Wishes 2024

803_2522 [Christmas wishes]

 

Χρόνια σας Πολλά!

Galactites tomentosa

302_6233 [Galactites tomerosa]

 

Galactites tomentosa is a common Mediterranean plant

found along roadsides and waste lands in low altitudes.

 

It blooms from April to July and produces flowers of about 3 cm wide.

 

Photographed in Monemvasia area.

 

 

Clematis cirrhosa

IMG_2798 [Clematis cirrhosa]

 

Clematis cirrhosa is an evergreen, climbing shrub

that may climb more than 4-5 m.

It blooms in autumn and winter and produces a plethora

of scented, creamy-white flowers (18-30mm in length)

that, most of the times, cover the whole shrub,

especially in sunny locations.

 

In Greece, it spreads from Thessaly and further south

at heights of up to 600m.

 

 

 

IMG_2792 [Clematis cirrhosa]

 

From Mt. Hymittos, Oct. 20, 2023

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

302_2946 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Crocus carwtrightianus is endemic to southern Greece.

It grows from sea level to 1000m in stony locations from October to December.

Its long red styles give it a unique, impressive look.

It is pretty similar to Crocus sativus, the cultivated species;

a fact that justifies why it is considered the ancestor of sativus.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Paneio. 

 

 

 

801_1420 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

 The flower is predominantly purple-lilac (see above)

but it often comes in white, as well.

 

The picture is from Sounio.

 

 

Solanum elaeagnifolium

ΙΜΓ_2728 [Solanum elaeagnifolim]

 

 

 

 

This plant is a dense weed of maximum 1m in hight that originated from South America

and gradually spread to North America, Europe and other regions.

It has also acclimatized in southern mainland Greece.

 

It is a locally invasive species that grows in any dry open place available at low levels.

 

804_1197 [Solanum elaeagnifolium]

 

The plant blooms from May to November

and produces flowers of about 30 mm across.

 

 

804_1105 [Solanum elaeagnifolium]

The fruit is a small berry that becomes orange-yellow when it is ripe.

It is considered an ancestor of the “Tomato” that we so often use in our diet.

Crocus pallasii

303_0537 [Crocus pallasii]
 

Crocus pallasii is an Autumn crocus, with wide distribution

from West Asia to the Balkans.

In Greece, it used to grow locally on the Aegean islands of Chios, Samos and Lesvos

but, I hear, it has recently also been found in various spots of mainland Greece.

One of those spots is Mt. Hymittos where the above pictures were taken.

It flowers in rocky habitats at altitudes of 50 to 2000 m.

 

 

802_2175 [Crocus pallasii]

 

 

IMG_0540 [Crocus pallasii]

Cynthia cardui

804_1061 [Cynthia cardui]
 

Cynthia cardui (also known as “Vanessa cardui”) is widespread all over Greece

where it flies from sea level to 2.500m in all sorts of habitats,

even in gardens and parks in domestic areas.

It is observed in two generations from March to November.

 

Every year, it migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean basin

to Europe, West Asia and many more areas.

 

 

804_1066 [Cynthia cardui]

 Its wing span is about 55-60mm.

 

In the picture above, she is feeding on nectar from flowers.

It is one of those moments when she is usually oblivious of an observer

and provides a photographer a good opportunity to press the trigger on the camera.

 

Both pictured were taken on Mt. Hymittos on Oct. 20, 2023 

Crocus cancellatus ssp. mazziaricus

IMG_2814 [Crocus cancellatus ssp. mazziaricus]

 

This crocus is widespread and native to Southern and Western Greece,

including the Aegean and Ionian islands.

 It can be found in heights between 200 and 1800m,

from September to early December.

 When in bloom, it is pale to deep lilac-blue or white.

 Its leaves appear after flowering.

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on Oct. 20, 2023

 

 

DSCN2880 [Crocus cancellatus ssp. mazziaricus]

With white tepals, from Mt. Parnitha