The Papalona Cherry is a seedling of unknown genealogy, belonging to the family Rosaceae Juss, the genus Prunus L. and the species Avium. Its history is interwoven with the local landscape and represents a piece of its botanical heritage that time was at risk of erasing. The botanical and agronomic characteristics of this cultivar make it unique, a true witness to local biodiversity and, although it is grown only sporadically, it has good potential to spread to family orchards or small-scale local trade.
The Papalona Cherry is a vigorous and productive species, ranking among the best pollinators of the “Bella di Pistoia” and “Marchiana di Lucca”, as well as a perfect example of adaptation to the Lucca area. Its main features are fruits of a fair size, with an attractive appearance and good organoleptic qualities.
The champion of the Papalona Cherry is the Comitato Paesano di Aquilea (Aquilea Village Committee), recognised at both regional and national level as the manager of about 30,000 sq.m. of land also dedicated to the in-situ preservation of rare plants, and as a proud “custodian grower” of Local Breeds and Varieties protected by Tuscan Regional Law, among which this cultivar is included, identified and registered on 16 October 2001 with the Region of Tuscany under No. VA_280. The Committee’s commitment is to protect and promote this variety, working to preserve the history, flavour and biodiversity it represents for our area.
Other bodies promoting the cultivar are CNR IVALSA – Institute for the Valorisation of Wood and Tree Species, the Regional Germplasm Bank and the CNR-IVALSA Experimental Farm S. Paolina in Follonica (GR).
