Eastern Crete - colourful springflowers in late April/beginning of May

[Thomas Huber]

Good morning Gerd - great to have you back!
Many thanks for taking us to Crete with your wonderful photos 

[Gerdk]

Part 4
The following pics were made during a trip to Thripti, an ' Alm ' (alpine pasture)
near Aféndis Stavroménos -1476 m. Unfortunately I didn't see Tulipa cretica and T. saxatilis which are recorded for this area.

1. Another lover of alpine plants
2.+3. Cyclamen creticum
4. Onosma erectum
5. Euphorbia acanthothamnos
6. Campanula species
7. Gagaea graeca
8. Poppies
9. Chrysanthemum coronarium
10. Tragopogon porrifolius

Gerd

[Gerdk]

Part 5

1. Chrysanthemum, Anchusa, Tragopogon
2. Chrysanthemum species small (not identified by me)
3. Hypericum ? amblycalix - shrubby
4. Ranunculus asiaticus - only white forms were seen
5. Ornitholagum creticum
6. Convolvulus oleifolius
7. Fumana ? arabica
8. near Cape Sideros - the very end was a military zone
9. + 10. Vai and Phoenix theophrasti

Gerd

[Lvandelft]

That's another place to visit for me, Gerd. (on the future-list, I'm afraid.)
Thanks for the beautiful pictures

[Lesley Cox]

Anthony, though someone may know differently, as far as I'm aware, I. cretensis is strictly spring flowering. In I. unguicularis, the Algerian forms are generally earlier than forms from the northern Mediterranean. On the other hand, the Algerian forms are often thinner textured and so less weather resistant than others. You pays your money.....

[ian mcenery]

Great trip Gerd and super pictures

Lesley Iris cretensis is I believe still described as I unguicularis ssp cretensis though I agree with you it flowers in the spring unlike unguicularis - botanists  . Here is a link to one I posted some time ago which I had had for longer than I care to mention http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=301.75. The plant obviously didn't like the wet summer last year and all but a fragment has rotted off. I am keeping my fingers crossed 

[Gerdk]

Part 6

1. Hill with spiny brooms (Calicotome or Genista?)
2. Lassithi Plateau from the Zeus Cave (Dikteo Andro)
3. Gagaea graeca - Lassithi
4. Largest plane-tree of the Island at Krasi + much smaller - my wife Brigitte
5. Styrax officinalis in the mountains
6. Kapsa monastery near Makrigialos
7. Perovolakia Gorge - just beside the monastery
8. Nerium oleander - wild in the gorge
9. Gynandris monophylla again
10. Ophris ? scolopax ssp. heldreichii

Gerd

[Gerdk]

And here is the rest

1. Turtle within the ruins of Zakros
2. Campanula spathulata
3. ancient Mosque in Ieropetra
4. Sunset near Makrigialos
5. - 7. shots from Knossos - made during a stressing one hour guided tour
8. made in the beginning
9. one day before leaving this wonderful part of the island

Two useful books for determination were
'Wild Flowers Of Crete' by Vangelis Papiomitoglou (2006) - the best one
'Wild Flowers Of Crete' by George Sfikas 1987

Gerd

[Anthony Darby]

I think your Ophrys above is O. episcopalis Gerd?

[ranunculus]

Very beautiful images Gerd...are you planning to return to Crete in spring 2009? 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Magnificent scenery, beautiful pix and wonderful plants Gerd ! 

Thanks very much for the tour ! 

[Hans A.]

Wow Gerd, thanks a lot for  this nice trip - I see I have to go there again

[Gerdk]

I think your Ophrys above is O. episcopalis Gerd?

Thank you  - indeed it looks like this species according a picture in the Papiomitoglou - book.

Very beautiful images Gerd...are you planning to return to Crete in spring 2009? 

I thought about that but my wife said she would like to do an autumn journey to another place.

Thanks for the compliments to the others!

Gerd

[Rafa]

Beautiful botanical expedition! very good report.