The Sorrento Peninsula

Italy - The Sorrento Peninsula

Naturetrek Tour Report 22 - 29 April 2006

The Sorrento Peninsula Naked Man Orchids

The coast near Termini

Images and report compiled by Mark Galliott

Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Italy - The Sorrento Peninsula

Tour leader: Mark Galliott

Tour participants: John Hickman Jenny Chetwin Neil Walker Ann Walker Roger Hussey Marion Hussey Alan Goodman Jill Hallett

Day 1 Saturday 22nd April

Warm, sunny.

After meeting up at Gatwick with Mark, our tour leader, we duly embarked on the early morning flight to Naples. The weather on the journey was very benign, enabling us to enjoy the superb views of the snow covered Alps and the Italian Apennines as we neared our destination. After picking up the minibus at the hire car compound we loaded up and made our way towards the Sorrento Peninsula via the autostrada that bisects the sea and the imposing bulk of Mount Vesuvius away to our left.

At Castellamare we turned off onto the scenic but busy coastal road, before stopping for a late picnic lunch at a rocky outcrop near Alberi. Here we had superb views overlooking the Bay of Sorrento with Capri rising precipitously in the background and we were able also to note our first interesting plants. These included the endemic Knapweed-Centaurea cinerea, the large yellow shrub Scorpion Senna-Coronilla emerus, the alien Bermuda Buttercup-Oxalis pes-caprea, which we were to see in abundance all week in the Olive and Lemon groves, and our first magnificent Naked Man Orchids-Orchis italica. We also saw our first Serins and Italian House Sparrows, the latter having a very distinctive brown head and thought to have originated as a hybrid between the Spanish and Common species.

Arriving in Sorrento we settled into our hotel, admiring the lovely views over the bay to Capri in the distance. We met before dinner to discuss the week’s itinerary and then sampled the first of the many good meals that we were to enjoy during our stay here.

Day 2 Sunday 23rd April

Mist, clearing sunny and hot.

We started our week’s exploration by driving the short distance up into the hills behind Sorrento, to park the minibus at Termini and then walk down an easy track to the old lighthouse at Punta Campanella.

The Mediterranean flora was very much in evidence here in all its spring glory, with a bewildering array of species that Mark identified for us as we gradually descended through Olive groves, woodland and then into more open “Garrigue” nearer the lighthouse. The lovely shocking blue of the endemic Lithodora rosmarifolia was

© Naturetrek June 06 1 Italy - The Sorrento Peninsula Tour Report eagerly photographed as it carpeted a limestone rock face, while many orchids were present including Pink Butterfly-Orchis papilionacea, Naked Man-O. italica, the Tongue Orchids Serapias parviflora, S. lingua,& S. vomeracea, and many plants of Bumble Bee Orchid-O. bombylifera. Migrant birds were unusually scarce but we did enjoy the sight and sound of a large flock of Bee-eaters whirling around above our heads. Resident species noted were Orphean and Sardinian Warbler, Kestrel and a dashing Peregrine Falcon.

After our picnic lunch in the lee of some rocks we then took the steep rocky path that climbs up over the cliff and eventually back down into Termini. As we gained altitude a lovely vista gradually unfolded in front of us, with lovely views of the famous villages that cling to the cliff side of the Amalfi coastline. Good birds seen were Whinchat, Tawny Pipit and a single Black-eared Wheatear, while the sunshine also brought out our first butterflies with Swallowtail, Cleopatra, Painted Lady, Wall Brown and Eastern Dappled White all noted. The beautifully marked green/blue Italian Wall Lizards, that we were to see all week, were also particularly accommodating as members of the group duly photographed them.

At the summit, we reached a large allotment area overlooking the village, which is normally a very good spot for migrant birds to rest up after coming ashore. Today though the holiday weekend meant that it was rather overrun with both local people and tourists, and hence no birds. Thankfully, this was also a good place for plants with numerous delicate blooms of Anemone hortensis and masses of orchids including Province-Orchis provincialis, Man-Aceras anthropophorum, Dense-flowered-Neotinea intacta, and Pyramidal-Anacamptis pyramidalis.

Day 3 Monday 24th April

Hot and sunny.

Today we started by driving around the back of Sorrento over the hills in an attempt to miss the “rush hour” traffic that afflicts this area, before turning inland along narrow roads and through small villages, gradually climbing up to Monte Faito, our destination for the day. This is one of the summits which dominate the Latteri mountain range and at over 1,200 metres high gave us stunning views as we climbed firstly through open rocky grassland and then Black Pine and Beech woodland.

