Holm Oak Woodland and Pasture
Ávila
We are at one of the highlights of the route. To our left, towards the north, the holm oak grove on the hillside features small spaces where typical Mediterranean scrub species thrive. It also has great mycological richness, with numerous mushrooms fruiting at different times of the year.
Of particular note is the “Pipa” or Ganoderma lucidum, a mushroom whose fruiting body matures in the shape of a pipe and remains intact for a long time without deteriorating. It is a species linked to holm oak groves but little known in our region, despite its medicinal use being documented in Asian tradition for more than 2,000 years.
On the opposite side, to the south, we see a mosaic formed by willows and ashes that make up a small riparian forest, together with large open pastures where cattle feed. Since grazing pressure is not excessive, the balance with numerous herbaceous and shrub species allows them to proliferate, enriching this environment.
Finally, the edge of another holm oak grove, this time in a flatter area with more developed trees, gives us a glimpse of the multitude of species that it can harbor inside.
