Flora and Fauna of Crete 1

Crete is so diverse in the natural beauty of its landscape that an abundance of rare flora and fauna survive here. There are gorges, wetlands, forests, ravines, mountains, plateaus, coasts and even a palm forest. Many of these zones have been classified as protected and converted into wildlife sanctuaries and Crete is recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a Global Centre of Plant Diversity. Flora Crete has about 1800 species of plants. Compare this to Britain (35 times larger than Crete), where there are only about 1450. Of these 1800 there are around 180 (10%), which do not exist anywhere else in the world, i.e. they are endemic to Crete. Out of these 1800 plant species only a few do not appear in the Lassithi Prefecture. There are also endemic plants which only grow in certain regions of Crete, e.g. pine trees, cypress forests and the palm forest. The lily of the sea and violet of the sea grow in coastal areas and, of course, there are olive trees, chestnut trees, acers, oak forests, citrus trees and wildflowers, such as chamomile, poppies, anemones, iris, field gladiolus, the Cretan tulip, cyclamen and many species of wild orchids. In springtime Lassithi Plateau is a perfect picture when all the wildflowers are in bloom. Amongst the rare species found on Crete is the Cretan date palm, most famously growing in Vai, the largest natural palm forest in Europe. There is a rare and endangered species of orchid, which grows on Mount Ida and one of the rarest trees in the world (Zelkova abeliceae) grows, albeit in small populations, in the White Mountains. It is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN red list of endangered species. Adorning the mountain sides with its purple flowers is the Cretan ebony. Of course, Crete is also renowned for its abundance of aromatic herbs, which are still used for their medicinal properties. Most of these herbs are found growing in the mountains and so are collected by experienced people, who then dry them naturally and package them without the addition of chemicals or additives. Dittany is an endemic herb which was used to staunch bleeding and treat wounds. It is said that injured wild animals will rub the wound on the plant because of its healing properties. It is also therapeutic for an upset stomach. It is collected when it flowers in the summer. Sage is used in a tea as a tonic, as well as being a herb used in cooking meat dishes. It has blue flowers and blooms from May to June. Marjoram is an endemic plant, which flowers in July and August, and is used in cooking and perfumery. It can be made into a tea to treat nervous disorders and colds. Malotira flowers in July. It is one of the most popular mountain teas and is used as a diuretic and treatment for colds. It is also a major fodder crop where it grows in the mountain ranges. Oregano flowers in June and July; the flowers can be eaten and have a peppery taste. No Cretan kitchen will be without a jar of oregano as it is added to much of the Mediterranean cuisine; grilled meat, fish, and, of course, salads. Apart from cooking, it is used as an antiseptic and can soothe tooth and stomach ache. Beekeepers grow this plant by their hives, as well as thyme, as it adds a great flavour to honey. Thyme blooms in June and July. As well as being valued by beekeepers it is also used in cooking as a dressing. It has antiseptic, diuretic, anti-fever and anti- parasitic qualities. It is often used in toothpaste as it contains essential oils used in cleaning. Savory flowers from June to August. It is used in cooking and is also a favourite with bees. It can also help relieve rheumatic pains. Chamomile is collected from April to June and has many soothing properties. It can help as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and is used as a tea to soothe an upset stomach. It can also help with insomnia. Rock Rose produces pink flowers from March to June. In Crete it is called Wild Rose or Wild Sage. It is boiled with its seeds to make a tea to help with diarrhea. The plant produces a resin and this is collected to be used as an incense. Fauna Faunal diversity for Crete is also significant. There is fossil evidence to suggest that the hippopotamus and elephant once existed in the coastal areas and on the plateaus and the bones of wild deer have been found in caves. The diversity of the landscape of Crete has contributed greatly to the survival of the fauna, especially in the gorges and mountainous areas, where the climate is ideal and human activity is at a minimum and where there are nowadays no predators, such as wolves or jackals. The Cretan Wildcat is so small in numbers that it poses no real threat. Also in this habitat can be found the Cretan wild rat, weasels, hares, hedgehogs, badgers, Beech Martens, and the Cretan wild goat, the Kri-Kri. The Beech Marten is a very common small carnivore, whose diet also includes fruits and nuts. In years gone by it was hunted for its fur, which had a high commercial value. Since it is no longer hunted and because of the increase in food outlets (and therefore garbage) the population has seen an increase and it is often found in towns and cities. The kri-kri is shy and will avoid humans. It is well known for being able to jump great distances and can climb impossibly sheer cliffs. The seal Monachus monachus and the sea turtle Careta careta, as well as the majority of the 14 harmless reptiles of the island, co-exist in the Lasithi prefecture. Sea turtles, a very magnificent species, are also found in the coastal regions. The numerous caves found on the island are home to both vertebrates and invertebrates, including a significant variety of bats. There are some mammals which are endemic to Crete: The Cretan shrew is exclusive to Crete and its natural habitat is shrub land. However, since it is being threatened by loss if habitat it is now to be found on higher terrain; the white-toothed shrew has taken over the lower lands. The Cretan Horse (Georgalidiko), is native to Crete and not found anywhere else in the world. It is a domestic breed and existed on the island as far back as 1700BC. Numbers fell from 6,000 in 1928 to a mere 80 animals in the 1990s. However the future looks brighter as there are now nearly 1,000 of these horses. They were ideally suited to working on tough terrain as they have more stamina than the common horse. However, nowadays they are used primarily in equestrian events held every year around Crete. The Crete spiny mouse is a species of mouse endemic to Crete. It has stiff hairs on its back and a pointed face. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on grass and seeds. Gestation is 5-6 weeks, which is long for a mouse. When she gives birth, the mother is helped by other females; the young are well developed and born with their eyes open. NEXT PAGE