As a result of its altitude Mt Faito has a very different feel to it than the previous day’s walk, having a flora more akin to Northern Europe with the welcome addition of some rare montane species. These included the very attractive endemic Violet-Viola eugineae, carpets of delicate blue Anemone apennina (also the occasional white plant), Alpine Rock Cress-Arabis alpina, Alpine Squill-Scilla bifolia, Spring Cocus-Crocus verna and the strange looking Birthwort-Aristolochia pallida. The latter is the food plant of the beautiful Southern Festoon butterfly and almost immediately we had fleeting glimpses of two very lively individuals, before they disappeared from view. Birds were rather scarce here although the tinkling glass calls of Serins were very noticeable, a Coal Tit showed well, and numerous Pied Flycatchers and a single Collared Flycatcher were flitting about in the trees searching for insects.

We took our picnic lunch at St Michele chapel with wonderful views over Pompeii and the brooding Vesuvius in the background, before walking back the way we had come to the minibus. On the way more good plants were found including Spiny Spurge-Euphorbia spinosa, Spring Rock-cress-Arabis verna, Hutchinsia-Hornungia petraea, a Leopard’s-bane-Doronicum columnale and the elegant yellow Sicilian Orchid-Dactylorhiza markusii. After a welcome

2 © Naturetrek June 06 Italy - The Sorrento Peninsula Tour Report coffee at the café next to the cable car station, we had just enough time to stop by the roadside on the descent to photograph the superb views over the bay, before continuing slowly back to the hotel for another lovely dinner. At this spot we were also able to marvel at some Dung Beetles-Scarabaeus semipunctatus feverishly rolling and burying their balls of “food” for the next generation of insects.

Day 4 Tuesday 25th April

Warm, sunny periods, humid.

We left after breakfast and took the very scenic Amalfi coastal road to the lovely little town of Positano. Today was a national holiday (Liberation Day!), so it was necessary to park a little way outside of the village and make our way in to the start of our walk, a steep but very well made path that initially climbs up through extensive woodland.

Immediately, we started noting many lovely plants, with the ground being literally carpeted with a superb show of the delicate red Cyclamen repandum along with the blue Anemone apenninum that we had already seen on Mt Faito. Orchids were also very numerous with many new species added to our list including a lovely deep violet Green- winged Orchid-Orchis morio, Toothed Orchid (in bud)-O. tridentata ssp commutata, Sword-leaved Helleborine- Cephalanthera longifolia, Man Orchid-Aceras anthropohorum, Late Spider Orchid-Ophrys fuciflora and the endemic Ophrys exaltata. Birds were quite scarce but we were somewhat compensated by having good views of Peregrine, Raven, Buzzard and Kestrel, whilst we were also fortunate to see two Western Whip Snakes basking in the sunshine.

We eventually emerged into more open habitat towards the top of the massif near the hilltop village of Santa Maria del Castella. Butterflies were numerous here giving Mark the opportunity of showing us his skills with the net! He did though manage to show us Little Blue, Green-underside Blue, Green Hairstreak, and unlike the previous day a close view of the lovely Southern Festoon. Some interesting plants here were the striking blues of two Gromwells, Purple-Buglossoides purpurocaerulea and a Mediterranean species -Anchusa cretica, and a deep red Campion-Silene sericea. We took our lunch on a rocky outcrop admiring the lovely views of the coast and seascape far below, before descending by the famous and spectacular old zigzag Roman packhorse way back down into Positano. The vegetation was now recovering well from the fire in the summer of 2004 and towards the bottom the two endemics Sicilian Snapdragon-Antirrhinum siculum, and Round-leaved Mullein-Verbascum rotundifolium ssp rotundifolium were very much appreciated.

Finally arriving in the town we then made the obligatory visit to the “Bar International” where we took some refreshment, before Mark volunteered to go and retrieve the minibus for the drive back to Sorrento. This turned out to be quite problematical though as we were then unable to turn around when all of a sudden everybody decided to leave the beach in Positano at the same time! It was then necessary to drive further away along the coast before eventually turning and heading back to the hotel for another lovely meal.

Day 5 Wednesday 26th April

Heavy showers, dull intervals.

The change in the weather that had threatened the previous evening finally arrived, when we awoke to heavy thundery rain. Therefore Mark quickly made the decision to change the itinerary and leave our trip to Capri for another hopefully better day. So after breakfast we were soon heading north for a morning visit to the extensive ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii, situated ominously beneath the brooding Mount Vesuvius which had destroyed it after erupting in the year 79 AD. Thankfully the rain had stopped by the time Mark had obtained English language maps and guides for our visit, and we arranged to meet later in the Amphitheatre, before going our separate ways around the site. On the way everybody noticed the many Swifts that were hawking over the ruins, while one member also had a good view of a Hoopoe. Meeting at the appointed time, we then enjoyed a traditional pizza lunch in the restaurant where we had parked the minibus.

