Digitalis ferruginea

301_2879 [Digitalis ferruginea]
 

Digitalis ferruginea is a short-lived flower (usually 2-3 years)

found in South Europe and West Asia.

In Greece,it is present in most parts of the mainland

in habitats like open areas of forests and meadows in heights of up to 1500m.

It grows to 1.5m, blooms in July and produces rusty-colored flowers.

(Its name derives from the Latin word ferruginea that means “rusty colored”.)

 

Caution:

If you ever see it and feel tempted to touch it,

please keep in mind that it may cause allergic reaction.

If you insist,

the use of gloves might be a good idea.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Taygetos.

 

 

304_3138 [Digitalis ferruginea]

 

From Mt. Oiti

Epipactis helleborine

302_0467 [Epipactis helleborine]

 

Epipactis helleborine is a species of wild orchid found in Europe and Asia.

In Greece, it flourishes from June to August in shady places

-usually in forests- on heights of up to 2000 m.

It gets 20-100cm tall and bears 10-100 flowers that vary greatly in color.

They can be green, dark red or almost white.

 

This picture was taken on Mt. Olympos on July 10, 2009.

 

 

303_3812 [Epipactis helleborine]

 

From Mt. Parnitha July 15, 2011

 

 

303_3812 [Epipactis helleborine]

 A closeup on the above picture

 

 

Half a sun umbrella

Umbrella

 

In Greece, we are experiencing unusually high temperatures these days

and everyone is looking for countermeasures to protect themselves.

Bard, Google’s Artificial Intelligence robot,

recommends for the case drinking plenty of fluids, staying in cool places, dressing lightly,

wearing a hat and sunglasses, taking frequent cool showers or baths, avoiding vigorous exercise,

and frequently checking up on the elderly.

 

With Bard’s permission, I add to this list the use of a sun umbrella

and hope we keep in mind that under certain conditions

even half an umbrella (see above) may prove more effective than no umbrella at all!

😊😊😊

 

 This picture was taken in Venice, Italy, some years ago.

 

 

10+1 Theba pisana

302_0975 [Theba pisana]

 

This little community of snails (Theba pisana) are aestivating

on Mt. Falacro during the hot summer month of July.

Understandable. Summer is not their favorite weather even on high mountains.

What makes me wonder is why 10 of them are so close together, while one is in isolation further away.

Isn’t it in good terms with the rest of the community?

 

July 12, 2009

Limodorum abortivum

803_8382 [Limodorum abortivum]

This striking plant is a Mediterranean species of a wild orchid at the beginning of its yearly life.

It first appears as a gray-purple, erect stem which will later produce 5-25 flowers

but no green leaves!

Instead of leaves, there appear numerous dark purple scales

wrapped all around the stem. 

 

803_6111 [Limodorum abortivum]

 

In Greece it is found throughout the country from April to July

in meadows, scrub and pine forests.

It may be solitary or in small groups of 1 to 4 plants and a height between 20 and 80cm.

 

This orchid is generally thought to be a saprophyte,

a plant that lives on decaying organic matter in the soil.

However,

it may possibly be a parasite feeding on the tissues of living host plants.

803_6106 [Limodorum abortivum]

Each stem carries 5 to 25 whitish or blue-violet flowers

that are about 45mm across.

303_3026 [Limodorum abortivum]

304_2690 [Limodorum abortivum]

The pictures above were taken on Mt. Hymittos

and on Mt. Parnitha in years 2020 - 2022.

Cephalanthera rubra

IMG_4052 [Cephalanthera rubra]

Cephalanthera rubra is a slender, tall (up to 40cm), perennial wild orchid

mainly found in Europe, North Africa and southwest Asia.

In Greece it is found in forest clearings, forest roadsides, and generally in shady, dry places

at altitudes up to 2,000 meters. 

Its flowers are bright pink, the reason why it is called “rubra”,

but in rare occasions they are white.

 

The pictures were taken on Mt. Parnitha

at the end of June in 2017 and 2011.

 

 

IMG_1204 [Cephalanthera rubra]

 

IMG_1190 [Cephalanthera rubra]

Campanula celsii subsp. celsii

801_4877 [Campanula celsii]

 

Campanula celsii (subsp. celsii) is a biennial plant endemic to Attica (Greece)

and to the surrounding areas.

During the first year of its life, it develops a rosette of leaves at its base

and in the second year it develops its branches

with a plethora of violet tubular flowers of about 3cm in length.

It grows in crevices and gaps of rocks at heights from sea level to 700m

from late April to early July.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Hymittos on May 06, 2014

 

 

801_4240 [Campanula celsii]

 From Mt. Geraneia, April 12, 2014

801_4877 [Campanula celsii]

A rosette of base leaves as they have developed in the first year of the plant’s life.

 

From Mt. Hymittos, May 06, 2014

 

301_0588 [Campanula celsii]

The flowers here may seem to be huge but actually they are deliberately blown up

for details to be easily seen. [Mt. Hymittos, May 11, 2008]

 

The same effect has also been applied to the picture below.

301_9376 [Campanula celsii]

 

From Mt. Hymittos, May 11, 2009

Nymphaea masaniello

DSCN0647 [Nymphaea masaniello]

 

Nymphaea masaniello is an aquatic, perennial flower

that produces large (up to 10cm wide), fragrant flowers that float on the surface of the water.

They bloom from early summer to early fall and for several days

they remain open in the day but they close and sleep at night.

 

Shooting wild flowers on the mountains is my irreplaceable hobby

but I also I find shooting ornamental flowers in gardens occasionally irresistible!

This was the case with water-lilies in “Diomides” botanical garden in Athens back in 2006.

They were beautiful to look at but unfortunately not easily accessible over the water for one to smell their fragrance!