Photographs of Greek Flora and Wild Flowers

Various Plants

"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more."

Lord Byron, George, "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage", 1818

This photo gallery contains plants in their natural settings.

Below, you'll find an assortment of flowers, representing the Dogbane, Morning Glory, Potato, Heath, Pokeweed, Catbrier, Iris, and Amaryllis Families. They were photographed in various locations around the Pelion peninsula, such as Agios Lavrendios, Horton, Lefokastron and Kastri.

All plants depicted here are dicotyledons, except the Crocus, Sea Daffodil and Cream Narcissus, which are monocotyledons. Dicotyledons are a group of plants distinguished by their two seed leaves, a diverging system of leaf-veins, and flower parts, which are generally in multiples of 4, 5 or 7, sometimes more. Monocots differ from dicots in that they have a solitary seed-leaf, a parallel system of leaf veins, and flower parts in multiples of 3.

By the way, the Crocus has been identified to family level only. Any assistance in better identifying it would be greatly appreciated.


		Nerium oleander Check out the Oleander, a very common, decorative plant, well known for its poisonous properties, for centuries. In fact, it's been rumored that the Oleander gave Napoleon's army a little more than a stomach upset.
		Vinca major Enjoy pictures of the Greater Periwinkle, a very common plant in the vicinity of Horton, Pelion, with some very potent medicinal properties.
		Convolvulus arvensis Take a look at the Field Bindweed, a plant despised by human beings, who spend long hours attempting to exterminate it. To no avail, however, as it manages to survive, thanks to its invincible root system.
		Solanum nigrum View images of the Black Nightshade, a member of the potato family, whose berry-like fruits contain the alkaloid Solanine, a toxic substance that can kill, if ingested in large quantities.
		Arbutus unedo Look at pictures of the Strawberry Tree, a very common shrub in the Pelion region, whose fruit isn't really palatable. Hence its scientific name, "unedo", which literally means "eat only one".
		Phytolacca americana Check out this interesting plant, which was introduced to Europe by colonists to America and has since spread throughout the continent, including the Pelion region.
		Smilax aspera Take a peek at the Common Smilax, an extremely tough shrub with glossy, heart-shaped, very leathery leaves, which are always accompanied by a pair of tendrils.
		Crocus sp. Not too much info here, inasmuch as I could not establish the plant's species. Anyway, take a look at some interesting pictures, taken in the vicinity of Agios Lavrendios, Pelion.
		Pancratium maritimum Enjoy images of the spectacular Sea Daffodil, my favorite flower in Pelion. It is quite abundant on nearly all Aegean shores, but, unfortunately, absent from beaches on the Pagasetic Gulf.
		Narcissus tazetta Check out the Cream Narcissus, which is, quite probably, one of the best smelling flowers worldwide. It grows in abundance in the vicinity of Horton, on the banks of the stream.
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