Ononis spinosa

301_3359 [Ononis spinosa]

 

Ononis spinosa (known as ‘Spiny Rest-harrow’ in English)

is a widespread, perennial, flowering plant

found mainly in southern temperate areas of Europe.

It is an erect shrub that hardly ever reaches 60 cm in height.

 

What attracted my attention to this plant in the field

was the shape of the flower

and its long woody spines (see red arrow above)

which can easily prick or scratch you if you touch them.

 

Contrary to its frightening spikes,

the flower is a delight to look at from close.

It consists of a large, upright, rounded petal

and two, small, lateral ones (Similar to flowers of pea-family plants).

The latter ones enclose a tiny, boat-like, structure

containing the plant’s reproductive organs.

The species is hermaphrodite: it has both male and female organs

and is pollinated usually by bees.

 

 

301_3360 [Ononis spinosa]

 In Greece,

this shrub is found in dry bushy places,

such as roadsides, rocky grounds and waste places.

It produces flowers that vary in color from pink to violet.

They are 1-2 cm long, and bloom in summer at heights up to 1900 meters.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Hortiatis.

 

 

Papaver rhoeas

IMG_7529 [Papaver rhoeas]

Every spring, the bright red flowers of Papaver rhoeas,

or “The common poppy” as it is widely known,

bring color to fields, roadsides, and open ground across much of Europe.

It is one of the continent's most widespread wildflowers.

In Greece,

its vivid flowers are a familiar sight especially at low elevations.

Although the common poppy still thrives in many places,

it has become less abundant in cultivated fields

because it is often treated as a weed

and controlled with herbicides.

Even so,

its brilliant flowers continue to be

one of the most memorable signs of spring and early summer.

 

 

 

801_9353 [Papaver rhoeas]

 

This annual plant grows up to 60 cm tall,

blooms from March to June

and produces a vibrant poppy flower of 50–60 mm across.

 

 

 

301_9533 [Papaver rhoeas]

Despite its predominant red color,

the poppy bloom may appear in various shades of red.

 

 

 

IMG_0085 [Papaver rhoeas]

 

Each bloom has four silky red petals

which often have a black patch at the base.

 

 

 

IMG_7550 [Papaver rhoeas]

 The black patch is sometimes edged with white. 

 

 

801_4362 [Papaver rhoeas]

After flowering,

the blossom develops a spherical seed capsule

with eight to thirteen stigmatic rays.

 

 

 

Pancratium maritimum

IMG_8675 [Pancratium maritimum]

 

Pancratium maritimum,

commonly known as the Sand Lily or Sand Daffodil,

is one of the most attractive flowering plants of the Mediterranean region.

It thrives in coastal sand dunes along the Mediterranean coastline

and blooms from July to October.

 

 

 

IMG_8707 [Pancratium maritimum]

 

These plants usually grow in clumps

and can reach a height of about 50 cm.

Unlike most flowering plants,

their leaves are green during winter

but wither and dry up as the flowers begin to appear.

 

303_6801 [Pancratium maritimum]

The flowers are large, pure white, trumpet-shaped,

and remarkably beautiful;

a fact that maks them one of the most striking sights

on Mediterranean beaches.

 

 

IMG_8706 [Pancratium maritimum]

 

The plant produces three-sided fruit capsules

that release large, lightweight black seeds.

If carried into the nearby seawater,

the seeds float and are dispersed by sea currents,

allowing the species to colonize other sandy coastal habitats.

 

 

A monumental gate

FBHB 5640 [Monumental gate]

This monumental gate marks the entrance to the Roman Agora in Athens.

 

It was built in 11 BC through donations

from the Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Augustus,

whose names are inscribed on the stone block above the columns.

 

The entire structure was constructed from gray marble,

the same type of marble used to build the Parthenon.

 

Remarkably,

the gate has remained in exceptionally good condition

for more than 2,000 years,

despite being built without any connecting materials

between the marble blocks.

 

This is the view from the west.

 

 

 

803_9129 [Monumental gate]

 The same gate viewed from the east at sunset.

 

Please click on the images to see them in higher resolution.

Thanks.

 

If any one of you has missed my older post

of a detailed video presentation of the Roman Agora (13 min),

please click HERE.