Blog launched: November 10, 2009

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Asphodelus aestivus

IMG_4662 [Asphodelus aestivus]

 Asphodelus aestivus is a perennial asphodel that grows on infertile locations,
like bare rocky grounds, hillsides, roadsides or pastures
in any Mediterranean country.
In Greece, it blooms from the end of February to early June
and usually gets 1-1.5 m tall. Its flowers are about 3 cm wide. 
 
It is avoided by grazing animals;
a fact that frequently allows it to form colonies of a vast number of plants.
 
Its swollen and fleshy roots contain a great deal of starch
and are said to be … tasteless but edible.
(No confirmation. Sorry 😢!
I’ve never tried them and I’m not sure I’ll ever do!)
 
On the other hand,
I’ve read that the roots at one time were gathered
for use in the production of glue for bookbinding! Interesting!
 
The picture was taken - in a seemingly not so infertile area - on Mt. Hymittos.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Potentilla recta

IMG_1080 [Potentilla recta]

Potentilla recta is a common, perennial plant native to Europe and Asia
but it can also be seen in other countries as an introduced species.
 
It grows in a great variety of habitats on elevations from 400-1800 m
and becomes up to 60-70 cm tall.
Its beautiful pale to deep-yellow flowers appear from May to mid-August.
 
The pictures were taken in a small residential area on Mt. Parnassos.
  
 
IMG_1081 [Potentilla recta]

the lower part of the plant
 

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Garrulus glandarius

304_4162 [Garrulus glandaurus]
 
This impressive bird is usually found in woodlands
and sometimes in parks and in large gardens
throughout most of Europe.
 
It feeds mainly on insects, seeds and especially acorns
that it seems to like most.
In Autumn it collects as many acorns as it can find,
carries them in a pouch under its throat
and buries them in the ground
to eat them in harsh winter days and perhaps in Spring!
 
Mature birds vary in length from 32 to 37 cm and may live up to 5 years.
 
Photographed on Mt. Hymittos.
 
 

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Pallenis spinosa

302_4931 [Pallenis spinosa]

Pallenis spinosa (referred to as “spiny golden star” by English speakers)
 is a very common plant that can reach 60 cm in height. 
It grows on uncultivated sunny lands and often by a roadside.
It blooms from April to July
and produces flowers with a diameter of about 3 cm.
In spite of its being very common,
Pallenis spinosa looks impressive with its small flowers
which combine with surrounding bracts
and form eye-catching stars.
 
Undoubtedly, (at least IMHO)
they decorate the dry, unimpressive, environment
in which they usually grow.
 
 

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Tulipa australis

803_9949 [Tulipa australis]

 
304_5881 [Tulipa australis]

 
303_7370 [Tulipa australis]
 
A flower that decorates the Greek territory almost throughout the country.
It grows in grasslands and mountainous rocky places
at elevations from 500-2200 m.
and produces solitary flowers that range from 2 to 3.5 cm in length.
It blooms from April to May. 
Interesting to know that it usually has 2 leaves and rarely 3.
See above.
 
All photographed on Mt. Hymittos.
 
 

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Paeonia parnassica

302_0148 [Paeonia parnassica]
 
This is a ‘luxury’ plant
or “the queen of all flowers” as an ancient Greek poet called it centuries ago. 
 
 
302_0160 [Paeonia parnassica]
 
It grows in North America, North Africa, Europe, Russia, China, India, and other places,
producing solitary flowers 7-13 cm wide
that are both beautiful to look at and peculiarly fragrant to smell.
It grows up to 65 cm tall in woodland clearings
at elevations ranging from 800 to 1300 m.
 
In Greece, there are 7-8 species which bloom in May
and remain in bloom for 2-3 weeks.
 
Paeonia parnassica is endemic to Mt. Parnassos
where the above pictures were taken
but it is also found on Mt. Elikonas.
 
 
_MG_5332 [shooting paeonia parnassica]


And here, the blogger in action
among a plethora of peonies on Mt. Parnassos.
 
The picture was taken by Stathis Tsekouras.
 
 
  

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Iris tuberosa

802_8437 [Iris tuberosa]
 
Iris tuberosa (formerly Hermodactylus tuberosus)
is a short, perennial, typically Mediterranean plant
found in the area extending from from South France to the Balkans and Turkey.
 
In Greece, it can be found in every part of the country,
at heights of up to 1700 m,
provided the habitat is grassy, rocky, garrigue or scrub.
 
It flowers from March to May
and produces a solitary, scented flower.
 
 
 
803_4540 [Iris tuberosa]

The fruit of the plant.
 
It gradually dries and reveals the seeds inside. [See below.]
When they are ripe enough, they disperse and perpetuate their species.
 
The pictures above were taken on Mt. Hymittos ...
 
 
 
803_1194 [Iris tuberosa]

 ... while this picture is from the area of Dilesi [in Attica]
 
 

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Campanula drabifolia

300_6309 [Campanula drabifolia]
 
A very short plant
found usually at low-level rocky places of Central and Southern Greece
but it can also be found much higher, up to 1000 m.
 
It flowers from March to May.
Its violet-blue flowers are small, between 10 to 15 mm.
 
 Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos.