With a comparatively high annual rainfall of around 1,000mm, the
Sierra has extensive and often dense vegetation.
The Sierra was originally covered by Mediterranean woodland of
mainly gall, cork and holm oaks. Some of this was cleared in the
Middle Ages to make way for the dehesa (mixed woodland and pastureland),
which at the time was common land. The dehesa is still very much
in evidence today and is used for the production of cork, firewood,
charcoal (from holm oaks) and the grazing of livestock. It occupies
over a third of the park today and is confined to the shallower
gradients.
The best times to visit the Sierra is in spring for the abundant
wildflowers and in autumn for the magnificent changing colours of
the trees, especially the sweet chestnuts. Winter is the time to
try the local game such as jabalí (wild boar) and venado (venison).
There are many varieties of wild mushroom in autumn, which you
can sample in the area's bars and restaurants. The ones most commonly
seen are Caesar mushrooms or tanas in spanish (amanita caesarea);
boletus (boletus edulis); chanterelles or pinateles (lactarius deliciosus)
often found under pine trees and also known as níscalos in spanish;
and parasol mushrooms, gallipiernos in spanish (macrolepiota procera)
that can be found in chestnut groves.
The Sierra has 50 flower species that are endemic to mainland
Spain and Portugal and northern Africa. The list of wildflowers
seen here is long: poppies, wild irises, primroses, Spanish bluebells,
peonies, star-of-Bethlehem, asphodels, wild tulips, soapwort, tassel
hyacinths and wild majoram, among others. In spring the fields are
smothered in colourful flowers.
Rock roses are common under pine woods, with delicate, large white
or pink petals and yellow centres.
In drier parts there are prickly pear cacti.
Trees
The trees are mainly Mediterranean oak: holm (quercus ilex), cork
(quercus suber), Kermes or holly oak (quercus coccifera) and gall.
Underneath these trees is vegetation typical of Mediterranean scrubland
or matorral: lentisc, wild oregano, lavender, wild roses, heather,
hawthorn and myrtle.
Within the park the Monumento Natural Dehesa de San Francisco,
covering 1,953m sq near Santa Olalla, has been designated a protected
area due to its magnificent holm oaks (quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia).
It is an example of the original Mediterranean forest that centuries
ago colonised the Sierra.
Also characteristic of the matorral and widespread in the Sierra
is the strawberry tree (arbustus unedo), a small evergreen that
is easier to spot when they fruit in autumn and winter. The 'strawberries'
are 2cm wide and have bumpy red skin and yellow flesh.
The sweet or Spanish chestnut (castanea sativa) likes acidic,
well-drained soils and can grow on steep slopes. There are 6,000
hectares of castaños mainly in the centre of the park, around Aracena,
Fuenteheridos, Castaño del Robledo and Galaroza. It is pruned heavily
to maximise the chestnut crop, so that the trees here appear to
be rather stunted with a typically short trunk. Chestnuts are an
important source of income and seasonal employment in the Sierra.
Most of them are exported but in the autumn you can buy them locally
and roast them on the fire. Look out for other products sold in
shops in the Sierra, like crema de castaña (creamed chestnut) and
chestnut paté. Chestnut wood is used in furniture produced locally,
mainly in Galaroza.
Ash, alders, willows, poplar groves and oleander shrubs line the
fertile river valleys. The best rivers to visit for flora and fauna
are the Río Múrtigas, from Galaroza northwest towards Encinasola;
Rivera de Chanza, from Cortegana to north of Aroche; Arroyo Guijarra,
near Cortelazor (with a shady picnic area and a good swimming spot)
and Rivera de Huelva, north of Aracena and Zufre.
In the 19th century many olive trees were planted and these are
concentrated today around Aracena, Aroche, Cortegana and Zufre.
Between Fuenteheridos and Galaroza are many apple and pear orchards.
Historically, this was an important apple-producing area . It produces
a hybrid apple/pear known locally as a pero. The nickname for people
from Galaroza, cachonero, comes from a type of apple that used to
be grown here.
The south-facing side of the Sierra has more citrus trees, such
as lemon, orange and tangerine. Fig and walnut trees are also common
here.
In winter look out for bare trees with orange fruit hanging on
the branches. These are persimmon trees, the fruit and tree known
in spanish as caqui.
Some areas have been reforested with pine trees and, more recently,
eucalyptus trees, like the Contienda north of Aroche, the hills
between Aracena and Castañuelo and near Zufre. This reforestation
has had a negative impact on the area's flora, fauna and soil.
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