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Flora
Life has the tendency to spread without being interrupted by the mountains, the gorges, the coombs or even the sea. The particularity of the anaglyph and the rocks of Psiloritis have not been an obstacle to the growth of vegetation. However, they formed special edaphic, microclimatic, environmental conditions that allowed various species to create distinct forms and characteristics that reflect the distinctiveness of the mountain. Thus, every land has left its own individual mark on the flora of the area.
The most significant floral wealth is located on the enormous cliffs and the rocks of the gorges. At Gafaris gorge, in the forest of Rouvas, apart from the Kermes Oaks, one can see the enormous cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens) and the hollies (Phillyrea latifolia), while during spring and early summer many endemic plants present a particular interest, such as the Cretan arum (Arum creticum), the Cretan cyclamen (Cyclamen creticum) and two rare and endemic orchids, the Cretan Kephalanthiro (Cephalanthera cuculata) and the Cretan orchid also known as “sad” (Epipactis cretica) that are worth protecting. At the gnarled gorges of Vorizia and Kamares villages, one can admire the beautiful plants that grow in the clefts of vertical rocks, many of which are endemic, such as the rock lettuce (Petromarula pinnata), the Cretan Hypericum jovis and the plant symbol of Crete, dictamus (Origanum dictamnus). The gorge of Patsos may be small but it presents a significant botanical interest. Here, one can find from enormous planes (Platanus orientalis) to tiny orchids such as the solenopsis mituta and from Holm oaks (Quercus ilex) to the endemic Cretan bear’s tails (Verbascum Arcturus). However, at the gorges of Malevizi, such as the Goniana gorge, the visitor can discover the botanical wealth of the land. The visitor can collect oregano (Origanum onites) and admire the herbs called Staehelina petiolata, Centaurea argentea, the endemic Cretan ebony (Ebenus cretica) as well as the autumn cyclamens (Cyclamen graecum). The gorges of Mousai and the one that is demarcated by Avdanites of Damavolos and Agios Silas villages are equally interesting.
Plateaus are also areas with particular vegetation and unique species. However, human activities have limited to a large extend the wealth of the area. Certain plants are spreading impressively, such as the endemic red tulip (Tulipa doerfleri) at the plateau of Ious Kampos in Amari village or the endemic plant called Polygonum idaeum that spreads like a carpet across the plateau of Nida as well as crocuses (Crocus oreocreticus). In smaller plateaus around Skinakas village, grows one of the rarest plants in Crete and one of the four endemic species in Greece. This perennial species of Horstrissea is endangered to habitat loss due to the grazing of the animals.
The geological and climatic diversity of the mountain is reflected on various types of vegetation.
The arboratious forms of vegetation sometimes form small clusters and sometimes extended forests at glacis, coombs and small plateaus.
In the Municipality of Rouvas is located one of the biggest forests in Crete, the forest of Rouvas. The trees that the visitor will come across here are enormous Kermes oaks (Quercus coccifera) with deciduous maples (Acer sempervirens) among them.
Here, is located one of the few biotopes of the unique endemic tree of Crete, the Cretan Zelcova (Zelcova abelicea), which due to its rarity is often referred as the “Unrecognizable tree”. A smaller but equally impressive Kermes oaks forest is located at Vromonero place at Krousonas village. At the southern banks of the mountain there are sparse forests with impressive cypresses and rough pines (Pinus brutia), while the deciduous acorns (Quercus pubescens) are present across the mountainous area either individually or in small or big clusters, such as the ones near Margarites and Vroulidia villages in Anogia. The Common Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) and the wild pear trees (Pyrus spinosa) are especially impressive when they come to fruition, breaking the monotony of the mountain genista. The forest of Mylopotamos and the Kermes oak forest at Kalivos are remarkable.
In relation to the forests, the undermined genista (low brushes) have clearly larger biodiversity.
During spring and summer, the low glacis of Psiloritis are full of colors and aromas. Spiny brooms (Calicotome villosa), Genista acanthoclada (urchin’s feet), pink savory (Satureja thymbra), thymes (Coridothymus capitatus), sage (Salvia fruticosa), crowberry-leaved trees (Hypericum empetrifolium), burnets (Sarcopoterium spinosum), tree spurges (Euphorbia dendroides) use every means to survive and multiply. They use prickles for the protection from animals, blooms and the change of foliage for dehydration. They also emit strong aromas for attracting the insects or forcing back the enemy. Among them, there are many geoherbs that pop out of their bulbs or their condyles all year long. Asphodels (Asphodelus aestivus), cyclamens (Cyclamen creticum), automn daffodils (Sternbergia sicula), tulips (Tulipa saxatilis), dragon lilies (Dracunculus vulgaris) and an impressive variety of orchids (Orchis sp, Ophrys sp.).
The composition of the genista changes at higher altitudes. Mainly bushes, due to the winds and the grazing of the animals, are shorter; they have a pillow-like form and are especially bristly. Here prevail the Greek spiny spurges (Euphorbia acanthothamnos), the perennial herbs called Astragalus angustifolius, Astracantha cretica, the barberries (Berberis cretica), the flower Acantholimon androsaceum, while bulbed plants such as the Prospero automnale, the Cretan colchicums (Colchicum cretense) and crocuses (Crocus oreocreticus) are protected under their prickles.
The bushes that make makia vegetation are larger than genista and by rule evergreen. Locust trees (Ceratonia siliqua), wild olives (Olea europaea ssp. oleaster), mustics (Pistacia lentiscus), junipers (Juniperus phoenicea), kalmias (Laurus nobilis), arbutuses (Arbutus sp.) resist to the dry spell of the Cretan summer having by rule hard coriaceous leaves and deep roots. One can see them everywhere either as individual trees or big inaccessible clusters of bushes, such as those that create the Ericas (Erica manipuliflora) and the arbutuses at the north glacis of Kouloukonas.
