Ficus carica

IMG_1304 [Ficus carica]

 

Ficus carica: Our well-known fig tree.

 

I found it standing at the side of a road on Mt. Hymittos. It was “dressed” in its autumn colors 

and was creating a striking contrast with the all-green environment around.

 

It had no figs to offer. Only a strong “color coded message” that we were heading to the center of Winter. 

 

 

IMG_1307 [Ficus carica]

One of its lowest branches.

IMG_1309 [Ficus carica]

Four leaves at the foot of the tree seemed to refuse to accept

that Winter was unavoidably coming.

 

Photographed on October 27, 2022

Pica Pica

IMG_1242 [Pica pica]

 

A striking, black and white, easy recognizable bird that flies all over Europe.

 Although it is a sociable bird, this was the first time a Pica let me approach it that close and take the shot.

 

Photographed on Philopappou Hill, opposite the Acropolis, in Athens on October 12, 2022 

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

IMG_6363 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Crocus cartwrightianus from Mt. Hymittos.

 

It was photographed on October 31, 2022

 

Crocus pallasii

IMG_1330 [Crocus pallasii]

 

Crocus pallasii flowers from October to November usually on stony areas and in thin shrub

in countries from the Balcan to Iran.

In Greece, until a few years ago, it was believed to grow only on the East Aegean Islands

but now it is known to have been recorded on the Greek mainland as well.

Color-wise, it comes in all shades of lilac.

 

It was photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 27, 2022.

 

 

Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum

803_0327 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum]

 

803_0329 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum]

 

This perennial flower is widespread in stony grounds of Mediteranean regions.

It appears, without leaves, from July to November.

 

Photographed on Philopappou Hill, opposite the Acropolis, on October 12, 2022

 

 

302_9538 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum]

 The leaves appear before or after the flower (= spathe and spadix).

 

This picture was taken on Mt. Hymittos on October 15, 2010

 

 

Colchicum cupanii

302_2394 [Colchicum cupanii]

 

Colchicum cupanii is a bulbous plant widespread in Mediterranean countries. Its bulbs are poisonous.

It gets up to 10 cm in height while its flowers are about 3 cm wide. 

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 08, 2022

 

Sternbergia lutea

IMG_1251 [Sternbergia lutea]

A low to short, 40-50mm long flower that looks like a crocus.

 

It grows from August to October on rocky and grassy slopes, and

generally, on hills and low mountains in the Mediterranean region.

 

The picture above was taken at the foot of the Acropolis in October 2022.

 

 

IMG_1218 [Sterbergia lutea]
 

It grows solitary (see above) or in open clusters (see below).

 

 

IMG_1222 [Sternbergia lutea]

 

The last two pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos in October 2022.

 

Lotus edulis

DSCN2952 [Lotus edulis]

 

A Mediterranean plant widely distributed in Greece.

 

It is a low plant that sprawls up to 30 cm long on the ground and reaches a height of 30-40 cm.

 

It grows in cultivated fields, roadsides and rocky habitats in altitudes usually up to 300 m.

 However, the picture above was taken at a height of about 700-800 on Mt. Parnitha.

 

It flowers in Spring but surprisingly enough it was photographed on October 18 (2008)