Sternbergia lutea

 

DSCN2724 [Sternbergia lutea]

Sternbergia lutea is a crocus-like, perennial, bulbous flower

endemic to the Mediterranean countries.

In Greece,

it is widespread in stony and dry locations, in scrub-lands,

and in forest clearings, usually at low altitudes.

Due to its beautiful golden-yellow flowers,

it is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens, and even in pots.

 

It blooms from September to November

and may reach a height of 25cm.

 

Picture: from Mt. Hymittos

 

 

301_4666 [Sternbergia lutea]

 In the wild they grow solitary …

 

Picture: from Mandra (Attica)

 

 

DSCN2855 [Sternbergia lutea]

more than one together…

 

Picture: from Grammatiko (Attica)

DSCN379 [Sternbergia lutea]

 

 

 

 

or they spread over large areas.

 

Picture: from Mt. Penteli

 

IMG_0064 [Sternbergia lutea]

 

After fertilization,

the flowers turn into fleshy capsules

that contain a large number of spores.

 

Picture: from Mt Hymittos

A damselfly

304_2517 [damselfly]

A damselfly at rest

in a woodland by the sea in Attica, Greece.

 

[No more specific details about this insect.

I leave that to experts. Sorry.]

 

Photographed at Schinias.

 

 

Alectoris chukar

304_0580 [Alectoris chukar]

 

Alectoris chukar is a game bird common in Middle East countries.

In Greece, it can be found on remote and rugged rocky areas

in most parts of the country but not in NE Greece.

 

I have come upon them only twice; on rocks near Sounio

and on Mt. Hymittos where they seemed to be enjoying food

they were provided by humans!

 

The Chukar is the national bird of Pakistan and Iraq.

 

This picture was taken near Cape Sounio.

 

 

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.