Today we were investigating vegetation succession on Mt Etna by stopping at four different lava flows of known ages and sampling the plants found there.  The first stop was called Madonna di Monpilleri and was the oldest lava we would work on, dating from 1669.  The site supported many different plant species with strange names (Soapwort, Broom, Storksbill etc) and also orchids, while some students also spotted lizards.  The next stop was at two much more recent lava fields, from 1910 and 1983, near the Alberga La Nuova Quercia.  Here we made the ruined house our base and scrambled the lava slopes looking for lichens and mosses.  After lunch at the ski resort, we descended to our last stop at Piano del Vescovo, which has a lava field from 1792.  It also had a much more recent snow cover!  No matter, you cant keep a good botanist down!  In between outbreaks of snowball skirmishes, we managed to find enough exposed lava to sample the plants and finish the job. A great day on the flanks of Mumma Etna – the weather was dry and clear, there were some great views, the plants were fascinating and and the snowball fight was an honorable draw!

Guest post: Chris Joyce