July 2008 continued...
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| Campanula cretica
/ Cretan Campanula / Καμπανουλα η κρητικί / Kretische
Glockenblume - This is one of the flowers
that I have long wanted to photograph. When I
eventually found it this year, I was not disappointed
by its appearance. Growing on a roadside bank
en route to Elafonissi, I was stunned by the masses
of blooms which were highlighted by the early
sunshine. Absolutely superb. |
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| Tiny flower
- This little flower head was almost finished
when I came across it. I think it may be Valerianella,
but I am not totally sure. Identification, as
always, would be much appreciated. |
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| Zelkova abelicea
/ Αμπυελιτσά, ανέγνωρο / Zelkovie - I
have tried several times this year to take decent
photos of Z. abelicea, without much success. The
specimen in the east of the island is surrounded
by a picket fence and other trees, making a long
shot very unsatisfactory. So I have contented
myself with taking close ups of leaves, trunk,
bark etc. Z. abelicea is a very pretty small tree,
which is endemic to Crete and is becoming more
rare. It deserves our protection. |
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| Agarve americana
/ Αθάνατος / Americanische Agarve - Another
difficult-to-photograph plant. Having noticed
it in flower for the first time this year, I desperately
wanted to get a close up of the flowers. Not an
easy task and one that has so far eluded me. Thoughts
of carrying a step ladder with me have crossed
my mind – or a saw! Sensible suggestions would
be much appreciated as the flowers on even the
smallest subjects are far too high for me to reach. |
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| Eryngium campestre
/ Field Holly / Ερύγγιο το πεδινό / Feld-Mannstreu
- A fairly insignificant looking plant, which
bears small greenish flowers set amongst spiny
bracts. It can be found all over the island growing
on waste land, abandoned fields and in meadows. |
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| Eryngium maritimum
/ Sea Holly / Ερύγγιο το παράλιο / Stranddistel
- In contrast to the field holly, this Eryngium
is very beautiful in all its stages of growth.
It bears small bluish flowers and its stems change
from grey-green to mauve as the season progresses.
A favourite with wasps and hornets, it is another
species I love to photograph. |
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| Hypericum
- One of the hypericum I found this year that
I am not able to identify. It was very low growing
and found in the White Mountains on our trip to
the Omalos. |
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| Lactuca acanthifolia
- Another relative of the lettuce family that
can be found from July to October. It is endemic
to the Aegean area. |
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| Origanum onites /
Pot marjoram / Ορίγανο η ονίτις - This
origanum, together with O. vulgare, is collected
for use as a flavouring in meat dishes and sauces.
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| Arum ideaeum / Άρο
τις Ίδης / Idagebirge-Aronstab - Once
again it is great to feature one of Jan Liodaki’s
wonderful flower paintings – this month of Arum
ideaum, a little arum that is endemic to Crete.
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| Centaurea idea /
Κενταύρια της Ίδης / Ida-Flockenblume
- My painting of Centaurea ideaum turned out to
look rather Art Nouveau or Arts and Crafts in
style, although it was not my intention when I
drew it from life. Its shape, I feel, would have
lent itself to a design by William Morris for
his wallpaper or fabric. |
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