Colchicum cupanii

IMG_0545 R [Colchicum cupanii]

 Colchicum cupanii is one of the 31 species of Colchicum

that grow in Greece.

It can be found in rocky places on heights of up to 1100m

in almost all parts of Greece

and generally in the central Mediterranean Basin.

 

It flowers from September to November.

 

301_3763 R [Colchicum cupanii]

 

Both pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos.

Colchicum sfikasianum

804_1532 [Colchicum sfikasianum]

 

Colchicum sfikasianum is a perennial flower locally endemic in Greece.

It blooms in areas like Attica, SE Peloponnese and the island of Kefalonia

from September to October. Its leaves appear in Spring.

 

Beware! It is poisonous like all colchicums.

 

From Mt. Hymittos, 28/9/24

 

 

Cyclamen graecum

804_1527 [Cyclamen graecum]

 

Cyclamen is a perennial Autumn flower that includes about 15 species

found in the Mediterranean regions at altitudes of up to 1200 m.

 

In Greece, specifically, there are 6 native species

with ‘graecum’ probably being the most prevalent

in Southern Greece and the Aegean islands.

It grows particularly in rocky slopes and generally sun-exposed places

from September to November.

The flowers vary in color from white to pink.

 

Undoubtedly, it is a well-known and well-sung flower

that remains one of the most beautiful ornaments of nature in Autumn.

 

Mt. Hymittos: September 18, 2024

 

 

WBVL6972 [Cyclamen graecum]

Mt. Hymittos: October 01, 2020

 

 

IMG_1615 [Cyclamen graecum]

The heart-shaped leaves appear after the flowers have bloomed.

 

Mt. Hymittos: November 26, 2022

 

Chondrilla juncea

804_1511 [Chondrilla juncea]
 

This is a thin, noxious weed native to Europe, Asia and North America

but it can also be found in many other parts of the world.

It develops numerous branches up to 125 cm tall

and produces daisy-like yellowish flowers (2cm in diameter)

that eventually turn into a fruit topped with a pappus. (See picture below.)

 

Although it can reach more than a meter in height,

it usually passes unnoticed by the photographer’s eye

but remains a noxious pest in the eyes of land cultivators.

 

In any case, its yellow flowers, whether noticed or unnoticed,

contribute in their own way to nature’s overall beauty!

 

 

304_6927 [Chondrilla juncea]

 from a flower to a pappus

 

Each of juncea’s yellow flower gradually turns into a pappus

that lets its numerous parachute-like seeds be drifted by the wind

to new locations and achieve reproduction of the species.

 

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on Sept 7, 2024

Colchicum bivonae

804_1493 [Colchicum bivonae]

 

Colchicum bivonae is an Autumn flowering plant

that blooms from early September to mid-November

in mountainous regions (300-1300m) of Italy, the Balkans ang Greece

with the exceptions of Crete and the Cyclades islands.

 

Beautiful but also highly poisonous

due to colchicine existing in all parts of the plant:

the leaves, the flower and especially in the bulb. 

 

 

IMG_4370 [Colchicum bivonae]

 

801_7542 [Colchicum bivonae]

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on Sept. 7, 2024

 

For a 2-min slideshow of Colchicum bivonae please click HERE.

 

 

Pancratium maritimum

IMG_0002 [Pancratium maritimum]

Pancratium maritimum,

commonly known as the Sand Lily or Sand Daffodil,

thrives in coastal sands and is seen in full bloom

from August to October.

 

 For more info, pictures and video please see older posts HERE.

 

 

Cicada orni

804_1443 [Cicada orni]

This fascinating insect with its unique, erotic call to female cicadas

sometimes spends the night on the awnings of my balcony in summer

and grants me an opportunity to take a picture of it. This also happened a few weeks ago.

 

It is very common in central Europe and all the Mediterranean countries

where an expert can spot about 60 different species.

In Greece, there are approximately 33 species.

 

I was curious to learn some more things about this insect,

so I asked GPT for some basic facts about it.

Here is the answer I got; in case you are interested.

 

“Cicadas are fascinating insects with several unique characteristics. Here are some interesting facts:

 

1. Long Life Cycle: Some cicadas have incredibly long-life cycles, particularly the periodical cicadas of North America, which emerge after 13 or 17 years. These species spend most of their lives underground as nymphs before emerging en masse to mate.

 

2. Loudest Insects: Male cicadas are among the loudest insects in the world. Their mating calls can reach up to 120 decibels, which is as loud as a chainsaw or a rock concert.

 

3. Vibrating Membranes: The loud sound is produced by specialized structures called tymbals located on the sides of the abdomen. By rapidly contracting and relaxing muscles attached to these membranes, cicadas create their characteristic buzzing sound.

 

4. Temperature-Dependent Activity: Cicadas are more active and produce sound more vigorously when the temperature is warmer. This is why their songs are most commonly heard during hot summer days. 

 

5. Short Adult Life: Despite their long developmental periods, adult cicadas only live for a few weeks, during which they focus on mating and laying eggs.

 

6. Unique Defense Mechanism: Cicadas rely on a form of predator satiation to survive. By emerging in large numbers simultaneously, they overwhelm predators, ensuring that enough of them survive to reproduce.

 

7. Global Distribution: Cicadas are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are over 3,000 species worldwide, with diverse appearances and behaviors.

 

8. Diet: Cicadas primarily feed on the sap of trees and plants. As nymphs, they suck fluids from the roots of plants, while adults often target twigs and small branches.

 

9. Molting Process: Before becoming adults, cicada nymphs undergo a final molt where they shed their exoskeleton. This process often leaves behind the characteristic empty shells clinging to tree trunks and branches.

 

10. Cultural Significance: Cicadas hold symbolic meanings in various cultures. In ancient China, they were symbols of rebirth and immortality, while in Japan, they are associated with the fleeting nature of life.” 

 

 

303_4985 [Cicada orni]

 An exoskeleton of a Cicada orni. See GPT #9 above.

 

 

Pavonia hastata

IMG_4264 R [Pavonia hastata]

A shrub that reaches a height of 1.5m.

It is native to some countries of South America

and reportedly there are about 300 variants.

 

I had my first ever encounter with this plant a week ago

in Diomidous Botanical Garden in Athens

where I had the chance to take this photograph.