Another from near malaga.

[JohnnyD]

Can anyone please give me a clue as to what this is.
It looks a bit like Cheiranthus but...........?

JohnnyD

[Oron Peri]

Erysimum myriophyllum

[JohnnyD]

Thanks Oron, I would never have found that without help!
JohnnyD

[Guus]

Hi Johnny,
I am travelling to Malaga soon (April-May), have you got any advice about where to go to enjoy special plantlife there?
Thanks! Greetings, Guus

[JohnnyD]

Hi Guus.
Clare and I have been to Malaga a couple of times and, though it may not have the widest range of habitats or flora, it does produce some very memorable finds.
On one of the trips we travelled a great deal, all the way to Ronda and Grazalema, and if we were to do it again we would probably make a multi-centre holiday and save on a lot of driving!
There are one or two places I would suggest as likely spots for good plants.
The most important, and an absolute ‘must see’, is El Torcal.
The geology is just amazing and, on a good day, there is no easier or more pleasant area to explore. It is less than an hour from Malaga. As you approach the area look out for the most wonderful Linaria high up in the rocks by the road.
The other place we have visited twice is Competa which, although an hour from Malaga, has a little cafe/bar in the centre which serves the best albondigas you can get!
Competa also has a small but very helpful Tourismo, where the young lady gave us a simple map of likely spots to find plants. One of these, the Col del Collado, yielded Anthyllis tejedensis and again a variety of Linaria among others.
Otherwise you can do as we do – we ‘tootle’!
In other words we simply turn right or left from the main road, drive as far as the car can go, and walk about. Or else we slowly retrace our steps in the car until we see likely places.
The verges as well as the orange and olive groves are abundant with Muscari and a wide variety of poppies and much more.
One such trip took us through Colmenar and ended in Alfarnate – which seemed to be closed – however, one of the bars had its’ door open and a simple enquiry for food yielded a fabulous salad etc. It’s always worth asking, even when everything seems shut.
Another treat was Restaurante Museo El Molino Blanco (try it on Google) with lots of old agricultural equipment as well as good food. See pics.
Here are a few photos of some of what we saw. I hope this is helpful.
JohnnyD

[JohnnyD]

.... a few more

[Guus]

Hi Johnny,

Thanks soooo much for the information and pics. It is very helpful indeed.

Greetings, Guus

[David Nicholson]

El Torcal well worth seeing, as is the near town of Antequera.