FLORA


Leathery leaved evergreens and succulents are the typical plants of the Mediterranean and Greece. Trees in this region do not grow past a very moderate height. In the coastal regions you will find mixed forests of carob-trees, Aleppo pines, planes, oaks, arbutus, mastic bushes, laurel, broom, oleander, and wild olives. These costal trees are found at the height of 800 m. (2,625 ft.).

Western Greece is home to the wetter regions where at 800-2,000 m. (2,625-6,562 ft.) macchia is found. At a little lesser height in the drier southeast, foliage merges into shrub like plants: heath, juniper, and spurge. To find mixed deciduous forests of chestnut, elm, beech, plane, and maple you should travel to the mountains of northern and central Greece up to heights of over 1,500m. (4,922 ft.). And in this same region at heights of 1,700m. (5,578 ft.) Coniferous forests abound. The only tree found above this height, up to 2,000m. (6,562 ft.) is the Apollo fir.

But in truth, the natural landscape of Greece is barren countryside. The natural cover of macchia and trees has been destroyed by animal grazing and the expansion of arable land. Some areas have been left as wasteland while some land has given root to fig plantations, vineyards, and olive groves. And there have been additions to the native flora; The date-palm was introduced from Africa, and Central America brought the agave and prickly pear. All of which have flourished in Greece.