Peloponnesos -september 2011

[krisderaeymaeker]

The last week from september we have been to the Peloponnesos.
We want to see some autumnbulbs mainly in the Northern part . Some targets :  5 different Colchicums, 2 Sternbergia's and Crocus ....
Most of the experts tell us that it was too early for Crocus ...They flower mainly in october and november.
If  you want to know how things run ....you must keep an eye on this topic
First I take you with us to Mount Chelmos . The weather changing from one day to another. Here some pics from around the ski centre.

[krisderaeymaeker]

We also take the opportunity to look for some fine alpines higher up.
At 2000m we did find some many good ones . Ofcourse september is not the flowering season for them.

Verbascum acaule is a famous plant from the Chelmos area .
I think the second picture is Campanula aizoon ? Can anyone confirm this ?
Next is Potentilla speciosa (3 & 4 )
Ranunculus brevifolius at the end of his growing season
Daphne oleoides
And Saxifraga scardica also growing there.

[krisderaeymaeker]

This Asperula boissieri was struggling for life ....

Draba lacaitae even  needs no flowers to impress ! (2 & 3)

Arenaria cretica growing on a vertical clif. (4)

The sheeps are much better climbers then we ....

[krisderaeymaeker]

We did see few flowering alpines in september !

First Campanula versicolor .

On the screes this Viola graeca (growing together with Ranunculus brevifolius)

[TheOnionMan]

Kris, I'm watching this topic!  Love the ciliate Draba (D. lacaitai).  Nice silverly foliage on Potentialla speciosa; I wasn't familiar with this species so I searched for some photos of the flowers... the flowers are modest to be sure, but the foliage is certainly showy in the most silvery forms.  Looking forward to seeing more.

Photo link of Potentilla speciosa, foliage and flowers:
http://kallima.sk/especies.php?plant=1191

Did you find any late flowering Allium?  Should be several from the area.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Kris, I'm watching this topic!  Love the ciliate Draba (D. lacaitai).  Nice silverly foliage on Potentialla speciosa; I wasn't familiar with this species so I searched for some photos of the flowers... the flowers are modest to be sure, but the foliage is certainly showy in the most silvery forms.  Looking forward to seeing more.
Photo link of Potentilla speciosa, foliage and flowers:
http://kallima.sk/especies.php?plant=1191
Did you find any late flowering Allium?  Should be several from the area.

Hi Mark , the flowers of P . speciosa are not the main reason to grow it as we can see. We did'nt see Allium in flower. I am sure we did see many leaves of different Aliums but without flowers I could not recognize any ....

[krisderaeymaeker]

Near the ski centre we found this Colchicum graecum . The days before we came there was a lot of rain , so this Colchicum was a bit overtime ...

[krisderaeymaeker]

After 3 days searching for Crocus and Sternbergia in the Chelmos-area we did not find any ! So it was time to go further to another part of the Peloponnesos...

But before we drive to the east I go back one more time to the plateau. Just to look at a spot where some fine Linums grow . I knew this place and I go for a short visit to see how things developped overthere.

And on a path where we walked each day suddenly I find something yellow in the grasland ! Oh surprise , finally we did find Sternbergia colchiciflora .
Very difficult to find between the high grasses ...Overlooked the other 3 days , or just started to flower ? We only find 5 plants....

[art600]

Kris

Looking forward to more from your trip.

I visited Mt Chelmos in April 2009 when it was covered with Crocus.  Friends who visited two weeks earlier saw hardly any.

I think you look much more closely when it is not a perfect season and discover unforeseen treasures, not only plants but the local culture.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Kris
Looking forward to more from your trip.
I visited Mt Chelmos in April 2009 when it was covered with Crocus.  Friends who visited two weeks earlier saw hardly any.
I think you look much more closely when it is not a perfect season and discover unforeseen treasures, not only plants but the local culture.

Thank you Arthur for your interest , indeed to see bulbs you must be just on the right time ...But the story is not finished , there is more to come so ......
We visited Mt Chelmos in  May some years ago and even on the high peaks no flowering Crocus sieberi or olivieri ....Hope to go back sometimes  to see them ...
You are right ,when you have to look hard you find some surprises .

On the lower slopes of Mount Chelmos we did find Colchicum bivonae and Cyclamen hederifolium  

[krisderaeymaeker]

Another exciting bulb we found on lower altitude (1000m) in this Chelmos-area was Colchicum peloponnesiacum . bivonae

This is bivonae and not the rare peloponnesiacum .

[Kees Jan]

I think it fits quite well within the variation of C. bivonae. Not many other candidates I suppose. Here some pics that show C. bivonae variation in southern Greece (shape and colour of the tepals). Perhaps C. chalcedonicum is somewhat similar, but I have not seen it myself. Picture 7 or 8 seems to have a different shape of anthers, but perhaps this has just something to do with the age of the flower...

C. peloponessiacum is more like psaridis, cupanii, stevenii, pusillum and cretense (cupanii group).

[krisderaeymaeker]

I think it fits quite well within the variation of C. bivonae. Not many other candidates I suppose. Here some pics that show C. bivonae variation in southern Greece (shape and colour of the tepals). Perhaps C. chalcedonicum is somewhat similar, but I have not seen it myself. Picture 7 or 8 seems to have a different shape of anthers, but perhaps this has just something to do with the age of the flower...
C. peloponessiacum is more like psaridis, cupanii, stevenii, pusillum and cretense (cupanii group).

You are right Kees Jan . It is bivonae . The flowers and corms are  smaller in this populations  then the ones I know from other places.But this is as you write just a matter of variation...
I took my dream for reality ....but now I wake up.     

[Thomas Huber]

Hi Kris, great photos of a great trip - even if Crocus was still rare 

I agree with Kees that your Colchicum is bivonae - but you don't have to be sad about waking up now. I think Colchicum bivonae is one of the most beautiful Colchicums ever. I have seen them only in two locations last year (http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6195.0) but have made a photo of - what I think - is Colchicum peloponessiacum. It's much smaller and the leaves are present at flowering time - see my first photo in the second posting.

[ichristie]

Thank you for the super pictures it is good to see some flowers we have been in the midst of a storm with good snow cover the pictures remind me that spring might come soon more pictures please, cheers Ian the Christie kind.