Tulipa hageri

801_3873 [Tulipa hageri]

 

Tulipa hageri is a short (15-30 cm tall) perennial plant

found in the Balkan region.

 

 In Greece,

it thrives in damp meadows and on stony, grassy slopes of the central mainland.

It is noted for its vibrant red, cup-shaped flowers,

which are usually solitary and measure 30–50 mm across.

They typically bloom from March to May.

 

Despite being a hardy species,

Tulipa hageri is becoming increasingly rare in some areas,

while it still flourishes abundantly in others.

 

Here follow some pictures

showing Tulipa hageri at various stages of development.

 

All pictures were taken on Mt. Parnitha, in Attica.

 

 

801_3877 [Tulipa hageri]

 A hageri bud at an early stage. It will soon turn red.

[See next picture]

 

 

IMG_0056 [Tulipa hageri]

IMG_0235 [Tulipa hageri]

The flower in full bloom.

 

 

304_1749 [Tulipa hageri]

The flower retains its cup-shape, even when it is in full bloom.

It seldom opens fully.

  

 

304_1759 [Tulipa hageri]

 

 

Paeonia mascula hellenica

301_9143 [Paeonia mascula hellenica]

 

Paeonia mascula hellenica is one of the three mascula subspecies

that grow in various parts of Greece.

It is a perennial that can reach a height of 80 cm,

grows in colonies,

and has striking white (or sometimes red) flowers that are 10–13 cm across.

It grows between 400 and 1300 meters above sea level

in rocky meadows and wooded clearings.

It is a highly rare plant

which has been used in medicine since ancient times.

Today,

it is used for ornamentation as well.

Sadly, the flowers have an overcollection problem.

 

 

301_9146 [Paeonia mascula hellenica]

 

 

301_9117 [Paeonia mascula hellenica]

 

The dominant white form of the flower …
 

 

 

301_9131 [Paeonia mascula hellenica]

 

301_9166 [Paeonia mascula hellenica]

 … and the rare, red form

 

The flowers stay in bloom for only two to three weeks

in the blooming season of late March to early May.

 

  

Viola odorata

802_3421 [Viola odorata]

 

Viola odorata is a low-growing perennial plant

native to Eurasia

and widely distributed throughout Greece,

on both the mainland and the islands.

It thrives in moist, shady habitats, including forests and shrublands,

at elevations of 200–1,500 m.

 

 

304_1896 [Viola odorata]

 It blooms from January to May

and produces fragrant violet flowers 13–15 mm across.

 

 

 

 

Nigella damascena

304_6587 [Nigella damascena]

Nigella damascena,

commonly known as “Love-in-a Mist”,

is an attractive, annual plant growing in the mediterranean region

and much of Europe.

 

It may be the most easily recognizable flower

probably because of its numerous prominent stamens,

its five, striking, pale-blue or white, petal-like structures

and of its feathery leaves

which are divided into narrow thread-like segments.

 

The plant is found in grassy or dry habitats

at elevations up to 1400 m,

it blooms from April to June 

and produces flowers of about 30-40 mm across.

IMG_0485 Nigella damascena]

A damascena flower in its white form

IMG_803_6213 [Nigella damascena]

 After flowering,

the plant’s female reproductive organ inflates

to form a spherical fruit up to 30 mm across

and is surrounded by a mesh of bracts similar to the leaves. 

 

804_2029 [Nigella damascena]

The fruit gradually dries out

and finally opens to release seeds that fall on the ground

and cause the plant to reappear

almost at the same spot year after year!

Chrysanthemum coronarium

804_2687 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 

Chrysanthemum coronarium is a widely prevalent, annual plant

of the Mediterranean region.

It grows in fields and wastelands and becomes 20-80 mm tall.

It grows in large numbers, one close to the other,

and generates numerous, striking yellow flower heads

which create a strong contrast with the plant’s green leaves.

 

In Greece,

coronarium appears in two variations that are almost identical,

with the standard variation having all-yellow flower heads

 and a bi-color variation having yellow and white tepals.

