Parcopedia

Green alder (Alnus viridis) forms dense thickets (alder groves) in the water catchment areas and on the slopes where the water table is shallow and the soil is very moist, often with water seepage and surface runoff.

It is a perennial herbaceous plant 20-40 cm tall. It has an underground stem and a leafless one that emerges from the ground. The leaves are heart-shaped with lobes and denticles. The flowers are hermaphroditic and grouped in an umbel. The fruit is a capsule with 30-40 seeds.

The chamois frequents high-altitude meadows, but can also be observed on rocky walls and within woods, ranging from the valley floor up to about 3500 meters in altitude.

The Apollo butterfly is a large diurnal butterfly with a wingspan that can exceed 5 cm. The wings are mainly white with black spots in the front area, while the hind wings have two or more red spots bordered in black with a white pupil.

It can reach 2.90 m wingspan and weigh 7 kg. These characteristics make it the largest bird in the Alpine region. Moreover, it is the only species among vultures capable of feeding on bones thanks to some morphological and behavioral adaptations. Its body structure places it in an intermediate position between a raptor and a vulture, after all, its name derives from the Greek terms gyps (vulture) and aetos (eagle).

The European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a deciduous broadleaf tree that can reach considerable sizes; its bark is grey, smooth, and compact; the leaves are elliptical, with a crenate margin and a characteristic shiny appearance.

The Conca Cialancia grasshopper, discovered in 1986, is a rare endemic species of the Cottian Alps. It lives only at high altitudes, above 2000 meters, in meadows on sunny slopes. It has bright colors: gray-blue and red in males, camouflaged in females. The stridulating song of the males attracts the females. A truly special insect!

In the Park, in the coniferous forests, there are large nests of red wood ants of the Formica rufa group, useful for biological control. There are 4 similar species with complex social lives. The workers perform various tasks, the queens lay eggs, and the males mate with the queens during the nuptial flight. The nests can be large and accommodate up to 1 million ants.

Genepì is a small plant that grows on scree and rocky areas at altitudes above 2300 meters, but it is also cultivated in the mountains on suitable terrains and positions, for the production of herbal teas and liquors.

The marmot is a diurnal rodent that lives in alpine meadows. It feeds on plants and insects, digs complex burrows, and hibernates from October to April. The young are born after 30-35 days of gestation and remain in the burrow for 40 days. The main predators are the golden eagle and terrestrial carnivores.