Animals and plants are indispensable to the good health of the forest, more so than man's interventions in forestry (cutting, clearing, spraying with insecticides). Animals and plants in the forest generally live in large trees that have survived the elements, fires and which, however, are often considered useless compared to younger, more productive plants because their wood is of little value. Instead, it is important to save these large trees, even dead ones, as they are the refuge of many animal and plant species.

LIFE FROM DEAD TREES ⁽²⁾
The presence of standing or fallen dead trees in a forest ecosystem is of vital importance for soil evolution, in humus formation processes and as a habitat for many animals, plants and fungi. Woodpeckers dig their burrows in the trunk and look for larvae by pecking holes under the bark. Numerous beetle larvae feed on the wood by digging their tunnels. Small mice take refuge in fallen branches on the ground. Numerous fungi decompose dead wood.

VIOLA ⁽³⁾
Native to Europe, grows both wild and cultivated.
FIORE: viola bluastro o bianco, con 5 petali, profumato.
FOGLIE: cuoriformi, formano una rosetta basale dalla quale nascono i fiori.
FRUTTO: capsula pelosa arrotondata con tre valve, cade chiuso sul terreno.
FUSTO: alto 5-15 cm e curvo.
USI: come deodorante per ambienti o come aroma alimentare.

MINT⁽⁴⁾
Mentha, Famiglia Lamiaceae. Perennial grass, lives in shaded and sunny areas, is distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa.
FOGLIE: opposte, lanceolate, seghettate con peluria, di colore verde brillante.
FUSTO: eretto, a rizoma legnoso.
FIORI: simpetali, cilindrici e allungati, bianchi, rosa o viola.
FRUTTO: capsula contenente da 1 a 4 semi.
USI: come pianta aromatica in cucina o come medicinale per favorire la digestione.

MINT IN GREEK MYTH
Mint is the name of a mythological nymph transformed into a vegetable out of jealousy. In Greece it is considered the symbol of love.

MANNA ASH ⁽⁵⁾
Fraxinus ornus, Famiglia OleaceaeAlso known as ash, it is commonly called manna tree because in Southern Italy it is cultivated for the production of a sugary substance extracted from the branches, used in drugs. It is also used industrially for the production of furniture, as fuel and for the reforestation of poor, arid, calcareous or clayey soils.
FUSTO: piccolo albero (fino a 10 metri) con chioma ampia, tronco dritto e corteccia liscia di colore cenere, finemente rugosa.
FOGLIE: opposte, caduche, piccole, composte da 7-8 foglioline ovali lanceolate, dentellate al margine e di colore verde chiaro.
FIORI: pannocchie dense, odorose, colore bianco crema.
FRUTTI: samare alate con un seme ovale alla base, riuniti in grappoli penduli da verdi a bruni secondo la maturazione.