In the afternoon we then took the autostrada towards Naples before turning off onto the road into the Vesuvius National Park and the steep winding ascent that goes almost to the top. Parking just below the summit, we then walked up the steep path to peer into the sinister looking crater where at one or two spots some smoke was lazily drifting up into the atmosphere. We were once again lucky that the rain had abated, and consequently had reasonable views all round to Naples, Mt Faito, the Sorrento Peninsula and Capri. We could also see the lava flow from the last eruption in 1944, which even now has been barely colonised by plants. The pioneer species is the lichen-Stereocaulon vesuvianum, which gradually over time will help break the rock down so that some vascular plants can grab a foothold. These include the endemic Mt Etna Broom-Genista aetnensis and abundant French Sorrel-Rumex scutatus, the former growing very tall, although not yet in flower for us.

After another frustratingly busy drive, we arrived back at the hotel rather late and tired but pleased that the inclement weather had not marred our enjoyment of the day’s sights.

Day 6 Thursday 27th April

Early cloud, clearing hot and sunny.

The weather looked promising at breakfast, so we left the hotel to drive into Sorrento for the walk down to the port, where we were to catch the boat over to the beautiful island of Capri. After negotiating the usual scrummage for the purchase of the boat tickets, we duly queued up with the multitude, all perhaps secretly thinking to ourselves “how are we all going to get on that boat?” Our fears were unfounded, so safely aboard we enjoyed the short ride across to the island, the only birds noted being many Yellow-legged Gulls.

At the port on Capri we quickly purchased a joint travel ticket, before taking the funicular railway up the hill to the bus station where we then transferred to one of the little buses that connect Capri town with Anacapri, the other main town here. The road is literally built into the side of the cliff with a dizzying drop below and as we climbed higher a wonderful vista unfolded of the bay stretching away below with the Sorrento Peninsula behind it in the distance. At Anacapri we changed onto the fourth mode of transport during the day, by taking the chairlift to the top of Monte Solaro, at 587 metres the highest point of the island. Everyone remarked how

4 © Naturetrek June 06 Italy - The Sorrento Peninsula Tour Report wonderful it was to inspect the masses of colourful wild flowers from above, with the Naked Man and Pink Butterfly Orchids being particularly abundant.

After admiring the views at the top we then made our way gradually down through pine woodland and scrub to an old observatory overlooking the bay far below, a superb spot to eat our picnic lunch. Here there were many birds resting up amongst the vegetation including Tree Pipit, Turtle Dove, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat and at least two Woodchat Shrikes, one of which gave us very close views. Nightingale and Chukar Partridge were heard, whilst a Peregrine showed us its considerable flying skills by stooping down upon a Buzzard!

Descending further back down the easy path to Anacapri, it was the turn of the flowers to delight us with Mediterranean and Yellow Bartsia-Parentucellia latifolia & P. viscosa, Star of Bethlehem-Ornithogalum umbellatum, Wild Cabbage-Brassica oleracea ssp robertiana, Jersey Buttercup-Ranunculus paludosus and another delightful blue and pink anemone-A. pavonina. After a welcome coffee at Anacapri, we again took the bus to the port and the boat back to Sorrento, where Mark retrieved the minibus for the short drive back to the hotel. It had been a hectic but very enjoyable day, with the benevolent weather allowing us fabulous views of a magical island.

Day 7 Friday 28th April

Cloud, rain, sunny later.

For our last day in the field we once again headed up into the hills behind the hotel through Termini and then down the other side to near the sea, parking at the small village of Nerano. From here we took a lovely path which skirts the side of a cliff before descending through olive groves to an old quarry on the coast at Ieranto. The latter area is now protected as a countryside museum with signs explaining both the techniques of rustic olive cultivation and the methods used to extract the limestone!

There were many colourful blooms along here with Wild Gladiolus-Gladiolus italicus, Large Blue Alkanet-Anchusa azurea, Hoary Stock-Mathiola incana, Narbonne Star of Bethlehem-Ornithogalum narbonense and Clove-scented Broomrape-Orobanche caryophyllacea being the most impressive. Down at the quarry area a new species of orchid was found, the exquisite little Saw-fly-Ophrys tenthridinifera, along with Bladder Vetch-Anthylis tetraphylla, Love-in- the-Mist-Nigella damascena and the pretty Bartsia-Bellardia trixago. Birds were not very evident but we did have the best views of Sardinian Warbler during the whole week.

