Flora mirabilis: amazing plants of Psiloritis Geopark!
The identity of each place lies within its particularities, whether they concern humans or the natural environment. The more there are, the greater its wealth, the more distinct its identity. One such peculiarity of the UNESCO World Geopark of Psiloritis is its plants.
Inspired by the life’s work of the forester of the Forest Service of Crete and one of the pioneers of the Geopark, Georgia M. Xylouris, we created this small periodic exhibition with 20 amazing plants of Psiloritis Geopark, representing just a small sample of our enormous wealth of flora.
Our goal is for it to be hosted in as many events and neighborhoods of the Geopark as possible, so that we can all get to know this part of our unique natural heritage, appreciate it and protect it.
We sincerely thank the photographers who provided the images, the Natural History Museum of Crete (Botany Division) for the scientific support, the people inspired and all those who helped to make this exhibition happen.
On behalf of the Directory Board of Ideon Network, managing body of Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark,
Dr. Charalambos Fassoulas, President
From time to time there have been many feature series from the Geopark, either in the form of exhibitions, or in print/online features (geosites, caves, local artists, local myths, etc.). Recently, Geopark staff and colleagues from other organizations (Environmental Education Center of Anogia, NHMC) recognized the lack of outreach material of the unique plants of our region in relation to the outreach initiatives on e.g. animals. At the same time, within the framework of the actions to familiarize students with the nature of Psiloritis during this year's World Environment Day and inspired by the work of Georgia M. Xylouris, Geopark and partners who participated in this action decided to proceed with this initiative so that residents and visitors of the Geopark, would get to know the local plants a little better.
The selection was made with maximum inclusion criteria! This involved the geographical distribution of each species (where do we find it?), its taxonomic group (in what category of plants does it belong to?), its morphology (what does it look like?) and the type of its “peculiarity” (e.g., some are very rare, some very common but at the same time medicinal, others have special morphology, etc.).
The purpose is to get to know and become familiar with some of the plants of our Geopark, with an ultimate goal of highlighting this aspect of natural heritage that sometimes goes unnoticed or is underestimated because it is (mistakenly) considered boring! Through this exhibition, we want to raise awareness on the many different, special and beautiful plants of our Geopark and why their protection must concern us!
The extinction risk assessment summarizes the extinction risk for a group of organisms, is based on specific scientific criteria of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and can be done at the global, regional, and/or national level. This results in the classification of species into different categories and the compilation of corresponding species’ lists ("Red Lists"). With these tools, scientists are able to assess and design the best possible strategies to protect endangered species.
Categories of the Red List of Greece (summarized below based on information from NECCA):
The Cretan Maple, Acer sempervirens, is a species found in various regions of the eastern Mediterranean. It is the most common deciduous tree of mountainous Crete, with bright green or bright red foliage depending on the season, and with fruits that the wind carries over long distances, thanks to the "wings" they have!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
It is one of the rarest plants in Greece. It was first described in 1868 from a specimen previously collected in Psiloritis, which is why it was given the characteristic name idaeus, meaning "of Idi". Since then, it had not been found again and was therefore classified as "probably extinct" until recently. It was rediscovered in 2002 in Dikti and in 2015 in Psiloritis. Today it is considered endemic to these two mountains (i.e. found only there and nowhere else in the world). It is related to the very common Astragalus spp.
Extinction risk assessment: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
The Cretan Barberry is a deciduous, very spiny shrub, growing in dolines (round-shaped depressions in the ground) and rocky terrains above 900 m altitude. It spreads in various regions of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. In Crete, it blooms in May-June and, later, its yellow flowers turn into small, fleshy, dark-colored fruits that are food for small birds. It has known medicinal and dyeing properties, some parts of it are used as food by some cultures, the wood of the stem also has uses but some parts are poisonous (DO NOT consume!). Its sting is painful, no explanations needed there... The plant also exists outside of Crete.
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
Endemic orchid of Crete, known from the three mountain masses of Lefka Ori, Psiloritis and Dikti. In 1985, by decision of the Ministry of Agriculture, an area of 2 acres that is the habitat of the plant in Kamares Heraklion, was declared a Preserved Natural Monument! This endemic species is one of the most endangered orchids of Crete. It is forbidden to cut it, like all orchids.
Extinction risk assessment: ENDANGERED
One of the largest trees of the Crataegus monogyna species is the century-old tree located in the archaeological site of Zominthos and for this reason it has been declared a Natural Monument. It has a characteristic white flower and red fruits, coloring the trees with different tones according to the season! The fruits of trikokkia are considered a superfood and liqueurs and jams are made from them!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
It is one of the six species of Crocus of Crete, however, while it belongs to the Crocus genus, it is not Saffron! The species is endemic to the mountains of Crete (i.e. found only in them) and spreads between 1,100 and 2,400 meters altitude. The characterization "Sieber’ s" is related to the name of the Austrian naturalist Sieber who explored Crete in 1817. The characterization "of snow" refers to its flowering season at the time when the snow melts at the beginning of spring.
