Flowers of Crete

After two years of thinking about it I have finally managed to start a section presenting photos and brief descriptions of some flowers and plants that can be found in Crete. Hopefully now that I set up the structure of the pages it will be easier to add to them and I'll eventually (in a few years) have a large collection of images.

For now, you can start with those few which are in no particular order. Click on the thumbnails to open the relevant pages.

Please note that I am not a botanist. In fact I have very little knowledge of all things botanical so if you notice errors I'd appreciate it if you let me know.

Cretan flowers

Click on thumbnails

Tragopogon sinuatus

Phlomis fruticosa or Jerusalem sage

Jerusalem sage - Phlomis fruticosa and phlomis cretica

Asphodeline Lutea

Helichrysum conglobatum

Calicotome villosa or Spiny broom

Ferula communis - Giant fennel

Hypericum empetrifolium

Verbascum macrurum

Chrysanthemum coronarium - Crown daisies

Papaver rhoeas - Common poppy

Anemone coronaria

Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon arum

Thymus capitatus (or Coridothymus capitatus) - Thyme

Cistus creticus - Pink rockrose

Cistus parviflorus

Cistus salvifolius

Cytinus hypocistus ssp. clusii or Cytinus ruber

Silene colorata

Daphne sericea

Pancratium maritimum - Sea daffodil

Asphodelus Ramosus - White Asphodels

Urginea maritima - Sea squill

Umbilicus horizontalis

Euphorbia characias

Lavendula stoechas - Wild lavender

Lupinus pilosus - Blue lupin

Vicia tenuifolia subsp. dalmatica

Ceterach officinarum - Rusty Back

Aethionema saxatile creticum - Burnt Candytuft

Ammophila Arenaria

Citrus sinensis - Orange

Echium plantagineum

Anchusa italica (or Anchusa azurea)

Delphinium staphisagria - Lice bane

Anthyllis vulneraria

Muscari comosum - Tassel hyacynth

Acanthus spinosus - Bear's breeches

Scolymus hispanicus

Limonium graecum

Astragalus angustifolius

Satureja spinosa

Sedum tristriatum

Prunus prostrata

Orchids

Orchis italica - Italian orchid

Barlia robertiana

Ophrys tenthredinifera - Sawfly Ophrys

Endemic flowers

Androcymbium rechingeri

Ebenus cretica - Cretan ebony

Anchusa cespitosa

Viola fragrans

Crocus sieberi

Tulipa saxatilis (Tulipa bakeri)

Paeonia clusii

Petromarula pinnata

Verbascum arcturus

Euphorbia rechingeri

Satureja alpina

Iberis sempervirens

Centaurea idaea

Galium incurvum

Scilla nana (Chionodoxa cretica)

Sideritis syriaca - "Cretan mountain tea"

Silene variegata

Clematis elisabethae-carolae

Centranthus sieberi

Onobrychis sphaciotica

Campanula cretica

Campanula jacquinii

Campanula laciniata

Campanula aizoides

Trees

Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa - Juniper

If you want to know more about Cretan flowers, the appropriately named Flowers of Crete John Fielding & Nicholas Turland - Kew Editions is THE book you MUST HAVE. It may seem expensive at first sight but once you hold this book in your hands, you will realize that it is amazing value for money.

The above comment was posted when the book was in print and sold for 50 (and later 60) Pounds Sterling. It has now sold out and a reprint is not necessarily planned so you will have to get it second-hand.. Sometimes prices are OK and sometimes they are a litle silly. Take a look at this link to see what's on offer right now and if it is anywhere near the original price jump on the offer and get it, you will not regret it.