By Ignatius de Bidegain
Amongst the most typical trees we should list the black pine, the beech and the fir tree. Mountain elms, holly bushes and others complete the picture, including some more “productive” species like hazelnut trees and the occasional walnut tree.
The blackthorn or sloe is typical of the Pyrenees and also grows in different parts of Europe and the rest of the world. As the Pyrenees move west, in Navarra, the deep blue berries of the sloe are used to produce a traditional liqueur called Pacharan (sloe gin) which is very popular in the area.
In the middle of the abundant vegetation of a temperate forest, getting lost and running out of food may not seem like such a predicament, since a basic nutritional intake can always be sourced from the environment. However, one must be cautious.
Monkshood is a herbaceous perennial plant with striking dark purple flowers. It grows wild in the area and is often used to embellish private gardens. Though it may look harmless, it contains several poisonous compounds, including enough cardiac poison that it was used on spears and arrows for hunting and battle in ancient times.
Yew trees must also be treated with caution. All parts of the tree contain toxins, with the sole exception of the flesh from the rich bright-red berries. The seeds contained within are also poisonous, so make sure you extract this part of the berry if you wish to eat it. The Ancient Cantabrians and Celts used yew poison to commit suicide if they faced capture by their enemies, so watch out or you will get more than an unsettled stomach!