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Flora on serpentinite gravel on the island of Rhodes
Biotop

In the middle of the Island of Rhodes around Laerma there are big areas, which consist of serpentinite gravel and in which small, very special plants are growing, which elsewhere are only occuring in Western Turkey in similar biotopes. In the north of the island southeast of Pastida there is a small serpentinite region, too.

These areas are rarely cultivated, there are only few olive groves. The serpentinite is of volcanic origin, and disintegrates at the surface of the earth. Most plants in these biotopes are rather small and delicate. Often they are growing in flutes caused by erosion, where moisture is most likely to be retained. Specialists for these extreme biotopes are the following plants:
 
Silene salamandra, Rhodian Catchfly
Silene salamandra / Rhodian Catchfly
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Silene salamandra, Rhodian Catchfly
Silene salamandra / Rhodian Catchfly
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Cerastium dominici, Dominique´s Mouse-Ear
Cerastium dominici / Dominique´s Mouse-Ear
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Silene tunicoides, Tunic Catchfly
Silene tunicoides / Tunic Catchfly
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Silene tunicoides, Tunic Catchfly
Silene tunicoides / Tunic Catchfly
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Alyssum pogonocarpum, Rhodian Alyssum, Beard-Fruited Alison
Alyssum pogonocarpum / Rhodian Alyssum, Beard-Fruited Alison
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Alyssum simplex, Common Alison
Alyssum simplex / Common Alison
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Alyssum simplex, Common Alison
Alyssum simplex / Common Alison
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Alyssum strigosum, Slender Alison
Alyssum strigosum / Slender Alison
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Aethionema arabicum, Slender Alison
Aethionema arabicum / Slender Alison
Brassicaceae / Crucifers  
Anthemis rhodensis, Slender Alison
Anthemis rhodensis / Slender Alison
Brassicaceae / Crucifers  

 
Linum virgultorum, Bushy Flax
Linum virgultorum / Bushy Flax
Linaceae / Linseed Fam.
 
Allium junceum <b>?</b>, Red Serpentinite Leek
Allium junceum ? / Red Serpentinite Leek
Amaryllidaceae / Amaryllis Fam.
 
Some of the special plants I could not find: the red-pinkish flowering Bolanthus confertifolius, the white Bufonia ophiolitica (both Caryophyllaceae), the pinkish flowering Centaurium serpentinicola (Gentianaceae), as well as the small blue Solenopsis laurentia (Campanulaceae), for the latter one I was probably too early in middle to end of March.
 
In this area there are other plants, too, which are not only specialists for serpentinite, but can also be found in other biotopes:
Gagea rigida, Acute-Flowered Star of Bethlehem
Gagea rigida / Acute-Flowered Star of Bethlehem
Liliaceae / Lily Fam.
 
 
Fritillaria rhodia, Rhodian Fritillary
Fritillaria rhodia / Rhodian Fritillary
Liliaceae / Lily Fam.
 
 
Fritillaria rhodia, Rhodian Fritillary
Fritillaria rhodia / Rhodian Fritillary
Liliaceae / Lily Fam.
 
 
Gagea peduncularis, Stalked Star of Bethlehem
Gagea peduncularis / Stalked Star of Bethlehem
Liliaceae / Lily Fam.
 
 
Tuberaria guttata, Spotted Rock-Rose
Tuberaria guttata / Spotted Rock-Rose
Cistaceae / Rockrose Fam.
 
 
Fumana arabica, Mediterranean Sun-Rose
Fumana arabica / Mediterranean Sun-Rose
Cistaceae / Rockrose Fam.
 
 
Linaria chalepensis, Mediterranean Toadflax, Aleppo Toadflax
Linaria chalepensis / Mediterranean Toadflax, Aleppo Toadflax
Plantaginaceae / Plantain Fam.
 
 
Linaria simplex, Simple Toadflax
Linaria simplex / Simple Toadflax
Plantaginaceae / Plantain Fam.
 
 
Rumex bucephalophorus, Horned Dock
Rumex bucephalophorus / Horned Dock
Polygonaceae / Knotweed Fam.
 
