Furcraea bedinghausii, Lavandula canariensis.

See the official website here: https://www.andalucia.org/en/san-fernando-leisure-and-fun-leisure-parks-jardin-botanico-de-san-fernando

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

The Umbria de la Virgen botanic garden (Jardin Botanico Umbría De La Virgen) is located in a stunning mountain area not far from María loz Velez amid the dense vegetation of the shaded slopes of the Sierra María. The facility provides information about the flora (and fauna) of the sierra de Maria-Los Velez natural park.

Inside the centre there are various leaflets, information boards and a small exhibition. Outside a path winds its way through the various displays of flowers, shrubs and other vegetation of the area with almost all plants labled with common Spanish and scientific names.

Short video of the Umbria de la Virgen botanic garden

If you have an interest in mushrooms and fungus then La Trufa mycological botanic garden (Jardín Micológico “La Trufa“) close to Priego de Cordoba and the Sierra Subbética natural park is well worth a visit.

The garden constitutes a regional representation of the mushrooms of Andalusia, one of the European regions with the greatest fungal richness and diversity, with some of the species so rare and unique that they require a high degree of protection and conservation programs.

A visit to La Trufa mycological gardens takes you through various habitats showcasing the biodiversity of the Sierra Subbética natural park area with many examples of the flora and fungi of Andalusia. All the plants and fungi in the garden are identified with plaques which include the Spanish common name, scientific name, botanical family, geographic distribution and the level of scarcity/threat.

Depending on the season there are also various courses, open days and workshops covering the subject of mushroom and fungus identification and collection.

The garden layout

The mycological Gardens are divided into eight areas where the most representative ecosystems of Andalusia have been recreated, such as the pine forest, cork oak forest, holm oak and gall oak forest, pastureland, riverside forest and pinsapar, among others.

• The gallery forest has examples of species distributed according to their water needs, and the hydromorphy of the soil. It also showcases small forests with the most characteristic species of the gallery forest. Saprophytic fungi are common in gallery forests, such as the Agrocybe aegerita, the oyster mushroom and other fungi such as morrells, Lactarius controversus and Entoloma saundersii.

• In the pine woodland, there are examples of Aleppo pine, stone pine, maritime pine, black pine and Scots pine. These pine trees require different optimal environment conditions, regarding the acid or basic nature of the substratum, temperatures and humidity. Some of the species that can be found in the Andalusian pine forests are the saron milk cap, the copper spike, Rhizopogon roseolus, Suillus bellinii, Baeospora myosura, Galerina marginata, Hemimycena lactea, Mycena seynii, Paxillus panuoides, Suillus collinitus. Coprinus plicatilis, Morchella esculenta, Clathrus ruber, Xerocomus Chrysenteron and Cantharellus subpruinosus.

• Holm and Portuguese oak woodland is refferred to as the “mesomediterranean holm oak woodland” and is characteristic of the Sierra Subbética natural park. Along with holm oaks, Portuguese oaks can be found in the more humid areas with a deeper soil. The most relevant fungi in holm oak woodland are Cortinarius trivialis, Ganoderma lucidum, Leccinum lepidum and the summer truffle.

• Grassland and pastures are represented in the gardens with the aim of showing how important it is for fungi and its sustainable use. Grassland areas are ideal places to see the well-known fairy rings of common mushroom and Scotch bonnets. Other species in these habitats which are associated with manure are the shaggy mane, the parasol mushroom, Myriostoma coliforme, king oyster mushrooms, Lycoperdon pratense, the stubble rosegill and Galeropsis lateritia.

• The Pinsapar (Abies pinsapo) woodland is in this garden even though it is quite distant from the remaining pinsapo forests that are endemic to the Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra Bermeja, in Málaga and the Sierra de Grazalema, in Cádiz. The most common fungi are the slimy spike-cap, Phellinus hartigii and Xerula melanotricha as well as many of the species generally found in pine forests.

• Scrubland is represented by gum rockrose, Halimium halimifolium, laurel-leaved rock rose, Cistus clusii and Cistus albidus. All these species of Cistus are mycorrhizal and characteristic of the Andalusian Mediterranean shrub. Cistus areas have a large number of fungi, such as Amanita ponderosa, Choiromyces magnusii, Lactarius tesquorum, the woolly milkcap, Leccinum corsicum, Hebeloma cistophilum, Russula cistoadelpha and the false truffle.

• Chestnut woodlands, especially in the autumn offer one of the most beautiful landscapes in Andalusia, where the contrast of colours from these deciduous trees mixes with the presence of very striking fungi to form authentic mycological landscapes. The most common fungi in Andalusian chestnut forests are Caesar’s mushrooms, the honey fungus, death caps, the beefsteak fungus and Ciboria batschiana.

• Cork oak woodland needs wetter and milder temperatures than the holm oaks woddlands and there are species of a great ethnomycological and gastronomic interest like the Amanita ponderosa, Boletus aereus, the chanterelle, Lactarius rugatus and the suede bolete, andothers which are very much associated withthe cork oak are species like Gymnopilus suberis.

Other areas of interest

Several microenvironments have been created, by setting up traditional structures of the region, in dry stone, to recreate various conditions of temperature, humidity and sun exposure adequate to the propogation of fungus species. There is also an area of substrata which is dedicated to saprobe species, which decompose the substrata, highlighting fungi as organisms which take organic matter from forests and recycle it in the ecosystem.

After the walk through the garden itself you can visit the two exhibition rooms and the interpretive gallery that are equipped with panels showing many types of mushrooms in our area are made known and also their importance in the balance of ecosystems, the relationships between fungi and people throughout history, as well as basic tips for good mushroom and funghi collection practices.

Directions and opening times

Address: Calle el Batán, 86, Priego de Córdoba (On the road from Priego de Córdoba to Zagrilla at Km 7.5)

Website (In Spanish): https://pnsierrassubbeticas.es/jardin-micologico-la-trufa-cordoba/

Visiting hours to La Trufa mycological Garden

October to May:
Tuesday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

July to September:
Tuesday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.