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AUGUST 2007
The weather this year has been unbelievably hot and this,
combined with a warm, dry winter has affected the summer flowers
on Crete very badly. Some have simply chosen not to bloom
at all, some have attempted a small and much less vibrant
show, none have flourished – at least not in the east
of the island.
Several trips to the Katharo Plateau have shown a considerably
reduction in the number of species and also in the volume
of flowers from species that have managed to defy the weather.
Most species have appeared earlier than normal and their flowering
season has seemed considerably shorter. Around a small church
on the plateau there can normally be found large swathes of
Origanum microphyllum and also Lactuca alpestris. This year
there were none. Goats and sheep could also be responsible
for this decline, as a local shepherd told us that his herd
was going hungry, because of the lack of grazing. Maybe plants,
normally left untouched, have been decimated by starving herbivores?
Fortunately, we did find both species at another location
on Katharo.
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| Convolvulus arvensis
- (Field bindweed) - pretty creeping
or climbing plant which is common in fields and
olive groves. |
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| Onopordum species
- amember of the Onopordum species of thistles,
which can be found in Crete. |
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| Chicorium intybus
- (Chicory) - the beautiful blue of this
extremely common plant always catches my eye.
This edible plant is a favourite amongst the Greeks
who collect the young leaves. Theophrastus, the
ancient Greek philosopher and botanist, knew this
plant as ‘cichorion’. |
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| Crithmum maritimum
- (Rock Samphire) - another beach plant,
this time with small creamy-white flowers that
are followed by green berry-like fruits. The edible
leaves are collected when young and preserved
in salt before cooking. |
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| Glaucium flavum
- (Horned Poppy) - I have spent the summer
intending to photograph this flower, which can
be found alongside the main road into Aghios Nikolaos.
I had my chance on the same beach as the Malcolmia,
where there were many flowers despite the litter. |
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| Heliotropum dolosum
- found growing on a piece of waste ground, this
small Heliotrope could easily have been overlooked. |
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| Lantana camara
- (Feston Rose) - although very attractive
this colourful shrub is not native to Crete. It
comes instead from America. According to John
Fielding and Nick Turland in Australia this bush
has become a pernicious weed and, if left unchecked,
could do likewise in the Mediterranean area. Not
to be encouraged, despite its appearance! |
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| Matthiola tricuspidata
- an annual which can be recognised by its three
horned fruit husk, which has given the plant its
Latin name. It can be found close to the sea. |
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