Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: ashley on April 29, 2013, 10:34:07 PM
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Cazorla National Park (http://www.sierrasdecazorlaseguraylasvillas.es/en/)(Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas) is the largest in Spain and said to be the second largest in (Western?) Europe, with an area of about 2,100 km2 in Jaén province, eastern Andalucia, Spain (map (https://maps.google.ie/maps/ms?msid=217457481837522638389.0004db865f6b48c0c1d2e&msa=0&ll=37.961523,-2.636719&spn=2.832323,5.817261)).
It’s mainly mountainous, up to about 2,100 m and the source of the rivers Guadalquivir and Segura, but includes a wide range of habitats including extensive forests, gorges, valleys and lakes. The flora is exceptional; at least 2,170 species are recorded from the park, of which 34 or so are endemic. The fauna is also extensive, so with the great beauty of the landscape it is a magnificent area to visit. There is a nice Park Information Centre at the upper end of Cazorla town, just beyond the Tourist Office.
Distances from international airports are: Malaga-Cazorla 260 km, Alicante-Cazorla 350 km, Valencia-Cazorla 390 km. Roads are excellent and even unsurfaced ones in the mountains are fine in an ordinary car. Accommodation in the towns is readily available at this time of year, and there are some beautifully-situated campsites for those who prefer to get a bit closer to nature.
Here are some of the plants we saw in the karstic mountains SE of Cazorla town about 10 days ago. This year the season is probably a bit later than usual, due to cool wet weather until recently. First, a few general views of the landscape:
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And some plants:
Anemone palmata
Iris planifolia Most had gone over but a few flowers lingered in cooler areas.
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Narcissus cuatrecasasii
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I find it remarkable that there is no hint of the quite strong red on the outers of Anemone palmata showing through to its perfect yellow face. You'd think there would be a little hint of the reverse shade, wouldn't you?
As for the narcissus growing out of holes in the rock - that never ceases to amuse me.
Thanks for sharing your trip, Ashley :-*
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Ashley
glad you enjoyed it. It is a great area both for scenery and the plants.
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The petals are quite thick Maggi, but the bronze underside is very beautiful.
Yes it's astonishing where the narcissus get themselves to. Seeds maybe carried by ants?
Narcissus hispanicus ssp bujei
These look similar to Tony's collection from the same area (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1195.msg34506#msg34506), and also like Luc's plant (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4766.msg143330#msg143330).
The plants we found were in very scattered little groups of no more than a dozen or so plants, none clumping. Many were a bit tatty, possibly due to activity of wild boar in the vicinity.
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Thanks Tony. Yes it's an amazing area and one I'll be going back to whenever possible.
Narcissus triandrus Unfortunately these were already almost over, despite growing in a shaded damp area. I was surprised by their height (25-30 cm).
Muscari neglectum
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Thank you Ashley for these beautiful pics! The Sierra de Cazorla is in my opinion one of the most attractive areas of Spain - and not only because of the occurence of Viola cazorlensis.
Gerd
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Most interesting report Ashley, thank you. Narcissus cuatrecasasii WOW.
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Wonderful to see this beautiful area Ashley. The narcissus are great.
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Thank you Ashley for these beautiful pics! The Sierra de Cazorla is in my opinion one of the most attractive areas of Spain - and not only because of the occurence of Viola cazorlensis.
Gerd
;) :) ;D - I believe you Gerd! :-*
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Thanks all for your kind comments.
;) :) ;D - I believe you Gerd! :-*
Sorry I didn't manage to find it Gerd :'(
However we did come across 2 other endemics, little blue jobs, both localised and in small numbers:
Scilla paui
Scilla reverchonii
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There were also some nice gageas.
Unfortunately on this genus Polunin & Smythies are less than helpful: 'About 15 species occur in SW Europe, mainly in the mountains. They all appear similar and are difficult to distinguish.' Hmm, reminds me of something else - but what ... ??? ::) ;D
Anyway, these look different to me but I don't know what they are. Suggestions very welcome.
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Another attractive bulb: Ornithogalum collinum
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And some other plants:
Draba hispanica
Erodium cicutarium along the roadside in vast swathes
Geum sylvaticum
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Helleborus foetidus
Paeonia broteroi widespread and self-seeding extravagantly in places. Must be a sight in flower.
