Woody Flora of Hydra (Argosaronic Islands, Greece)

2001, vol. 46: 9–12

Kazimierz Browicz

Woody flora of Hydra (Argosaronic Islands, Greece)

Abstract: rom 5 to 27 May, floristic dendrological field studies were conducted on Hydra. The wild flora of trees and shrubs comprises 37 species belonging to 34 genera and to 21families. An alphabetical list of culti- vated woody species is added, including fruit trees.

Additional key words: shrubs, trees, Greece, Hydra Island

Address: K. Browicz, Institut of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland

Introduction cially between Kaminia and Vlychos, but without par- ticipation of Arbutus and Erica. Also phrygana is very Hydra, after Salamis (91km 2) and Aegina (83 devastated and usually composed by few species, km2) is the third largest island of the Argosaronic mainly by Sarcopoterium spinosum and Phlomis fruticosa, Gulf Islands. Its surface area is 50 km2 and the shore- sometimes with addition of Calycotome villosa. Even line has 56 km. The island is elongated from such common on the another islands species of north-west to south-west and is cigar-shaped, phrygana, as: Erica manipuliflora, Genista acanthoclada, broadest in the middle, between port of Hydra and a Cistus salvifolius and Lavandula stoechas are lacking. cape Rigas. Hydra is mountainous with the highest Other shrubs are rather rare except Euphorbia point, Mt. Eros 593 m. It is rocky and barren, without dendroides common in the slopes of the central part of permanent rivers or streams, with scanty vegetation. the island, especially near Hydra and Mandraki. This The flora of trees and shrubs is very poor, represented Euphorbia is growing over the port not only on the by only 37 species. open places but also along the by-streets. Moreover The pine forests (Pinus halepensis) are developed quite common is Capparis spinosa subsp. spinosa be- only near the top of the higher hills, especially on tween Hydra and Vlychos and near Mandraki. Eros and between Koryfi–Episkopi–Molos, pure or in I conducted the floristic penetration of the island, some places with addition of juniper. Also near the between 5 and 27 May 2000. The penetration was dif- top, but only near Mandraki, the forests are formed by ficult, because the island is almost devoid of accessi- tree-like specimens of Juniperus phoenicea, which attein ble roads and pathes, but exception is the littoral road up to 8–l0 m high. Unfortunately the biggest and al- between Mandraki to Hydra and from Kaminia to most pure such forests are located near the rubbish Vlychos and Molos. The crosswalk from one hill to and damping ground. Where the juniper forests are another is much limited by stone-slip. more loose the single specimens of Acer sempervirens During the excursions I compiled the list of trees and Quercus coccifera are occurring. and shrubs and I collected the herbarium specimens. Typical maquis is represented on the seaside As result of such searches I have found 37 woody spe- slopes, but in fragmentary and paupered form, espe- cies. Below I show two lists of woody plants estab- 10 Kazimierz Browicz lished on the island: 1. occurring in the wild state, al- Cistaceae phabetically by families and genera, 2. cultivated, al- 7. Cistus incanus L. phabetically by species. I quote my herbarium speci- In the central part of the island, on the higher mens with the abbreviation HB (Hydra-Browicz). It is slopes, at the edge of the pine forests. the first list of such species for the island of Hydra. Above Hydra, on the small slope along the road, My herbarium specimens are stored in the Herbarium only single specimens HB 26; Above Molos, at the of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sci- border of the pine forest, along the road to Episkopi. ences in Kórnik, as well in the Goulandris History HB 39. Museum in Kifissia, Greece. This Museum sponsored 8. umana arabica (L.) Spach partially my work. Above the town of Hydra, near the road to Profitis Ilias, rare. HB 24, HB 25a. Wild trees and shrubs 9. umana thymifolia (L.) Spach ex Webb Along the road to Profitis Ilias, at the border of the Aceraceae pine forest. HB 25; near Vlychos. HB 41. 1. Acar sempervirens L. Compositae Scattered but sometimes it forms a small group or even forests. 10. Ptilostemon chamaepeuce (L.) Less. Near Mandraki, clump of small trees ca 4 m high. Rare, only on the rocky slopes above and below of HB 1. the road from Kaminia to Vlychos. HB 31, HB 49. Anacardiaceae Cupressaceae 2. Pistacia lentiscus L. 11. Juniperus phoenicea L. Not common, usually single specimens, rarely Common species, especially on the slopes over small groups. Mandraki and also at the border of the pine forests. Maritime slopes between Kaminia and Vlychos Ca 2 km in NE direction from Mandraki – single HB l6; above Molos, along the road to Episkopi, singly specimens, small clumps and even pure forests. HB or in clumps at the edge of pine forests. HB 40. 10. 3. Pistacia x saportae Burnat Ephedraceae In the town of Hydra, in the middle part, near the building, only one tree-like specimen. HB 22. 12. Ephedra foeminea orssk. 4. Pistacia terebinthus L. Rare, between Hydra and Kaminia, on the rocky Very rare, only single specimen. slopes over or below the road. HB 11. In the town of Hydra, above the ultimate building, Euphorbiaceae on the high slope. HB 23. 13. Euphorbia dendroides L. Asparagaceae Common on the hills along the western part of the 5. Asparagus aphyllus L. island, especially near the town of Hydra and Man- Common but scattered throughout the island. draki. Ca 2 km NE direction from Mandraki, between the Ca 2 km in NE direction from Mandraki, common clump of juniper. HB 9. on the dry slopes, often together with Juniperus phoe- nicea, Acer sempervirens and Quercus coccifera. HB 36. Capparaceae %agaceae 6a. Capparis spinosa L. subsp. spinosa Common in the central part of the island, along the 14. Quercus coccifera L. roads, on the stones and walls of the old building. Scattered and usually as the single small trees or Between Kaminia and Vlychos, near the road. shrubs. HB 14; Kaminia, on the stones and wall of the old Near Kaminia. HB 8; Inside of the pine forest, building, near the sea, together with subsp. orientalis. along the road to Profitis Ilias. HB 28. HB 55. Guttiferae 6b. Capparis spinosa L. subsp. orientalis (Veillard) Jafri Very rare. I saw it only once, together with the pre- 15. Hypericum empetrifolium Willd. vious subspecies, in Kaminia. HB 54. Along the road from Hydra to Profitis Ilias, inside of the loose pine forest and in the the thickets on the slopes over the road, often. HB 27. Woody flora of Hydra (Argosaronic Islands, Greece) 11

