Crete in april

[ashley]

Campanulaceae
Petromarula pinnata  a common endemic, even colonising the walls of the old arsenal building in Chania.

Caryophyllaceae
Silene colorata ... and in a dune community with Matthiola tricuspidata and Juniperus macrocarpa

[ashley]

Cistaceae
Cistus salviifolius (left) & C. creticus (right)

[ashley]

Compositae
Centaurea pumilio is confined to the far west of Crete
Galactites tormentosus
Tragopogon porrifolius hosting iridescent blister beetles, maybe Spanish Fly Lytta vesicatoria

[ashley]

Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus oleifolius

Cruciferae
Arabis verna
Malcolmia flexuosa
Matthiola tricuspidata

Cretan soldier beetles (Spilostethus saxatilis) I think.  Abundant & striking.

[ashley]

Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia dendroides

Iridaceae
Gladiolus italicus
Iris tuberosa (syn. Hermodactylus tuberosus)

[ashley]

Iridaceae continued
Iris tuberosa
Moraea sisyrinchium (rather than M. mediterranea I think )

[Gabriela]

Seems that you had a great trip Ashley - thanks for showing, great pictures some species new for me of course.
Nothing better than seeing plants in their wild habitat!

[fermi de Sousa]

Tremendous stuff, Ashley!
I love that little arabis and the convolvulus - look perfect for a trough or crevice garden
cheers
fermi

[Yann]

Nicely sorted by family, looks like you had a nice trip. I'm still sorting photos.

[Gerdk]

Ashley,
Thank you for sharing your photos!

Gerd

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for sharing the trip Ashley.

[Yann]

to complete this post, here're Tulipa cretica found among serpentine

[Yann]

This spring i've spent more time around Omalos. The cold and snow winter doesn't affect at all the blooming. The amount of water was in excess this year. Tulipa bakeri and saxatilis were at their peak when i visited the plateau.

[Yann]

Ranunculus ficaria subsp chrysocephalus
Daphne sericea
Crocus sieberi
Anemone coronaria
Tulipa bakeri

[ashley]

... Nothing better than seeing plants in their wild habitat!

I agree completely Gabriela, although it might sometimes test the patience of less botanically-oriented travelling companions

... I love that little arabis and the convolvulus - look perfect for a trough or crevice garden

They would indeed Fermi.  The little arabis is one I really like too, and the centaurea might be another great plant for a sandy trough.

Thanks all for your kind comments.


One last Iridaceae, unfortunately a bad photo:  Romulea bulbocodium

Labiatae
Lavandula stoechas
Phlomis fruticosa