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Ashley,
Looks like you had a rewarding plant hunt.
The only thing better would be to return when the seed are ripe ;D
cheers
fermi
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Phantastic images from a marvelous area - many thanks for your report Ashley
My favourites are Narcissus hispanicus ssp bujei and Ornithogalum collinum.
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Yes seed would be nice Fermi, but I was very happy just to see them in flower.
This was my first time seeing narcissus in the wild Armin, because until now it's been hard for me to travel at this time of year.
Heading west, we visited the beautiful town of Úbeda before continuing to Córdoba. Temperatures were now rather high for April (up to 39°C), so after sightseeing we retreated to the Botanic Gardens for some cool green shade. Of particular interest were the modern museum with an excellent display of plant fossils, including several beauties from Ireland and Britain that were new to us. Perhaps ironically for an inland city there’s also a nice collection of endemic plants from the Canary and Balearic Islands, although the houses were so hot and humid that it was hard to linger.
Córdoba BG conifer collection
Gladiolus illyricus ?
Urtica atrovirens bianorii endemic to Mallorca & a rather handsome nettle
Mezquito grill with stylised plant (tulip?) ornamentation
Entrance to Museum of Fine Arts
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The backstreets of Córdoba offer tantalising glimpses of cool internal courtyards. For garden lovers the Palacio de Viana is worth a visit.
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Some more from Viana
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On the bank of the Guadalquivir opposite a school it looked as though bicycle thieves had been very successful, but the significance is probably less prosaic and more romantic (but not always simple) :D
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Now some orchids and other plants from the limestone Sierra del Torcal, south of Antequera:
Barlia robertiana
Ophrys lutea
Ophrys speculum
Ophrys tenthredinifera
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Ophrys tenthredinifera
Orchis anthropophora
Orchis conica
Orchis italica
Orchis mascula
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Orchis
mascula olbiensis
Orchis papilionacea
Anacamptis champagneuxii thanks Kristof
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Some other plants:
Asphodelus albus
Erinacea anthyllis
Hyacinthoides hispanicus
Iris subbiflora
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Iris subbiflora varied in stature, flower form and colour, from pale blue to purple and plum.
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Lathyrus sp.
Muscari comosum
Ranunculus rupestris
Saxifraga sp.
Silene sp.
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8) 8) 8) wunderful images, Ashley.
Nature can be so fascinating.
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8) 8) 8) wunderful images, Ashley.
Nature can be so fascinating.
So can culture, judging by Ashley's pics in Reply #21 on: May 07, 2013, 09:23:08 PM »
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Now some orchids and other plants from the limestone Sierra del Torcal, south of Antequera
This area is amazing, two years ago I fell in love after half an hour.
Orchis mascula
Orchis papilionacea
Small comment:
- First two pictures: this is Orchis olbiensis,
- the last one: Anacamptis champagneuxii (is growing a few meters from the restaurant and inside the building there is a big picture of this plant on the wall)
Regards -
Kristof
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Nature can be so fascinating.
For sure Armin. There's so much to see in this part of Spain, not only plants but birds, insects, animals, geology etc. 8)
So can culture
;D That too Gerry, although I'm sure we missed a lot.
Finally a few plants from eastern Sierra Nevada, mostly around the villages of Yegen & La Mairena:
Cistus albidus
C. clusii
Crocus nevadensis more here (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10309.msg275055#msg275055)
Dipcadi serotinum
Echium sp.
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Gladiolus illyricus ?
Lathyrus clymenum ?
Lathyrus setifolius
Lavandula stoechas
Orobranche gracilis
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Phlomis purpurea
Silybum marianum ?
Thapsia villosa
Tragopogon sp.
Papaver rhoeas
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Ashley, these pictures are very nice, thank you very much! I especially like the ophrys, you captured their beauty perfectly!
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Thanks Vincent; I'm glad you enjoyed them. This part of Spain is a paradise for plant lovers.
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Thank you Vincent for highlighting this thread - an area I'll be visiting in March.
Ashley - You're photo's a wonderful and really whet the appetite. Are there any other field guides/Floras you'd recommend for this region? I already have Polunin & Smythies and will also be taking both Mediterranean Wild Flowers and Alpine Flowers by Grey-Wilson (coverage of the latter doesn't extend beyond the Pyrenees but may be useful at altitude).