 
Plantago cretica, Cretan Plantain
Plantago cretica / Cretan Plantain
Plantaginaceae / Plantain Fam.
 
 
Plantago afra, Fleawort
Plantago afra / Fleawort
Plantaginaceae / Plantain Fam.
 
 
Valerianella vesicaria, Bladder Corn Salad
Valerianella vesicaria / Bladder Corn Salad
Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckle Fam.
 
 
Arenaria rhodia, Rhodian Sandwort
Arenaria rhodia / Rhodian Sandwort
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Sabulina tenuifolia subsp. hybrida, Fine-Leaved Sandwort, Slender-Leaf Sandwort
Sabulina tenuifolia subsp. hybrida / Fine-Leaved Sandwort, Slender-Leaf Sandwort
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Draba verna agg., Common Whitlowgrass
Draba verna agg. / Common Whitlowgrass
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Sedum eriocarpum subsp. caricum, Carian Stonecrop
Sedum eriocarpum subsp. caricum / Carian Stonecrop
Crassulaceae / Stonecrop Fam.
 
 
Arisarum vulgare, Friar's Cowl
Arisarum vulgare / Friar's Cowl
Araceae / Arum Fam.
 
 
Achyrophorus valdesii, Mediterranean Cat's-Ear
Achyrophorus valdesii / Mediterranean Cat's-Ear
Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
 
 
Medicago monspeliaca, Hairy Trigonella, Star-Fruited Fenugreek
Medicago monspeliaca / Hairy Trigonella, Star-Fruited Fenugreek
Fabaceae / Legumes
 
 
Medicago rigidula <b>?</b>, Rigid Medick, Tifton Burclover
Medicago rigidula ? / Rigid Medick, Tifton Burclover
Fabaceae / Legumes
 
 
Medicago constricta, Contracted Medick
Medicago constricta / Contracted Medick
Fabaceae / Legumes
 
 
Hymenocarpos circinnatus, Disk Trefoil
Hymenocarpos circinnatus / Disk Trefoil
Fabaceae / Legumes
 
 
Securigera parviflora, Small-Flowered Hatchet Vetch
Securigera parviflora / Small-Flowered Hatchet Vetch
Fabaceae / Legumes
 
 
Hypecoum procumbens, Sickle-Fruited Hypecoum
Hypecoum procumbens / Sickle-Fruited Hypecoum
Papaveraceae / Poppy Fam.
 
 
Lysimachia linum-stellatum, Flax-Leaved Loosestrife
Lysimachia linum-stellatum / Flax-Leaved Loosestrife
Primulaceae / Primrose Fam.
 
 
Euphorbia taurinensis, Torino Spurge
Euphorbia taurinensis / Torino Spurge
Euphorbiaceae / Spurge Fam.
 
 
Euphorbia peplus, Petty Spurge
Euphorbia peplus / Petty Spurge
Euphorbiaceae / Spurge Fam.
 
 
Valantia hispida, Hairy Valantia
Valantia hispida / Hairy Valantia
Rubiaceae / Bedstraw Fam.
 
 
Sherardia arvensis, Field Madder
Sherardia arvensis / Field Madder
Rubiaceae / Bedstraw Fam.
 
 
Geranium lucidum, Shining Crane's-Bill
Geranium lucidum / Shining Crane's-Bill
Geraniaceae / Crane's-Bill Fam.
 
 
Salvia viridis, Annual Clary
Salvia viridis / Annual Clary
Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
 
 
Clinopodium graveolens subsp. rotundifolium <b>?</b>, Round-Leaved Calamint
Clinopodium graveolens subsp. rotundifolium ? / Round-Leaved Calamint
Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
  rather Clinopodium acinos (= Acinos arvensis) ?
 
Scrophularia lucida, Shining-Leaved Figwort
Scrophularia lucida / Shining-Leaved Figwort
Scrophulariaceae / Figwort Fam.
 
 

Some plants don't reach their normal size on the lean serpentinite gravel.
 
