Trip to mnt Olympus, Plants to identify

[papapoly]

Viola rausii (?) or Viola greaca (?).  It occurs in many different colour forms.  However it is at its peak in mid May.  The slopes are just carpeted with Violas.  Some mats are up to 70 cm wide and occur next to each other, overlapping, making it a unique spectacle.

I see this Viola sp. flowering all the way to early October but occuring then in just one flower here and there.

[papapoly]

As in the previous pics (2300-200 m) going down on my return, more Violas and Doronicum columnae.

George

[Lesley Cox]

131 and 192 must surely be a Ranunculus? In their way they are similar to our own native scree species, even down to the bluish foliage, though ours are thicker and more succulent-looking in the leaves. Many more lovely plants and pictures George. What a great time you're having.

Just noticed, in picture 262, is that a Corydalis species with the viola? It looks like an exciting one, with lovely foliage as well as flowers

[Tristan_He]

Hello again George.

I don't know most of these but fortunately others do!

036 is Iberis sempervirens
090 are chamois not goats (related but a distinct group). Are they introduced to Olympus? I know they have been introduced to various mountains for hunting.

[papapoly]

Lesley,
I think you are right.  It looks like a high altitude ranunculus.  Very fleshy leaves.  Species, I will search in the internet.  Very nice standing next to the snow patches.

Tristan, they are certainly not introduced.  I just said <<wild goats>> because I did not even know the genus.  People refer to them as the <<wild goats>> of Mount Olympus.  They could be a ssp occuring only on Olympus.

Continuing to conclude tonight for the June 3rd trip,

pics:334, 374: more violas, 2100 m
pics: 338 and 417: astragalus sp., 2100 m
pic 423: Smyrnium rotundifolium, 1900 m

George

[papapoly]

pics 346 and 364: Lotus corniculatus (?)

pic: 392: Ranunculus sp

pic: 440, Astragalus angustifolius

pic 423: Geranium subcaulenens, past its best

[papapoly]

Finally,

pic 409: Salvia sp., 1900 m
pic 442, silene sp., 1800 m
pics 444 and 449, linaria sp., Linaria peloponnesiaca, 1700 m
pic 469, Centaurea sp., possible the usual form of Centaurea triumphetii

Yesterday, July 10th, I went to a place I have not been before.  Northern Agrafa region, bordering with Central Pindus.  I went up tp 1800 m.  Peaks across (Karava mnt) were at about 2250 m.  I could not walk there because I did not have enough time and it was too hot (24 oC).

Season had progressed at this altitude so I did not see many species.  Some, worthwhile, I will transmit images possibly in the next 2-3 days.  Higher up probably season would be better and more species would be flowering.

After this short transmission, I will transmit in two different files images of my July 3rd trip to the Western side of mount Olympus, showing you different species and omitting those of my June 3rd trip.  Shortly, after that I will transmit images of June 12th trip to the Eastern side of Mount Olympus.  Although I went there somewhat early in the season I saw and photographed, Viola delphinantha, Jankaea heldreichii, Campanula oreadum, e.t.c. 

George Papapolymerou

[Tristan_He]

pics: 338 and 417: astragalus sp., 2100 m

George perhaps this could be Anthyllis montana? Nice plant, I have one in the rockery I am hoping will flower this year.

[Lesley Cox]

Both anthyllis are very nice. When I've had A. montana from the seed lists it has always turned out to be the scarlet Anthyllis vulneraria.

George, does Scutellaria orientalis grow on Mt Olympus? I've never been there but remember seeing great mats of it, mostly in the disturbed shingle at the road sides, when in the southern part of Greece in 1993 with an AGS tour. Karpenisi I think, a winter ski resort but summer when I was there.

[papapoly]

Dear Lesley,

I found 3 scutellarias growing on Mount Olympus:

1) Scutellaria alpina: http://www.greekflora.gr/el/flowers/1336/Scutellaria-alpina

2) Scutellaria orientalis ssp pinnatifida: http://www.greekflora.gr/el/flowers/1334/Scutellaria-orientalis-subsp-pinnatifida

3) Scutellaria rupestris ssp olympica: http://www.greekflora.gr/el/flowers/3569/Scutellaria-rupestris-subsp-olympica

Also,

4) Scutellaria orientalis ssp alpina is reported as growing in Parnassos, Giona, etc., see map: http://www.greekflora.gr/el/flowers/1335/Scutellaria-orientalis-subsp-alpina

Other Scutellarias are described at the end of the Webpage (Lamiaceae): http://www.greekflora.gr/el/flowersIndexByFamily.aspx

George

[Tristan_He]

I think Scutellarias are very underused in gardens. I grew S. sevanensis (close to S. orientalis but with lobed leaves) and it's very nice - hopefully there will be seed for the exchange. It looked completely stone dead in early spring but re-emerged from below ground.

[Lesley Cox]

I've always wanted a decent plant of S. orientalis (probably ssp pinnatifida as I remember it having quite cut leaves) since I saw it growing so well in Greece. I had a plant for a few years then lost it and since then have tried seed from the exchanges a few times but with no germination. This last summer I received this one and what is supposed to be orientalis x alpina. The latter has not germinated but orientalis sent up 3 seedlings in March. Two damped off but the third is still hanging on, very small but coping with the winter all right. My fingers are crossed!

[Lesley Cox]

Having just typed the above, I realized I hadn't noticed the scutellaria for a week or so so have been out for a quick look at my seeds. The one is doing fine, slightly burnished-looking (we've had nasty frosts since the beginning of July) but now into its second set of true leaves and yes, they are pinnate. As well, there are two brand new, just germinating seedlings. They can't be anything else so I hope to bring them on as well. I suppose the frosts have had the right effect. Many irises and some other things are germinating too, in mid winter.Still nothing from the putative hybrid scutellaria though.