Plant species seen 1987-2006, plus recent literature records.
The region covered by the plant list is the east-facing, 5km-deep, coastal strip, behind Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka, which coincides with three recording squares in Flora of the Cretan Area. Starting in the northeast and moving clockwise, the boundary for the plant list is roughly as follows: from Akrotiri Agios Ioannis along the coastline to just south of Ammoudara, then inland to just northeast of Kroustas, then north through Flamouriana and Fourni to Akrotiri Drepani on the north coast, and from there westward along the coastline to the starting point.
Plants of particular interest in the area include Aristolochia parvifolia amongst rocks on the southern end of Greater Spinalonga island, and Beta vulgaris subsp. adanensis and Salicornia europaea around the causeway saltmarshes. On the cliffs near the hamlet of Havgas, above Plaka, grows Dianthus fruticosus. In isolated upland areas of former arable cultivation grow archaeophytes such as Leontice leontopetalum, Ornithogalum divergens and O. nutans. The northeastern headland of Agios Ioannis has, in addition to good orchid displays, quantities of yellow or red Adonis cretica, white or yellow Ranunculus asiaticus and the rare Ajuga iva. Freshwater habitats are rare, but Lemna minor occurs in deep artificial water storage tanks in older villages, while muddy reservoir ponds near upland villages have the equally rare (on Crete) Ranunculus aquatilis.
Book first published 1999, updated 1999-2006.
The plant checklist is a text-only A5 booklet with a card cover, listing species and subspecies recorded for the area. It is arranged alphabetically by and within families, with current taxonomy, scientific synonymy, English names where known, and endemic species marked as such.
ISBN 978-1-900802-71-0
See also our 1997-2007 supplement of additional species recorded for Crete and Karpathos, plus taxonomic changes - EXTENSIVELY UPDATED JANUARY 2007. Well worth a look if you have an interest in the flora of Crete.
Elounda plant list. Includes postage to UK (only). £4.75
Elounda plant list. Includes postage to Europe (not UK). £5.20