By now the cloud was building all around us, the heavens opened and by the time we had returned to the minibus we were all thoroughly soaked. We then decided it would be better to drive back to the hotel, dry ourselves, change into new clothes and take our lunch in the shelter of the terrace by the swimming pool there. In the afternoon Mark dropped some members of the group into Sorrento for sight-seeing and shopping, while the rest explored from the hotel down footpaths leading to the little fishing village of Marina di Puolo.

Day 8 Saturday 29th May

Heavy rain.

We had breakfast, bade farewell to the very friendly hotel staff, our reluctant departure perhaps helped by the weather and then completed an uneventful journey to the airport at Naples for our flight back to Gatwick. Before saying our goodbyes and going our separate ways, we all agreed it had been a very successful and enjoyable week with many plant, bird, butterfly and cultural highlights.

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Species lists

Birds

Buzzard birds seen most days Kestrel occasional Peregrine frequent, close views at Nerano Chukar heard calling twice on Capri Yellow-legged Gull very common Lesser Black-backed Gull one bird at Punta Campanella Rock Dove/feral Pigeon common Turtle Dove 2 birds on Capri Collared Dove occasional Swift only at Pompeii Bee-eater 30+ near Punta Campanella Hoopoe one at Pompeii Wryneck one bird calling at Nerano Swallow common House Martin huge flock on Capri Tawny Pipit frequent Wren heard most days Robin heard occasionally Nightingale one heard on Capri Black Redstart only at Pompeii Whinchat common Black-eared Wheatear one bird at Punta Campanella Blackbird common Song Thrush only heard at Termini Orphean Warbler one seen at Punta Campanella Whitethroat occasional Blackcap common Sardinian Warbler frequently heard & occasionally glimpsed Wood Warbler one near Termini Firecrest one heard on Monte Faito Collared Flycatcher Monte Faito Pied Flycatcher common Spotted Flycatcher occasional Blue Tit frequent Great Tit frequent Coal Tit Monte Faito Nuthatch Monte Faito Woodchat Shrike Superb views on Capri Starling occasional Jay Monte Faito Magpie occasional

Raven seen most days Italian House Sparrow abundant Chaffinch common Serin abundant

Butterflies

Swallowtail Papilio machaon Large White Pieris brassicae Small White Artogeia rapae Southern Small White Artogeia manii Eastern Dappled White Euchloe simplonia Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi Little Blue Cupido minimus Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus Green-underside Blue Glaucopsyche alexis Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Peacock Inachis io Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Painted Lady Cynthia cardui Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Wall Brown Lasiommata megera Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena

Other invertebrates

Millipede sp Diplopoda sp Bee Fly Bombyluis major Carpenter Bee Xylocopa violacea a Plant Hopper Cercopis vulnerata Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa Churchyard Beetle Blaps mucronata Gendarme Bug Lygaeus saxatilis Grass Eggar Moth larva Lasiocampa trifolii Chafer Beetle Oxythyrea funesta Weevil species Curculio sp Oil Beetle Meloe variegates Fire Bug Pyrrhocoris apterus Dung Beetle Scarabaeus semipunctatus Tiger Beetle Cicendula sp Glow Worm larva Lampyris noctiluca Pine Processionary Moth larvae Thaumetopoea pityocampa Humming Bird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum

Reptiles

Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis sicula Western Whip Snake Coluber viridiflavus Moorish Gecko Talentola mauritanica

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Plants Scientific name Common name Day first seen

FERNS

Pteridium aquilinum Bracken 2 Athyrium felix-femina Lady Fern 4 Dryopteris felix-mas Common Male Fern 6 D. submontana Rigid Buckler Fern 2 Polypodium australe Southern Polypody 2 Polystichum aculeatum Hard Shield Fern 4 Phyllitis scolopendrium Hart’s-tongue Fern 3 Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort 2 A. adiantum-nigrum Black Spleenwort 3 Ceterach officinarum Rustyback Fern 2 Adiantum capillus-veneris Maidenhair Fern 6 Anagramma leptophylla Jersey Fern 2 Cystopteris fragilis Brittle Bladder Fern 3 Salaginella denticulata Mediterranean Clubmoss 2

CONIFERS

Pinus pinaster Maritime Pine 2 P. nigra Black Pine 3 P. pinea Umbrella or Stone Pine 1 P. halepensis Aleppo Pine 2 Juniperus phoenicea Phoenician Juniper 2 Taxus baccata Yew 3 Cupressus sempervirens Italian Cypress 4

SALICACEAE

S. caprea Goat Willow 2

BETULACEAE

Betula pendula Silver Birch 5 Alnus incana Grey Alder 3 A. glutinosa Alder 4

CORYLACEAE

Carpinus betulus Hornbeam 3 Coryllus avellana Hazel 2 Ostyra carpinifolia Hop Hornbeam 4