Both variations bloom from March to May.

  

 

 

804_2695 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 The yellow flower heads of the most common variation.

They are 30-60 mm across.

 

 

 

804_2560 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

The flower head of the bi-color variation.

 

 

 

804_2563 [Chrysanthemum coronarium]

 It is not unusual to see both variations grow next to each other.

 

Both variations are also cultivated in gardens.

 

 

 Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos

 

 

Consolida tenuissima

804_2764 [Consolida tenuissima]

Consolida tenuissima is an annual plant endemic

to the mountains of Attica, Evia, and Skiros.

It becomes up to 50 cm tall

and can be seen in bloom from April to June.

It is usually found in Scrublands, Rocky slopes, Forest clearings,

and Uncultivated fields at heights from 200-900 m.

 

However,

when one sees it on the mountain,

it is good to remember that it is included

in the “Red Data Book of Rare and Endangered Plants of Greece (RDB 2009)”

and that it is designated as “Vulnerable”.

 

 

 

804_0018 [Consolida tenuissima]

 Flowers are small, about 10 mm across,

with a spur that reaches 15 mm in length.

 

 

Ornithogalum arabicum

IMG_7551 [Ornithogalum arabicum]

 

Greece is home to more than 20 species of Ornithogalum

but Ornithogalum arabicum is probably the largest and most distinctive.

 

Although it can normally reach the height of 80 cm,

the plant in the picture was hardly 30 cm tall.

 

It blooms from April to May

and produces a cluster of up to 25

bowl-shaped, pure-white flowers of about 5 cm across each.

 

It flourishes on rocky places and fallow grounds

of West and Central Mediterranean countries.

It is also cultivated in gardens.

 

 

IMG_7555 [Ornithogalum arabicum]

 A close-up of the flower revealing details.

 

The dark ovary dominating the center

makes arabicum easily recognizable.

 

The pictures were captured in an unused plot

within the residential area of Athens.

 

 

 

 

Anacamptis collina

302_4938 [Anacamptis collina]

 

Anacamptis collina (previously known as Orchis collina)

is a widespread, perennial wild orchid

native to the Mediterranean countries and to West Asia.

 

In Greece, however,

it is quite rare and found only sporadically

in Central Mainland, in Peloponnese, in some Aegean islands

and in Crete where it is more common.

 

It grows in diverse habitats,

including hilly areas, brushwood, meadows and open forests,

from low elevations to around 1300 m.

 

Depending on weather conditions,

it may appear in two consecutive periods; in January and in March.

Or it may not appear at all!

 

On the other hand,

it may be a short plant (10 cm) at lower altitudes, such as Attica,

or a tall, robust one at higher altitudes

where it may reach a height of 40 cm!

 

The picture above was taken on the island of Irakleia

and shows the upper part of a tall and robust plant.

 

 

Campanula drabifolia

303_2452 [Campanula drabifolia]

 

Two pictures of Campanula drabifolia for you to hopefully enjoy looking at.

 

 

 

IMG_1803 [Campanula drabifolia]

 This is a short, fairly delicate, bristly annual plant

 with blue-violet flowers about 10-16 mm in diameter.

It grows in central and south mainland Greece

and the Aegean islands. It is not present in Crete.

It blooms from April to June in rocky grounds at low levels.

 

 The pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos.

 

 

 

 

Ophrys argolica

304_5889 [Ophrys argolica]

This is a perennial, low-growing (15-35 cm), wild orchid

with a deep brown lip of about 12 mm in length

and two prominent, usually bluish, eyes

that make this beautiful species easily recognizable.

 

It is found in scrub, grassy hillsides and olive groves of East Mediterranean.

  

 

304_2060 [Ophrys argolica]

 

 In Greece,

it is found in South mainland and on the islands of Crete and Cythera.

It blooms in March to May at heights up to 1000 m.

 

 

Geranium molle

804_2489 [Geranium molle]

 

 Many people consider Geranium molle to be a weed,

possibly because it thrives and spreads rapidly in the correct conditions.