Cardamine hirsuta, Hairy Bitter-Cress
Cardamine hirsuta / Hairy Bitter-Cress
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Scandix pecten-veneris, Shepherd's Needle
Scandix pecten-veneris / Shepherd's Needle
Apiaceae / Umbellifers
 
 
Centranthus calcitrapae, Annual Valerian
Centranthus calcitrapae / Annual Valerian
Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckle Fam.
 
 
Biotop
At the hill Kapasa southeast of Artamiti monastery I found the following plants:
 
Papaver purpureomarginatum, Red-fringed Poppy
Papaver purpureomarginatum / Red-fringed Poppy
Papaveraceae / Poppy Fam.
 
 
Viola heldreichiana, Heldreich's Violet
Viola heldreichiana / Heldreich's Violet
Violaceae / Violet Fam.
 
 
Lysimachia loeflingii, Scarlet Pimpernel
Lysimachia loeflingii / Scarlet Pimpernel
Primulaceae / Primrose Fam.
 
 
Geranium purpureum, Little Robin, Lesser Herb Robert
Geranium purpureum / Little Robin, Lesser Herb Robert
Geraniaceae / Crane's-Bill Fam.
 
 
Veronica trichadena, Pale Speedwell
Veronica trichadena / Pale Speedwell
Plantaginaceae / Plantain Fam.
 
 
Malcolmia chia, Chian Stock, Aegaean Stock
Malcolmia chia / Chian Stock, Aegaean Stock
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 

Most plants are small herbs. There are hardly any more shrubs than those showed in the following photos.
 
Euphorbia acanthothamnos, Greek Spiny Spurge
Euphorbia acanthothamnos / Greek Spiny Spurge
Euphorbiaceae / Spurge Fam.
 
 
Calicotome villosa, Hairy Thorny Broom
Calicotome villosa / Hairy Thorny Broom
Fabaceae / Legumes
 
 
Genista acanthoclada subsp. echinus, Thorny Broom
Genista acanthoclada subsp. echinus / Thorny Broom
Fabaceae / Legumes
 
 
Lavandula stoechas, French Lavender
Lavandula stoechas / French Lavender
Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
 
 

 
Pinus brutia, Calabrian Pine
Pinus brutia / Calabrian Pine
Pinaceae / Pine Fam.
 
 
Biotop

 

At the brook which is crossed by the dirt road northwest of Laerma between chapel Agios Georgios and Artamiti monastery e.g. the following plants are growing:
 
Platanus orientalis, Oriental Plane-Tree
Platanus orientalis / Oriental Plane-Tree
Platanaceae / Plane Tree Fam.
 
 
Ficaria chrysocephala, Eastern Fig Buttercup
Ficaria chrysocephala / Eastern Fig Buttercup
Ranunculaceae / Buttercup Fam.
 
 
Leontodon tuberosus, Tuberous Hawkbit
Leontodon tuberosus / Tuberous Hawkbit
Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
 
 

At other sites around Laerma I found more plants in the serpentinite area:
 
Clinopodium nanum, Dwarf Calamint
Clinopodium nanum / Dwarf Calamint
Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
 
 
Plantago weldenii, Buck's-horn Plantain
Plantago weldenii / Buck's-horn Plantain
Plantaginaceae / Plantain Fam.
 
 
Gagea graeca, Greek Gagea
Gagea graeca / Greek Gagea
Liliaceae / Lily Fam.
 
 

Further east below Kamiri monastery I found also the following plants in the serpentinite area:
 
Iberis carnosa, Pruit's Candytuft
Iberis carnosa / Pruit's Candytuft
Brassicaceae / Crucifers
 
 
Ranunculus paludosus, Fan-Leaved Buttercup, Jersey Buttercup
Ranunculus paludosus / Fan-Leaved Buttercup, Jersey Buttercup
Ranunculaceae / Buttercup Fam.
 
 
Silene salamandra, Rhodian Catchfly
Silene salamandra / Rhodian Catchfly
Caryophyllaceae / Campion Fam.
 
 
Surely this plant list is not yet complete. It will be continued on occasion.  
 

 


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8.8.2023

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