FAGACEAE

Fagus sylvatica Beech 3 Castanea sativa Sweet Chestnut 6 Quercus robur Common Oak 3 Q. petraea Sessile Oak 3 Q. pubescens Downy Oak 2 Q. ilex Holm Oak 2 Q. cerris Turkey Oak 2

MORACEAE

Ficus carica Fig 2

SANTALACEAE

Osyris alba Osyris 4

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

ULMACEAE

U. minor Small-leaved Elm 2 U. glabra Wych Elm 2

URTICACEAE

Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle 3 Urtica membranacea Annual Mediterranean Nettle 2 Parietaria judaica Pellitory-of-the-wall 2 P. officinalis 1 P. lusitanica 2

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

Aristolochia pallida 3

POLYGONACEAE

Beta vulgaris ssp maritima Sea Beet 2 Rumex acetosa Sorrel 3 R. acetosella Sheep’s Sorrel 5 R. pulcher Fiddle Dock 3 R. crispus Curled Dock 2 R. scutatus Shield or French Dock 5

CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Cerastium ligusticum a Mouse-ear Chickweed 3 C. fontanum Common Mouse-ear 2 C. semidecandrum Small Mouse-ear 2 C. tomentosum Snow-in-summer 3 Stellaria media Common Chickweed 2 S. neglecta Greater Chickweed 2 S. holostea Greater Stitchwort 2 Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort 2 Arenaria leptoclados Lesser Thyme-leaved Sandwort 3 Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly 2 S. italica Italian Catchfly 4 S. latifolia White Campion 2 S. vulgaris Bladder Campion 4 S. gallica Small-flowered Catchfly 2 S. sericea 4 S. dioica Red Campion 3 Petrorhagia saxifraga Tunic Flower 7

RANUNCULACEAE

Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup 2 R. acris Meadow Buttercup 2 R. bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup 6 R. paludosus Jersey Buttercup 6 Helleborus foetidus Stinking Hellebore 3 Clematis vitalba Old Man’s Beard 2 Anemone apennina Blue Wood Anemone 3 A. hortensis 1 A. pavonina 6 Nigella damascena Love-in-a-mist 7

PAPAVERACEAE

Chelidonium majus Greater Celandine 4 Papaver rhoeas Common Poppy 1

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Scientific name Common name Day first seen

FUMARIACEAE

Fumaria capreolata Ramping Fumitory 1 F. muralis ssp boraei Wall Fumitory 2 F. vaillantii a Fumitory 2

CRUCIFEREAE Cardamine hirsute Hairy Bitter-cress 2

C. residifolia 3 C. flexuosa Wavy Bitter-cress 3 Brassica oleracea ssp robertiana Wild Cabbage 4 Sinapis arvensis Charlock 2 Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard 3 Erophila verna Common Whitlow-grass 3 C. didymus Lesser Swine-cress 2 Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard 3 Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd’s Purse 2 Raphanus raphanistrum Wild Radish 2 Arabis turrita Tower-cress 4 A. hirsuta Hairy Rock-cress 2 A. verna Spring Rock-cress 3 A. alpina Alpine Rock-cress 3 Arabis stricta Bristol Rock-cress 4 Hornungia petraea Hutchinsia 3 Lobularia maritima Sweet Alyssum 2 Cardaria draba Hoary Cress 2 Matthiola incana Wild Stock 7

RESEDACEAE

Reseda alba White Mignonette 2

CRASSULACEAE

Umbilicus rupestris Wall Pennywort 2 U. horizontalis 2 S. acre Biting Stonecrop 7

SAXIFRAGACEAE

Saxifraga tridactylites Rue-leaved Saxifrage 4 S. rotundifolia (in bud) Round-leaved Saxifrage 3

PLATANACEAE

Platanus x hybrida London Plane 2

ROSACEAE

Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony 3 R. sempervirens a Wild Rose 3 Sangiusorba minus Salad Burnet 2 Poterium verrucosum Mediterranean Salad Burnet 1 Geum urbanum Herb Bennet 3 Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry 3 P. reptans Creeping Cinquefoil 3 Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn 1 C. laevigata Midland Hawthorn 2 Prunus spinosa Blackthorn 3 Eriobotrya japonica Japanese Loquat 2