Labiatae untypical site for this species, maybe it escaped from the gardens of the town of Hydra. HB 29. 16. Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reich. f. Quite common in the central part of the island, Oleaceae usually at the border of the pine forests. 29. Phillyrea latifolia L. Along the road to Profitis Ilias, on the escarps, in Rare and scattered. some places abundantly. HB 30. Between Hydra and Mandraki, single specimen on 17. Phlomis fruticosa L. the slope over the road. HB 32. Very common, especially on the dry and open slo- poes, often together with Sarcopoterium spinosum. Pinaceae Between Hydra and Mandraki. HB 7. 30. Pinus halepensis L. 18. Prasium majus L. Common in the central part of the island where it Very rare. I found it only once, poor specimen be- forms more or less pure forests in the higher part of neath the shrubs of Pistacia lentiscus. the hills, occasionally the single specimens are occur- Near the road to Episkopi. BH 42. ring near the sea (in observ.). 19. Satureja juliana L. Common but scattered, throughut the island. Ranunculaceae Common on the dry slopes between Hydra and 31. Clematis cirrhosa L. Mandraki. HB 8; Near Mandraki. H 20. Rare but common between Kaminia and Vlychos, 20. Salvia fruticosa Mill. on the littoral rocky slopes. HB l3. I observed it only in the gardens of Hydra, probably as the remnant of the previous natural vegetation (in Rosaceae observ.). 32. Pyrus spinosa orssk. 21. Teucrium divaricatum Sieber ex Heldr. Between Kaminia and Vlychos, represented by sin- Only between Kaminia and Vlychos, on the rocky gle, isolated shrubby specimens. HB 19. slopes over the road. HB 15. 33. Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach Leguminosae The commonest shrub in the whole island, on the dry and open slopes, degraded sites. 22. Anagyris foetida L. Near Mandraki, abundantly. HB 47. Probably limited to the western part of the island, usually growing singly or in small group. Smilacaceae Between Hydra and Mandraki, together with 34. Smilax aspera L. Phlomis fruticosa and Sarcopoterium spinosum. HB 38. Only one big patch on the rock in Hydra, near the 23. Anthyllis hermanniae L. road to Kaminia. HB 12. Scattered between Hydra and Vlychos and Hydra and Profitis Ilias. Solanaceae Dry, stony slopes between Kaminia and Vlychos, 35. Nicotiana glauca R.C.Graham single specimens. HB 17. Xenophyte. Common along the sea in the town of 24. Calycotome villosa (Poir.) Link Hydra and along the road between Hydra and Man- Common on the dry and waste slopes. draki, sometimes on the walls, in ruins and gardens. Ca 2 km NE direction from Mandraki, sometimes Hydra. HB 6. in small clumps. HB 37. 36. Lycium europaeum L. 25. Ceratonia siliqua L. I found only one shrub in Kaminia – cultivated? (in Scattered in the western part of the island, usually observ.). as single specimen, sometimes in the gardens. In Hydra, in the higher part of the town. HB 46. Verbenaceae 26. Medicago arborea L. 37. Vitex agnus-castus L. Rare. I found it only in the higher part of Hydra, Rare, only in the higher part of the town of Hydra, one clump of shrubs – cultivated? HB 44. on the waste places, sometimes in the gardens. 27. Spartium junceum L. HB 45. Rare, only in small thickets near Mandraki. HB 52. Myrtaceae Cultivated trees and shrubs 28. Myrtus communis L. Acacia karroo Hayne, Ailantus altissima (Mill.) Swin- Along the road to Profitis Ilias, only two dwarf gle, Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) ranco, Argyran- shrubs near the trunk of Cupressus sempervirens.Itis themum frutescens (L.) Webb, Bilderdykia aubertii (Louis 12 Kazimierz Browicz

