Flora
Classification:
Common Name: Mattioli's primula
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Primula
Scientific name: Cortusa Matthioli
Habitat:
Mountainous areas from the far east of Asia to the Alps.
The species is found in the Asian mountainous areas from Japan to the Ural Mountains and the Himalayas, and in European areas like the Carpathians. In the Alps, it is more common along the northern slopes of the range, while in Italy, it is mostly present among the eastern mountains. In the Protected Areas of the Cottian Alps, it is a rare species, growing in the territories of the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Nature Park and the Val Troncea Nature Park, which represent the western and southern boundaries of its distribution. It prefers shaded environments including scree slopes, wet cliffs, often even rock crevices, with calcareous soil and basic pH.
According to the botanist Sandro Pignatti, it would be a relic of the late Tertiary flora as shown by its distribution in marginal areas.
Where can you find me?
Where can you find me?
Parco naturale Gran Bosco di Salbertrand
Parco naturale Val Troncea
ZSC Bardonecchia Val Fredda
ZSC Les Arnauds Punta Quattro Sorelle
ZSC Valle della Ripa
ZSC Valle Thuras
Classification:
Common Name: Mattioli's primula
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Primula
Scientific name: Cortusa Matthioli
Habitat:
Mountainous areas from the far east of Asia to the Alps.
The species is found in the Asian mountainous areas from Japan to the Ural Mountains and the Himalayas, and in European areas like the Carpathians. In the Alps, it is more common along the northern slopes of the range, while in Italy, it is mostly present among the eastern mountains. In the Protected Areas of the Cottian Alps, it is a rare species, growing in the territories of the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Nature Park and the Val Troncea Nature Park, which represent the western and southern boundaries of its distribution. It prefers shaded environments including scree slopes, wet cliffs, often even rock crevices, with calcareous soil and basic pH.
According to the botanist Sandro Pignatti, it would be a relic of the late Tertiary flora as shown by its distribution in marginal areas.
This is a perennial herbaceous plant with a height varying between 20 and 40 cm, characterized by overwintering buds at ground level, protected by snow or litter. The stem has a horizontal underground rhizome from which the roots depart and an above-ground part without leaves with hairs and glands in the lower part. The leaves, shaped like an inverted heart with the tip facing outwards, are characterized by lobes (up to a maximum of 9) which in turn have a variable number of obtuse teeth, between 3 and 9. They are supported by hairy petioles with a length between 6 and 13 cm and measure between 3 and 8 cm in width.
The inflorescence consists of an umbel with a number of flowers between 5 and 15 on one side only. The latter are hermaphroditic, with calyx and corolla divided into 5 parts and vary between 7 and 12 cm in length. The fruit is a capsule with 5 valves capable of containing 30-40 seeds.
Insights:
The name Corthusa Matthioli was assigned by Carl Linnaeus after botanist Pietro Andrea Mattioli had defined the species Corthusa in honor of its discoverer Jacopo Antonio Cortusi.
The Corthusa Matthioli is one of the rarities that characterize the flora of the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park.
https://www.parchialpicozie.it/news/detail/20-05-2020-20-maggio-1980-20-maggio-2020-buon-compleanno-gran-bosco/
Its presence is also recorded in the Val Troncea Natural Park as described in an article published in the Piemonte Parchi magazine.
http://www.piemonteparchi.it/cms/index.php/natura/piante/item/881-la-cortusa-di-mattioli
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