Roman Wood
The "Roman Wood" can be considered a portion of the original wild vegetation of Rome, which has survived urbanization*. The wood consists of holm oaks (Quercus ilex L.), downy oaks (Quercus pubescens Willd.), Oaks (Quercus robur L.), cork oaks (Quercus suber L.), Turkish oaks (Quercus cerris L.), maples (Acer campestre L ., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Acer monspessulanum L.), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.), buckthorns (Rhamnus alaternus L.) and laurels (Laurus nobilis L.). The undergrowth is also rich in spontaneous species, such as acanthus (Acanthus mollis L.), the fetid iris (Iris foetidissima L.), the smirnium (Smyrnium olusatrum L.) and the gigaro (Arum italicum Mill.). The branches of these ancient oaks are home to both the red and the green woodpecker, while in the months of June and July the evenings offer the opportunity to observe hundreds of luminescent fireflies.
(*) A. Altieri, The trees «that act as a pavilion to the big fountain». Analyses and conservative issues, in M. P. Micheli and G. Tammeo (edited by), The restoration of the Fuga Fountain in The Botanical Garden of Rome, cit.