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry 3

LEGUMINOSAE

Cercis siliquastrum Judas Tree 6 Ceratonia siliqua Carob or Locust Tree 2 Robinia pseudacacia False Acacia 2 Psoralea bituminosa Pitch Trefoil 2 Calycotome villosa Hairy Thorny Broom 2 Genista aetnensis Mt Etna Broom(not in flower) 5 Lupinus angustifolius Narrow-leaved Lupin 2 Spartium junceum Spanish Broom 1 Cytisus scoparius Common Broom 4 Coronilla scorpiodes Scorpion Vetch 2 C. emerus Scorpion Senna 1 C. valentina 2 Onobrychis viciifolia Sainfoin 4 O. caput-galli Cockscomb Sainfoin 2 Melilotus indicus Small Melilot 1 M. italicus Italian Melilot 2 Vicia tetrasperma Smooth Tare 7 V. bithynica Bithynian Vetch 2 V. sativa ssp nigra Narrow-leaved Vetch 3 V. sativa ssp sativa Fodder Vetch 4 V. hybrida Hairy Yellow Vetch 4 V. villosa Fodder Vetch 4 V. ochroleuca 4 Lathyrus vernus Spring Pea 4 L. pratensis Meadow Vetchling 6 L. sphaericus 1 L. clymenum 1 L. hirsutus Hairy Vetchling 1 Medicago arabica Spotted Medick 2 M. polymorpha Toothed Medick 2 Trifolium repens White Clover 5 T. campestre Hop Trefoil 2 T. scabrum Rough Clover 2 T. stellatum Starry Clover 2 Lotus edulis Edible Lotus 1 L. creticus Southern Birds-foot Trefoil 2 L. ornithopodiodes 2 Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch 3

A. vul ssp praepropera Mediterranean Kidney Vetch 2 A. tetraphylla Bladder Vetch 7 A. barba-jovis Jupiter’s Beard 2 Tetragonolobus purpureus Winged Pea 2

OXALIDACEAE

Oxalis corniculata Procumbent Yellow Oxalis 2 O. pres-caprae Bermuda Buttercup 1 O. articulata Pink Oxalis 1

GERANIACEAE

Geranium robertianum Herb Robert 3 G. purpureum Little Robin 1 G. lucidum Shining Crane’s-bill 3 G. molle Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill 2 G. dissectum Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill 2 G. rotundifolium Round-leaved Crane’s-bill 1 G. columbinum Long-stalked Crane’s-bill 1

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Scientific name Common name Day first seen

Erodium cicutarium Common Stork’s-bill 2 E. cicutarium ssp bipinnatum 3 E. malacoides Mallow-leaved Stork’s-bill 2 E. moschatum Musk Stork’s-bill 2

LINACEAE

Linum bienne Pale Flax 2 L. suffruticosum White Flax 4 L. trigynum 7

EUPHORBIACEAE

Mercurialis annua Annual Mercury 2 Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress Spurge 3 E. dendroides Tree Spurge 1 E. characias Large Mediterranean Spurge 2 E. helioscopia Sun Spurge 2 E. spinosa Spiny Spurge 3 E. peplus Petty Spurge 2 E. amygdaloides Wood Spurge 3

POLYGALACEAE

Polygala nicaensis Nice Milkwort 4

CORIARIACEAE

Coriaria myrtifolia Mediterranean Coriaria 2

ACERACEAE

Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore 3

HIPPOCASTANACEAE

Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut 6

ANACARDIACEAE

Pistachia terebinthus Turpentine Tree 2 P. lentiscus Mastic Tree 2

CELASTRACEAE

Eunymous europaeus Spindle 3

RHAMNACEAE

Rhamnus alaternus Mediterranean Buckthorn 2

MALVACEAE

Malva sylvestris Common Mallow 2 M. parviflora Small-flowered Mallow 2 Lavatera cretica Small Tree Mallow 2 L. arborea Tree Mallow 2 Althaea hirsute Hairy Mallow 2

THYMELACEAE

Daphne laureola Spurge Laurel 3 Thymelaea tartonaira ssp argentea 4

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

GUTTIFERAE

Hypericum perforatum Perforate St John’s-wort 4 H. tetrapterum Square-stemmed St John’s-wort 3

RUTACEAE

Citrus sinensis Orange 2 C. limon Lemon 2

VIOLACEAE

Viola arvensis Field Pansy 4 V. riviniana Common Dog Violet 3 V. eugeniae 3 V. hirta Hairy Violet 3

CISTACEAE

Helianthemum nummularium ssp Common Rockrose ssp 3 Fumana thymifolia Thyme-leaved Fumana 2 Cistus creticus Pink Cistus 6

CUCURBITACEAE

Bryonia dioica White Bryony 4

CACTACEAE

Opuntia ficus-indica Prickly Pear 1

CORNACEAE

Cornus sanguinea Dogwood 2

ARIALACEAE

Hedera helix Ivy 2

UMBELLIFERAE

Erngium campestre Field Eryngo (last years seedheads) 2 Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd’s Needle 2 Foeniculum vulgare Fennel 2 Ferula communis Giant Fennel 2 Smyrnium olusatrum Alexanders 2 Daucus carota Wild Carrot 2 Tordylium apulum Tordylium 2 Bifora radians 2 Orlaya daucoides 4 Crithmum maritimum Rock samphire 7 Oenanthe globulosa Mediterranean Water Dropwort 2

