Sigri

Botanical Trips

The natural wealth of Greece is huge and probably unknown to most! Really, do we know the plants in our area? The flowers, which bloom in their time each? Phrygana, aromatic and healing herbs? Shrubs and trees that grow in rivers? Greens and which of them are edible? Do we know the mushrooms, some of which are delicious and others unfit for consumption?
So, while at first glance the landscape of Sigri seems barren, with a second glance one easily discovers how rich this land is and how much it offers, without cultivation, without care!

Floral Highlights in the western “Sigrion Akron” of Lesvos -By Makis Axiotis


In the Volcanic Land of the tropical forest of the Fossilized Trees, the bare surface is covered in Spring by a colorful carpet, countless species of micro-plants, from the 1600 that the island hosts, with an ever-increasing number!
A solitary oak (Quercus macrolepis or Q.pubescens) or a wild pear (Prunus spinosus) may be left on the cliffs. The arid ravines can be decorated with the colorful wicker (Vitex agnus castus) or Rododafni (Nerium oleander). The ubiquitous Asti may occupy the place (Sarcopoterium spinosum), along with the Galastastiva (Centaurea spinosa) which occupies exclusively Nisiopi, and the Noaea mucronata (thorny shrub with pink flowers), but a rich microflora exudes the colors. in which the old man whistles and the bells of countless sheep are heard!
Many springs drip all over the imposing landscape that is now covered in summer by all kinds of “thorns”: the yellow Scolymus hispanicus, Sc. maculatus, the blue Echinops spinosissimus and Cordopatum corymbosum, the Carthamus lanatus, Carthmus dentatus, the red Carlina lanata, the Carlina corymbosa, the tall Silybum marianum, the magnificent purple Carduus nutans subsp taygetus and others.
However, the cliffs of Nisiopi also blush from the Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum spread on the extreme rocks! There, on the beach of the island, there is a group of Sea Lily (Pancratium maritimum).
It is amazing, there in Plaka Park, to see a pink print from the little wild carnation, Diantus glutinosus, next to the road the intense purple-blue color of Salvia (Salvia virgata) and next to the Castle of Sigri the paved blue-white amaranth (Limonium sinuatum)!
But both the golden-yellow Amaranth, the public on the streets Helichrysum stoechas and the hung on the volcanic-born, coastal cliffs Helichtysum orientale, are here too!
And the colorful Legousia pentagonia, the pink daisy Crepis rubra the blue-pink Echium planagineum, the low yellow daisy Anthemis rigida, dress colorful prints in the “naked place”, full of life! And everywhere in the streets and perched on the walls is Capparis (Capparis spinosa)!
Further north, in the valley of the river Tapsa and in Agia Faneromeni, there is the olive grove of the village! There the great gulls (Larus michahellis) plunder the olives and fill the Island with the stones, where they nest! Here there are Daffodils (Asphodelus ramosus, A.fistulosus), Prini (Quercus coccifera), Elms (Ulmus minor, the nightingales), Poplars, willows, pebbles and ropes (Pistacia atlantica and Pistacia lentiscus) and fruit trees! We must not forget the extensive presence of Almyriki (Tamarix sp)
These and many more, grow and adorn the last place of our island, Sigri.