Sao Mamede Nature Picture Gallery click a picture
Nature of Sao Mamede National Park.
National Park Portugal Alentejo & the nature of Quinta Azenha do Ramalho
Here are a few of the many pictures that we took at the Quinta and elsewhere in the Parque Natural da Serra de São
Mamede. The month indicates when the picture was taken. If you like wild flowers, don't miss Alentejo in spring, the Provence of
Portugal.
Viola, February
Parasitic amethyst broomrape, Orobanche amethystea ssp.amethystea, April
White broom, May
White-leaved Cistus, Cistus albidus, May
Gum Cistus, Cistus ladanifer, May
Perennial pimpernel (blue), Anagallis monelli ssp. monelli
Provençal Fritillary, Mellicta deione
Tassel Hyacinth, Muscari comosum, April
Large skipper, male, Ochlodes venata
Star-of-Bethlehem, Asphodelus ramosus, April
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Basil-like Sunrose, Halimium ocymoides, May
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Scarce swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius
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Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria
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Chapman's Blue, Agrodiaetus thersites or Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus
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Drosophyllum lusitanicum - Erva pinheira orvalhada, Pinheiro baboso, (Slobbering Pine), Dewy Pine.
The drosophyllum lusitanicum is an unusual carnivorous plant which feeds on insects that stick to the gooey secretions on its leaves.
It is commonly thought that this plant is restricted to the southern coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa where it
survives the summer dryness by condensing morning fogs on the globdules of its leaves. Yet the altitude and position of the Parque Natural
da Serra de São Mamede gives rise to the humidity required to support a population of these fascinating plants.
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Drosophyllum lusitanicum is just about the most successful carnivorous plant in terms of the amount of
prey it catches. Even the flower buds can catch flies.
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The delicate pale yellow flower.
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The young seed pod supported by a reddened flower casing.
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Carnivorous plants typically grow in soils which are low in nitrates. This colony thrives on bare
crumbly schistous rock.
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Whilst some say conservation efforts are necessary to preserve this species, the Parque authority no
longer consider drosophyllum lusitanicum to be endangered here. In this particular location near the Quinta there are about
200 plants.
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Detail looking into a drosophyllum lusitanicum flower.
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Some leaves have much more success than others which suggests the decomposing prey attracts even more
prey.
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Young leaves unfurl in fronds like ferns.
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independent reviews from guests who stayed at Quinta Azenha do Ramalho give us an average rating of 98.7%.
From €140 per person per week.
National Park Portugal Alentejo
, Anagallis monelli ssp. monelli)