ERICACEAE

Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree 2 Erica arborea Tree Heather 2

PRIMULACEAE

Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel 2 A. foemina Blue Pimpernel 2

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

Cyclamen repandum Spring Sowbread 4

OLEACEAE

Fraxinus excelsior Ash 3 F. ornus Manna Ash 1 Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet 3 Phillyrea latifolia 2 Olea europaea Olive 2

GENTIANACEAE

Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort 2 Centaurium erythraea Common Centaury 4

MENYANTHACEAE

Vinca difformis Intermediate Periwinkle 4 V. major Greater Periwinkle 2

ASCLEPIADACEAE

Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Swallow-wort 4 Valentia hispida 2

RUBIACEAE

Rubia peregrina Wild Madder 2 Sherardia arvensis Field Madder 2 Galium mollugo Hedge Bedstraw 4 G. aparine Goose-grass, Cleavers 2 G. corridifolium 7 Cruciata laevipes Crosswort 4

CONVOLVULACEAE

Calystegia sepium Large Bindweed 2 C. cneorum Silvery Convolvulus 2 C. althaeoides ssp tenuissimus Mallow-leaved Convolvulus 2

BORAGINACEAE

Buglossoides arvensis ssp sibthorpiana Corn Gromwell 3 B. purpurocaerulea Purple Gromwell 4

Echium vulgare Viper’s Bugloss 6 E. plantagineum Purple Bugloss 2 E. parviflorum Small-flowered Bugloss 4 Symphytum tuberosum Soft Comfrey 2 S. bulbosum Tuberous Comfrey 3 Borago officinalis Borage 1 Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not 2 Lithodora rosmarinifolium Rosemary-leaved Gromwell 2 Anchusa cretica 4 A. azurea Large Blue Alkanet 7

LABIATAE

A. reptans Common Bugle 4 Lamium maculatum Spotted Deadnettle 3 L. purpureum Red Deadnettle 3 L. album White Deadnettle 6 Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort 3

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

Origanum vulgare (leaves) Marjoram 2 Teucrium fruticans Shrubby Germander 4 T. chamaedrys Wall Germander 6 Prasium majus Prasium 2 Sideritis romana 2 Micromeria graeca 2 T. praecox Common Thyme 4 Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary 2 Salvia verbenaca Wild Clary 2 Acinos arvensis Basil Thyme 4

SCROPHULARACEAE

Verbascum sinuatum a Mullein (leaves only) 2 V. rotundifolium ssp rotundifolium Round-leaved Mullein 4 V. thapsus (leaves only) Common Mullein 4 Scrophularia peregrina Nettle-leaved Figwort 7 S. canina French Figwort 6 Antirrhinum majus Common Snapdragon 7 A. siculum Sicilian Snapdragon 1 Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved Toadflax 7 Veronica. chamaedrys Germander Speedwell 3 V. hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell 4 V. arvensis Wall Speedwell 4 V. persica Common Field Speedwell 2 V. cymbalaria Cymbalaria-leaved Speedwell 5 Bellardia trixago 7 Digitalis lutea (leaves only) Small Yellow Foxglove 3 Parentucellia latifolia Mediterranean Bartsia 6 P. viscosa Yellow Bartsia (in bud) 6

OROBANCHACEAE

Orobanche caryophyllacea Bedstraw Broomrape 7 O. minor Common Broomrape 2 O. ramosa Hemp Broomrape 2 O. purpurea Yarrow Broomrape 2 O. sanguinea 2 O. crenata Bean Broomrape 4

ACANTHACEAE

Acanthus mollis Bear’s Breech 5

PLANTAGINACEAE

P. lanceolata Ribwort Plantain 4 Plantago major Great Plantain 2 P. afra 2 P. coronopus Buck’s-horn plantain 2

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Sambucus nigra Elder 2 Lonicera etrusca Honeysuckle 2

VALERIANACEAE

Valerianella discoidea Mediterranean Cornsalad 6 Centranthus ruber Red Valerian 2

