Romania 2017

[Gabriela]

A few highlights from our trip to Romania, mid-July to early August. I thought a general map would be good to give a general idea of the area covered: this time to the East towards Dobrogea Plateau and then back to the Carpaths around Brasov  (which is my  birth town).
To the West I marked other 2 interesting regions which were candidates for botanizing but had to be left for the next time (in case someone else wants to see what they are about (Iron Gates National Park and Retezat Mts.)


Few details because it is a particular region - the Plateau is surrounded to the north and west by the Danube and to the east by the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. Average altitude is around 200–300 m with the highest point being Ţuţuiatu/Greci Peak in the Măcin Mountains (467 m).
Given its position the climate is slightly warmer and more arid than in the rest of Romania, winters are cold but with less snow  and  so the flora is very specific: a combination of endemics and various species at their geographical limits: northern limit of Mediterranean and Black Sea, western for some Eurasian species and southern limit of Central Europeans and Caucasian ones.

The best time to visit is May-June, when various bulbous species are in flower and the temperatures are reasonable. Infrastructure is good, lodging decent (many are not advertised on the net). I only recommend visiting with a group/guide or being able to ask questions in the native language.

Being very late in the season not many species  were in flower but enough to give a general idea of the region. Besides flora and fauna the region is known for its many archaeological sites like seen below - Enisala Fortress and its most interesting rocky surroundings to explore


Xeranthemum annum in flower at great expanse everywhere:


Also Dianthus nardiformis was at its best form:


Great surprise and was very happy to see Paronychia cephalotes in the wild for the first time!

[Gabriela]

The whole trip would have been worth just for finding, including a few last flowers, the rare Centaurea jankae. It was considered endemic to Romania (2 populations only) until it was also found in Bulgaria.

Centaurea jankae - Capul Dolosman, Dobrogea



From the same place: Gypsophila pallasi


Echinops ruthenicus in various blue shades, also present E. sphaerocephalus (not shown)


Ephedra distachya

[Maggi Young]

Marvelous, Gabriela!

[Gabriela]

More - a beautiful form of Allium guttatum


Quite a few Alliums out there, A. flavum also in flower, A. rotundum, inaequalis and others gone to seeds


Another rarity of the region: Hedysarum grandiflorum with few last flowers (seeds as well


Sideritis comosa


And another rare view, at least for me, Cotinus coggygria growing wild

[Gabriela]

Thank you Maggi!
I will finish the first part of the report with few pictures from Macin Mountains. It would be a lot to say about them, I google for those interested to read:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Macin+Mountains&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=iq-QWdKmLcrn0gKKo524CA

One day and a half was just enough for a little taste of these old mountains, home to many other endemics and rare species from Romania (Iris sintenisii, Paeonia peregrina, Gymnospermium odessanum...)




A detail of the endemic Campanula romanica


Silene compacta


The endangered and well protected Dobrogean tortuga, Testudo graeca came out into the path to say hello


Next time back to the mountains...

[Hoy]

Gabriela.

Looks very interesting albeit a bit dry at this time of the year! Spring must be wonderful Looking forward to the next chapter!

[David Nicholson]

Interesting pictures Gabriela, thanks for posting.

[ashley]

Gabriela, great to see your report from an area new to many of us; thank you.  I look forward to more
Fine plants, including that handsome centaurea.

[Yann]

another fly to book 

[Gabriela]

Gabriela.
Looks very interesting albeit a bit dry at this time of the year! Spring must be wonderful Looking forward to the next chapter!

Yes, it's always dry in late summer, that's why I recommended a May-June trip. There is plenty to botanize but so very hot weather.

[Gabriela]

Thanks Ashley and David - I'm trying to make my contribution here; I also enjoy the travel logs and plant pictures posted by all others on the forum 

Yann - you must have a very loooo...ng booking list 

[gerrit]

Surprisingly many genera, also featuring in dry Eastern Spain, but different species, like the mostly overlooked Paronychia, the yellow Hedysarum and this stunning Centaurea. Nice pictures from a country i have visited in the past, with its beautiful cities as Brasov indeed, Sibiu, Sigishoara and the famous monasteries.

[Gabriela]

Thanks Gerrit, it is indeed surprising to meet species of Mediterranean origin, or others from Crimea and the Caucasus - that's the botanical attraction of Dobrogea region.
Glad that you enjoyed the Transylvanian cities and the monasteries (Moldavian I suppose). They all have become now even more attractive for tourists from all over the world.