Henry) Moldenke, Brachychiton populneum (Cav.) R.Br., L., Myoporum tenuifolium G.orster, Myoporum tetran- Caesalpinia gillesii (Hook.) Dietr., Cassia corymbosa drum (Labill.) Domin, Nerium oleander L., Opuntia Lam., Cercis siliquastrum L., Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f., ficus-indica (L.) Miller, Parkinsonia aculeata L., Parthe- Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, Cupressus sempervirens L. f. nocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planchon, Phoenix canariensis sempervirens &f.horizontalis (Mill.) Voss., Eriobotrya ja- Chaub., Pistacia vera L., Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W. ponica (Thunb.) Lindl., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., T. Aiton, Platanus acerifolia (Aiton) Willd., Platycladus Euonymus japonicus Thunb., icus benjamina L., icus orientalis (L.) ranco, Plumbago auriculata Lam., Populus carica L., icus elastica Roxb., Hedera helix L. forms, Hi- nigra L., Prunus cerasifera Ledeb., Punica granatum L., biscus rosa-sinensis L., Jasminum mesnyi Hance, Jacaranda Pyracantha coccifera Roemer, Pyrus communis L., Ricinus mimosifolia D.Don, Juglans regia L., Lantana camara L., communis L., Robinia pseudacacia L., Rosa sp. cult. forms, Laurus nobilis L., Ligustrum lucidum Aiton, Lonicera ja- Rosmarinus officinalis L., Schinus molle L., Tecomaria ca- ponica Thunb., Lygos monosperma (L.) Heywood, pensis (Thunb.) Spach, Vitis vinifera L., Washingtonia Koelreuteria paniculata Lam., Magnolia grandiflora L., filifera H.Wendl., Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC., Malus domestica Borkh., Melia azedarach L., Morus alba Yucca sp.