CAMPANULACEAE

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

Campanula trachelium (leaves) Nettle-leaved Bellflower 4

COMPOSITAE

Bellis perennis Daisy 2 B. sylvestris Southern Daisy 2 Helichrysum stoechas Curry Plant 2 H. italicum 7 H. rupestre 2 Evax pygmaea 2 Santolina chamaecyparissus Lavender Cotton 2 Cichorium intybus Chicory 2 Doronicum columnae Leopard’s-bane 3 Chrysanthemum segetum Corn Marigold 1 C. coronarium Crown Daisy 5 Calendula arvensis Field Marigold 4 Phagnalon rupestre 2 Eupatoria cannabinum Hemp Agrimony 6 Dittrichia graveolens Stink Aster (leaves) 1 Senecio vulgaris Groundsel 4 Conyza bonariensis a Fleabane 7 Inula conyza (leaves) Ploughman’s Spikenard 4 Erigeron karvinskianus Mexican Fleabane 1 Carduus pycnocephalis Plymouth Thistle 1 C. acanthoides Welted Thistle 6 Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle 2 C. arvense Creeping Thistle 4 C. eriophorum (leaves only) Woolly Thistle 3 C. acaule (leaves only) Stemless Thistle 3 Galactites tomentosa 2 Centaurea cinerea an endemic Knapweed 1 C. parlatoris ssp tenorei an endemic Knapweed 2 Tragopogon pratensis Goatsbeard 6 T. porrifolius Salsify 7 Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle 2 Hyoseris scabra 6 Myecelis muralis Wall Lettuce 3 Lapsana communis Nipple-wort 3 Urospermum delechampii Urospermum 2 Matricaria perforata Scentless Mayweed 2 M. recutita Scented Mayweed 2 Cynara cardunculus Cardoon 7 Arctium minus Lesser Burdock 2 Anthemis chia 2 Crupina crupinastrum Crupina 7

LILACEAE

Asphodelus aestivus Asphodel 2 Urginea maritima Sea Squill (leaves only) 2 Ornithogalum umbellatum Common Star of Bethlehem 6 O. narbonse Narbonne Star of Bethlehem 7 Muscari comosum Tassel Hyacinth 1 Allium neapolitanum Neapolitan Garlic 1 A. subhirsutum 2 A. triquetrum Three-Cornered Garlic 6 A. roseum Rosy Garlic 2 Crocus verna Spring Crocus 3 Ruscus aculeatus Butcher’s Broom 4 Smilax aspera Sarsaparilla Plant 2 Asparagus acutifolius 2 Scilla bifolia Alpine Squill 3 Polygonatum verticillatum Whorled Solomon’s-Seal 4

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

P. multiflorum Common Solomon’s-seal 3

AGAVACEAE

Agave Americana Century Plant 2

DIOSCOREACEAE

Tamus communis Black Bryony 2

IRIDACEAE

Iris albicans 2 Gladiolus italicus Field Gladiolus 2

ARACEAE

Arum italicum Large Cuckoo Pint 2

JUNCACEAE

Luzula campestris Good Friday Grass 3 L. forsterii Southern Wood-rush 4

CYPERACEAE

Carex caryophyllea Spring Sedge 4 C. paniculata Tussock Sedge 4 C. flacca Glaucous Sedge 3 C. humilus Dwarf Sedge 4

POACEAE

Arundo donax Giant Reed 1 Festuca vivipara Viviparous Fescue 2 Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass 2 Bromus sterilis Barren Brome 2 Anthoxantum odorarum Sweet Vernal Grass 3 Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass 2 Brachypodium syvaticum False Brome 3 Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot Grass 2 Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-grass 2 Elymus repens Common Couch 2 Aegilops geniculata 2 Briza major Large Quaking Grass 2 Hordeum murinum Wall Barley 2 Lagurus ovatus Hare’s-tail Grass 2 Avena sterilis Winter Wild Oat 1 Desmazeria rigida Fern-Grass 2 Ampelodesmos mauritanicus Tall Tufted Grass 2 Briza major Giant Quaking Grass 2 Hyparrhenia hirta 2

ORCHIDACEAE

Cephalanthera longifolia Sword-leaved Helleborine 4 Aceras anthropophorum Man Orchid 2 Dactylorhiza fuchsia (leaves) Common Spotted Orchid 4 D. markusii Sicilian Orchid 3 Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid 2 Orchis italicus Naked Man Orchid 1 O. papilionacea Pink Butterfly Orchid 2 O. provincialis Provence Orchid 2

Scientific name Common name Day first seen

O. morio Green-winged Orchid 4 O. tridentata ssp commutata Toothed Orchid (in bud) 4 Neotinea intacta Close-flowered Orchid 2 O. sphegodes Early Spider Orchid 2 O. tenthridinifera Sawfly Orchid 7 O. fuciflora Late Spider Orchid 4 O. exaltata Sicilian Spider Orchid 4 O. bombylifera Bumble Bee Orchid 2 O. araneola Spider Orchid 4 Serapias lingua Tongue Orchid 2 S. parviflora Small-flowered Tongue Orchid 2 S. vomeracea 2