Blog launched: November 10, 2009

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Allium ampeloprasum

801_5046 [Allium ampeloprasum]
 
Allium ampeloprasum is a wild plant with a tall flowering stem (40-180cm)
which terminates in an umbel (5-9 cm in diameter) consisting of hundreds of pinkish flowers.
 
It blooms from May to summer in roadsides, abandoned fields, and degraded terrain
in a plethora of countries. Very common in Greece.
 
It is considered the ancestor of the cultivated leek.
 
In the picture above
the spathe on the right is about to unfold and reveal an umbel.
 
 
 
803_6299 R [Allium ampepolrasum]
 
The umbels above are in a mature state.
 
Both pictures were taken at Schinias (Attica) in May 2020.
 
 

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans

801_4988 [Anacamptis fragrans]
 
This is an extremely widespread species present in most of Southern Europe.
Small to medium in size (15-30 cm) with vanilla-scented fragrant flowers.
Its name refers to the scent of the flower.
 
It is found in large populations from March to June
in uncultivated fields, scrub-lands, brushwood, and open forests, up to 1,100 meters.
 
Photographed at Schinias on May 10, 2014 
 
 

Saturday, May 13, 2023

Ophrys lutea

804_0631 [Ophrys lutea]

 
A Mediterranean species of Ophrys 
that grows up to 30cm and is similar to phryganae.
 
In Greece it is found in small localized populations
mainly in West Greece, Peloponnese and Crete.
 
Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on March 24, 2023
 
 

Saturday, May 6, 2023

Passiflora caerulea in three stages

Stage one
 
302_9103 [Passiflora caerulea]  
 
The flowers are about to bloom.
Photographed in Keratea on September 28, 2010 
 
 
Stage two
 
IMG_1554 [Passiflora caerulea]

IMG_1555 {passiflora caerulea]

 
Stage three
 
IMG_7970 [Passiflora caerulea]

Caerulea’s ovoid orange fruit that perpetuates the species.
It grows to about 6 cm.
 
Photographed in Holargos on November 5, 2019
 
Passiflora caerulea is native to South America but it has been introduced to many other countries
mainly because of its intricate, scented flowers.
 If there is a supporting tree available, it can grow up to quite a few meters in height.