Melanargia larissa

302_6861 [Melanargia larissa]

 

Melanargia larissa is a widespread, attractive and easily recognized butterfly

in spite of variations existing within the same Genus.

 

It flies low to the ground with a slow flight from May to August

in altitudes from sea level to 1800m

in regions of SE Europe and West Asia.

 

In Greece, it is usually observed in clearings, forest roads, cultivated areas,

or grassland with lots of flowers.

 

 

302_0267 [Melanargia larissa]

Melanargia larissa in a resting position

with both fore and hind wings wide open.

 

The wingspan is about 50 to 55mm.

 

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha.

 

 

Datura stramonium

302_9317 [Datura stramonium]

 

Datura stramonium is an annual plant that often reaches 1.5m in height.

Its origin is not known with certainty.

Some botanists believe that it originated in the Americas, while others in Asia.

The fact is that today it has spread to all continents

and constitutes a noxious weed.

 

In Greece, it is found in uncultivated areas, on roadsides, on plots,

or among ruins and similar locations.

 

 

802_2286 {Datura innoxia]

 

 

Datura stramonium’s flowers are white or white with a tint of purple,

bell-shaped and about 6-10cm long.

 

They look pretty much like the flowers of Datura innoxia

which are longer (10-18 cm) and are either white or have a different tint,

as shown in this picture.

 

The flowers are beautiful to look at but …

 

 

302_9316 [Datura stramonium]

  

… the whole plant is extremely toxic

and it can even cause death.

 

On the other hand,

the leaves and the seeds of the fruit contain valuable chemicals

that are used in pharmacology for the production of medicines!

 

The egg-shaped fruit is around the size of a big chestnut

and the leaves can grow up to 20 cm long.

 

The two pictures of stramonium were taken in central mainland Greece.
 

 

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.

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

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

  

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]

 

 

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.

 

 

Campanula celsii

IMG_0575 [Campanula celsii]

 

 

801_4869 [Campanula celsii]

Campanula celsii is a biennial plant,

endemic to Attica and some nearby islands.

It grows in crevices and gaps of mountainous rocky slopes

at heights up to 800 meters.

It blooms from April to early July.

 

 

801_4873 [Campanula celsii]

 

A close-up of the flower:

 

It might be looking huge

but actually it hardly ever reaches 3 cm in length.

 

The pictures above were taken on Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

Ceratonia siliqua

803_3590 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 

The picture above shows a tree (called Ceratonia siliqua)

that I don’t see very often but it has attracted my photographic attention.

It is long-lived, evergreen and can become 5-10 m tall.

It originated from the eastern Mediterranean region

but it has gradually spread to the rest of the Mediterranean countries

and even further into Europe.

 

In Greece,

it is mainly found in Attica, in the Peloponnese and in many Aegean islands.

 

Here are some additional pictures

that may be justifying why it attracted my attention.

 

 

IMG_6373 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 Ceratonia’s leaves are deep green and shiny on the top

but underside, they are light-green.

 

 

803_5594 [Ceratonia siliqua]

Its flowers grow and hang from the tree-trunk and from branches.

 

In this picture, the flowers are in their initial stage of development

during September.

 

 

WPVV9109 [Ceratonia siliqua]

As they grow, they look like bunches of grapes!

 

 

803_5578 [Ceratonia siliqua]
 

 A close-up shot of mature flowers.

Ceratonia’s flowers are very small, have no petals, have a heavy smell

and can consist of male, female or both male and female reproduction organs

on the same tree.

 

 

IMG_3633 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 Fertilized flowers turn into fully shaped green fruit (10-30 cm x 1.5-3 cm) …

 

 

803_3596 [Ceratonia siliqua]

 

 

 … and gradually (when ripe) they become dark brown.

 

The process lasts almost a year, from Fall to the end of August!

 

At the age of 25-30 years,

a tree can give about 850 kg of nutritious fruit,

suitable for both animal and human consumption.

 

 

Easter wishes

[Easter wishes 2025]

 

 The text on this Easter card may be “all Greek”

to my non-Greek speaking friends,

so here is an explanatory note to them:

 

“Χριστός Ανέστη” means “Christ has Risen.”