However, in spite of that rather contemptuous title,

it produces small but beautiful flowers

which beautify the whole area around,

especially when large numbers have bloomed.

 

The plant grows to a height of 35-40cm,

while the bloom is only 6-10mm in diameter.

It is widespread in all European countries,

except northern ones,

and likes grassland and rocky soil

at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1900m.

 

In Greece,

it grows on the mainland and on several islands,

blooming from February to May depending on altitude.

 

804_2521 [Geranium molle]

This image appears to accentuate

the shape of the leaves and the plant's short and long hairs,

two of the many characteristics

that separate Geranium molle from other species.

 

 

Ruscus aculeatus

 

[Ruscus aculeatus]

 

Ruscus aculeatus (commonly known as “Butcher’s boom” is an evergreen, short shrub

that hardly ever reaches 1 m in height.

 

From February to April, it produces greenish-white flowers

that grow solitary, or two together,

on the upper part of what looks like leaves (1-4 cm long)

but actually they are not.

They are flattened extensions of the stem functioning as leaves!

 

The flowers are very small (3-5 mm), star-shaped,

with male and female appearing on separate plants.

 

Successfully pollinated female flowers are initially green

but gradually they become bright red berries (10-15 mm across)

which remain on the plant for quite some time. [See berry below.]

 

The plant occurs in woodland, scrub, and shady rocky places

on altitudes up to 1000 m throughout much of Europe.

 

Wondering about the plant’s funny name?

Well, it is said that

butchers in older times used to tie branches of the plant together

and used it as a broom!

 

 

  

801_1370 [Ruscus aculeatus]

 A close-up of what seems to be perceived as leaves.

 

 

[Ruscus aculeatus]

 A close-up on a star-shaped tiny flower.

 

 

[Ruscus aculeatus]

 

A close-up of a berry in its final stage of development.

 

 

Gagea graeca

IMG_1729 [Gagea graeca]

 

Gagea graeca is a slender and hairless perennial plant

that grows in Central and South Greece,

including the Aegean islands and Crete.

It blossoms from March to May

in habitats like stony grasslands, cliffs, waysides

and occasionally in open pine woodland.

The flower heads are funnel-shaped, 10-15mm long,

with 6 white tepals that have purple stripes on the outside.

[See above].

 

 

DSCN4290 [Gagea graeca]

 

Centaurea triumfettii

IMG_0870 [Centaurea triumfetti]

 

Centaurea is a very large genus.

In Europe alone there are over 220 species,

about 120 of which are found in Greece

with more than 40% of them being endemic.

  

Triumfettii – perhaps my most favorite species of Centaurea – 

is a beautiful, short to medium perennial flower

that grows in most of mainland Greece.

It is found in grassy, stony and rocky habitats,and scrub

on the mountain zone.

 It blooms from April to July. 

The flower-head above is about 50mm wide.

 

 

304_6683 [Centaurea triumfettii]

 

Photographed on Mt. Kitheronas.
 

Anemone coronaria

DSCN3543 [Anemone coronaria]

Anemone coronaria,

commonly known as the Crown anemone, Poppy anemone, or windflower,

is a very common flowering plant in the Mediterranean region.

It produces flowers in shades of red, purple, white and blue.

Its sepals, usually 5-8, are arranged around a characteristic black center of stamens

that forms a crown-like ring;

a fact that lends the flower its name “coronaria”.

 

In Greece,

Anemone coronaria typically grows to a height of 20–35 cm

and blooms from January to May.

Each flower can measure 3–7 cm in diameter.

 

Its diversity of colors is eye-captivating,

so I feel I should share with you below

an assortment of colors

that I had the opportunity to photograph.

 

 

803_0889 [Anemone coronaria]

 

 

301_5506 [Anemone coronaria]

 

 

301_5513 [Anemone coronaria]

 

302_3432 [Anemone coronaria]

  

302_3698 [Anemone coronaria]

 

 

301_6950 [Anemone coronaria]