Wildflowers of Crete

2nd Page of 3

In springtime, Crete is covered by a carpet of flowers. Wildflowers bloom everywhere - along the roadsides, in the olive and orange groves, in the gorges and on the hillsides. Many flowers which grow wild on Crete are found elsewhere in gardens: gladioli, cyclamen, anemones, geraniums, grape hyacinths, iris and tulips, to name just a few. Then there are the wild orchids. There are several different types found on Crete: we found ophrys orchids which look like insects, serapias or long-lipped orchids, and many different members of the orchis family. I am still working on the orchid photos but hope to have the photos up soon. It is very difficult to identify the type of orchid since many are hybrids.

I have tried to identify all the flowers in these photos but, if anyone spots an error or can identify other flowers in the photo, I would appreciate it very much if they would let me know so that I can correct it.

Reference books: "Wild Flowers of Crete" by George Sfikas and "Farbatlas Mediterrane Pflanzen" by Andrea Bärtels.

Dracungulus vulgaris - Dragon arum at Loutro	Ebenus cretica - Mt. Jouchtos	Echium plantagineum - Buglos - Moni Prevali
Ferula communis - Giant fennel - Armeni	Gladiolus italicus - Gladiolus at Neo Horio	Gladiolus italicus - Gladiolus - Polyrinia
Gladiolus italicus - Gladiolus	Gynandriris monophylla - Diktanos Gorge	Glynandriris sisyrinchium - Neo Horio orange orchards
Glynandriris sisyrinchium - at Armeni	Hibiscus at Phestos	Iris planiflora? Iris lutescens? Neo Horio orchards
Iris cretica - Cretan Iris at Moni Prevali Kato	Laurus nobilis - Laurel between Neo Horio and Paidohori	Lupinus albus subspecies graecus Cardaria draba (Hairy Cress) on left Scandix (Shepherd's Needles) or Tordylium? (Hartwort) on right - Roman wells
Malva parviflora? cretica? - Stilos	Muscari cycladicum - Grape Hyacinth - Kokkino Horio	Olea - Olive trees Neo Horeo
Ornithogalum divergens - Star of Bethlehem at Roman wells at Gavalohori	Papaver rhoeas - Poppies - Moni Prevali	Is this a poppy? Near Neo Horeo

All photographs are my property and may not be copied or used without my written permission.

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