It is the wish-phrase the Greeks wish each other for 40 days

beginning from the moment Jesus’ resurrection is declared by the priest

and joyfully chanted in church at midnight of Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday.

 

“Χρόνια Πολλά” means “May you live for many years”.

It is a wish-phrase we express immediately after “Χριστός Ανέστη”. 

 

So,

Χριστός Ανέστη! Χρόνια Πολλά to you all!

from Tagton

 

 

 

Ophrys tenthredinifera

301_5885 [Ophrys tenthredinifera]

Ophrys tenthredinifera is a diverse but always easily recognizable,

beautiful Mediterranean ophrys.

In Greece,

it is found in brushwood, in open stony areas and in shrub lands

of Central and Southern mainland Greece,

as well as on the islands.

 

It blooms from February to early May

at altitudes up to 1800 m and can be 10-30 cm tall.

Motacilla flava feldegg

304_5278 [Motacilla flava feldegg]

 

This is an elegant, colorful and highly distinctive small bird

widespread in South East Europe.

In Winter they emigrate to tropical Africa.

 

They feed on insects, spiders, worms and the like.

So, they prefer finding their food in damp fields

and in pastures with grazing livestock.

They apparently know that livestock will dislodge insects

from the ground making them more vulnerable to the birds.

 

Length: 17-18 cm

Lifespan: up to 5 years

 

Photographed near the Oropos wetland in Attica.

 

 

Motacilla alba

303_1052 [Motacilla alba]

 

A common European bird that emigrates to southern, warmer, areas in Winter.

 

It is often seen feeding in and around towns

where it nests in recesses, hollows, cracks in walls or in damaged roof bricks.

 

It feeds on insects that it catches on the ground or on roofs

and likes to be near lakes, rivers, reservoirs and canals.

 

When it runs or stands, it constantly moves its tail.

 

It is about 18 cm long and lives up to 5 years.

 

And between you and me … it is one of my favorite birds!!!

 

 

Ophrys basilissa

801_2742 [Ophrys basilissa]

 

A rare Ophrys that was initially considered native to Crete

but was also found on many Aegean islands.

The above picture, however, was taken near the Marathon Lake in Attica.

 

It flowers from late January to early April

on sunny, dry grounds at heights up to 500 m.

 

The name “basilissa” (a Greek word for “queen”)

refers to the large lip of the flower (= almost 3 cm long).

Remember the English expressions ‘king size’ and ‘queen size’? 

 

 

Fritillaria graeca

302_4182 [Fritillaria graeca]

 

This beautiful flower is a perennial plant native to Greece

and more specifically to Central Greece, Attica, Peloponnese, and Evia.

 

It grows on stony grounds on heights of up to 2000 m

and can become about 25 cm tall.

 

Its bell-shaped flowers appear from early Spring to May

and face towards the ground.

 

The picture above was taken on Mt. Hymittos.

Fritillaria obliqua

301_7299 [Fritillaria obliqua]

Photographed in Evoia

 

 

301_6635 [Fritillaria obliqua]

 Photographed in Attica

 

--<>--

 

Fritillaria obliqua is a rare wild flower endemic to Attica and Evoia

where it grows in very small populations.

 

Unfortunately, for various reasons it is threatened with extinction.

This is the reason why it is included

in the “Red Book of the Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece”

and is protected by Law.

 

It blooms from early February to early April

at altitudes from sea level to 1000 m.

mostly on rocky grounds with sparse bushy vegetation.

 

 

Ferula communis

IMG_0935 [Ferula communis]

 

Ferula communis is a perennial plant

that grows on stony slopes and uncultivated areas

on altitudes of up to 600 m and blooms from March to June.

 It can grow more than 4 meters in height.

 

Its stem, that sometimes can be wider than 10 cm at its base,

is hollow and filled with a soft white substance

which – when it is set on fire – burns very slowly without a flame.

 

According to the Greek Mythology,

Prometheus took advantage of this property of the plant

to hide the fire when he stole it from Zeus

and brought it to the mortals.

 

IMG_0938 [Ferula communis]

The upper part of the plant above.

It was captured from a shorter distance

for details to be seen more clearly.

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos

 

 

IMG_1109 [Ferula communis]

mature plants near Sounio

 

 

303_1858 [Ferula communis]

 

Focus on the flowers, also from Sounio