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
Its cylindrical root can reach a length of 10 cm, while its leaves and flower reach only 2-3 cm in height! Horstrissea dolinicola is the only species of the genus Horstrissea which is an endemic genus of Crete and occurs only in the dolines of the Petradolakia area! It grows in certain limestone depressions, dolines, from where it got its name!
Extinction risk assessment: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
It is related to St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum, from which balsam oil is made), however it is not present in the same quantities to be exploited accordingly. It is called "of Jupiter" (jovis) because it is endemic to Central Crete (area correlated with the birth of Zeus). Its petals and stamens are radial in shape and yellow in color, reminiscent of "flowering stars"!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
It spreads in various areas of the eastern Mediterranean, mainly in stony substrates, shrubs and crops. Its flowers pop out through thorny shrubs to be protected from grazing!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
So far it has only been recorded in ophiolites (rocks that formed on the ocean floor of the distant past) in some areas of Psiloritis. Due to the particular rocks they grow upon, species of Alyssum have been found to over-absorb the element Nickel!
Extinction risk assessment: ENDANGERED
It is one of the most common orchids of Crete, and is also found in other areas of the Balkans, Italy and Turkey. It got the name quadripunctata from its morphology (4 dots on the flower) and, like all orchids, it is protected and it is forbidden to cut it.
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
An endemic herb of Crete (i.e. found only on the island of Crete) with excellent medicinal properties that blooms in the crevices of steep limestone rocks (the non-cultivated plants). The name "erondas" (sounds similar to erotas, the Greek word for love) is related either to its rejuvenating properties or because, as a gift, it was a symbol of affection between lovers!
Extinction risk assessment: NEAR THREATENED
This endemic species of Crete is the dominant plant of the Nida plateau. It is eaten by sheep, staining their teeth with a golden color tone. It also exists in Dikti, but the main place of its distribution is Psiloritis, which is why it has the name "Knotgrass of Idi". It is a very common plant of Nida plateau, with a low height very close to the ground!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
A species with a distribution across various regions of the Mediterranean. In Greece it is found almost all over the country, usually on limestone rocks or scattered in meadows at an altitude of 900-2100 m. The high altitude at which it is found is the reason that the plant has a characteristic tendency to "creep" on its substrate, and this gave it the name "prostrata", meaning "lying down"!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
It is one of the most common trees of the island of Crete and, in general, of the Mediterranean. It is an evergreen oak with spiny leaves and great diversity in size: it grows either as a small shrub (after fires, overgrazing) or it grows to become a huge tree. Compared to other oaks, it is very durable.
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
It is endemic to Crete and occurs in the mountains Dikti, Thrypti, Idi and Kedros. It got its name because its flowering, in early spring, coincides with the time when the snow melts, so we will find it emerging as if from a white carpet! It belongs to Geophyta, meaning it lives most of its life in the ground, like Horstrisea, Crocus and Tulipa!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
It has been given the nickname antri-jovis = "of Jupiter's Cave" although it also exists in other areas of Crete, in rocky substrates at high altitudes.
Threat of extinction assessment: NEAR THREATENED
Orchid found in Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is distributed throughout Greece, although it is not easy to find because of its small size as it often goes unnoticed. It is the first plant of the orchid family that blooms in Crete in autumn. The name of the plant has to do with the arrangement of the flowers in a spiral. It is forbidden to cut it, like all orchids.
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
Tulipa doerfleri- Doerfler's tulip (photo: E. Nikolakakis): the famous, red Cretan tulip!
Endemic tulip of Crete (exists only on the island) which is found mainly on the small plateau "Gious Kambos" of Amari! It takes its name from the Austrian botanist Ignaz Dörfler, who studied it at the beginning of the 20th century. Every spring, when it blooms, many visitors go to the areas where it grows to admire and photograph it!
Extinction risk assessment: LEAST CONCERN
The genus Zelkova appeared millions of years ago! Today it exists only in Asian countries, in Sicily and Crete! It also existed in mainland Greece until 400 thousand years ago! Because it did not resemble any of the known trees of the Cretan mountains, the locals called it "anegnoro”, meaning unrecognizable. This tree was used to make katsounes, the Cretan walking sticks of shepherds, and this is probably one of the reasons for the decrease in the number of its large trees!
Threat of extinction assessment: NEAR THREATENED
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Last Update : 07-09-2024 11:48
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