Flora and Fauna of Crete

Crete is so diverse in the natural beauty of its landscape that an abundance of rare flora and fauna survive here. There are gorges, wetlands, forests, ravines, mountains, plateaus, coasts and even a palm forest. Many of these zones have been classified as protected and converted into wildlife sanctuaries and Crete is recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a Global Centre of Plant Diversity. Flora Crete has about 1800 species of plants. Compare this to Britain (35 times larger than Crete), where there are only about 1450. Of these 1800 there are around 180 (10%), which do not exist anywhere else in the world, i.e. they are endemic to Crete. Out of these 1800 plant species only a few do not appear in the Lassithi Prefecture. There are also endemic plants which only grow in certain regions of Crete, e.g. pine trees, cypress forests and the palm forest. The lily of the sea and violet of the sea grow in coastal areas and, of course, there are olive trees, chestnut trees, acers, oak forests, citrus trees and wildflowers, such as chamomile, poppies, anemones, iris, field gladiolus, the Cretan tulip, cyclamen and many species of wild orchids. In springtime Lassithi Plateau is a perfect picture when all the wildflowers are in bloom. Amongst the rare species found on Crete is the Cretan date palm, most famously growing in Vai, the largest natural palm forest in Europe. There is a rare and endangered species of orchid, which grows on Mount Ida and one of the rarest trees in the world (Zelkova abeliceae) grows, albeit in small populations, in the White Mountains. It is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN red list of endangered species. Adorning the mountain sides with its purple flowers is the Cretan ebony. Of course, Crete is also renowned for its abundance of aromatic herbs, which are still used for their medicinal properties. Most of these herbs are found growing in the mountains and so are collected by experienced people, who then dry them naturally and package them without the addition of chemicals or additives. Dittany is an endemic herb which was used to staunch bleeding and treat wounds. It is said that injured wild animals will rub the wound on the plant because of its healing properties. It is also therapeutic for an upset stomach. It is collected when it flowers in the summer. Sage is used in a tea as a tonic, as well as being a herb used in cooking meat dishes. It has blue flowers and blooms from May to June. Marjoram is an endemic plant, which flowers in July and August, and is used in cooking and perfumery. It can be made into a tea to treat nervous disorders and colds. Malotira flowers in July. It is one of the most popular mountain teas and is used as a diuretic and treatment for colds. It is also a major fodder crop where it grows in the mountain ranges. Oregano flowers in June and July; the flowers can be eaten and have a peppery taste. No Cretan kitchen will be without a jar of oregano as it is added to much of the Mediterranean cuisine; grilled meat, fish, and, of course, salads. Apart from cooking, it is used as an antiseptic and can soothe tooth and stomach ache. Beekeepers grow this plant by their hives, as well as thyme, as it adds a great flavour to honey. Thyme blooms in June and July. As well as being valued by beekeepers it is also used in cooking as a dressing. It has antiseptic, diuretic, anti-fever and anti-parasitic qualities. It is often used in toothpaste as it contains essential oils used in cleaning. Savory flowers from June to August. It is used in cooking and is also a favourite with bees. It can also help relieve rheumatic pains. Chamomile is collected from April to June and has many soothing properties. It can help as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and is used as a tea to soothe an upset stomach. It can also help with insomnia. Rock Rose produces pink flowers from March to June. In Crete it is called Wild Rose or Wild Sage. It is boiled with its seeds to make a tea to help with diarrhea. The plant produces a resin and this is collected to be used as an incense. Fauna Faunal diversity for Crete is also significant. There is fossil evidence to suggest that the hippopotamus and elephant once existed in the coastal areas and on the plateaus and the bones of wild deer have been found in caves. The diversity of the landscape of Crete has contributed greatly to the survival of the fauna, especially in the gorges and mountainous areas, where the climate is ideal and human activity is at a minimum and where there are nowadays no predators, such as wolves or jackals. The Cretan Wildcat is so small in numbers that it poses no real threat. Also in this habitat can be found the Cretan wild rat, weasels, hares, hedgehogs, badgers, Beech Martens, and the Cretan wild goat, the Kri-Kri. The Beech Marten is a very common small carnivore, whose diet also includes fruits and nuts. In years gone by it was hunted for its fur, which had a high commercial value. Since it is no longer hunted and because of the increase in food outlets (and therefore garbage) the population has seen an increase and it is often found in towns and cities. The kri-kri is shy and will avoid humans. It is well known for being able to jump great distances and can climb impossibly sheer cliffs. The seal Monachus monachus and the sea turtle Careta careta, as well as the majority of the 14 harmless reptiles of the island, co-exist in the Lasithi prefecture. Sea turtles, a very magnificent species, are also found in the coastal regions. The numerous caves found on the island are home to both vertebrates and invertebrates, including a significant variety of bats. There are some mammals which are endemic to Crete: The Cretan shrew is exclusive to Crete and its natural habitat is shrub land. However, since it is being threatened by loss if habitat it is now to be found on higher terrain; the white-toothed shrew has taken over the lower lands. The Cretan Horse (Georgalidiko), is native to Crete and not found anywhere else in the world. It is a domestic breed and existed on the island as far back as 1700BC. Numbers fell from 6,000 in 1928 to a mere 80 animals in the 1990s. However the future looks brighter as there are now nearly 1,000 of these horses. They were ideally suited to working on tough terrain as they have more stamina than the common horse. However, nowadays they are used primarily in equestrian events held every year around Crete. The Crete spiny mouse is a species of mouse endemic to Crete. It has stiff hairs on its back and a pointed face. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on grass and seeds. Gestation is 5-6 weeks, which is long for a mouse. When she gives birth, the mother is helped by other females; the young are well developed and born with their eyes open.