The Flora

In Grammos, the region’s biodiversity is estimated to exceed 1,000 species and may be approaching 1,500

The flora of Grammos consists of a particularly large number of species. It is estimated that, despite the absence of certain habitats—such as Mediterranean scrub and phrygana, which host a large number of species—the region’s biodiversity exceeds 1,000 species and may approach 1,500.

The flora of Grammos includes several rare and even endemic species. Many Central European species have been recorded, as well as many species endemic to the Balkans. Among the most interesting species are at least 18 Greek endemics and 3 stenendemics (species found exclusively on Grammos), as well as approximately 70 Balkan endemics or subendemics.

In the forests and subalpine meadows, we will find more than 40 species of orchids. 

Grasslands of the temperate zone

In Grammos, the meadows and clearings within the forest zone are home to a very rich variety of flora. Most species found in these habitats are also found in the southern mountainous regions of Greece, while many complete a broader Balkan or Central European distribution in our mountains.

Alpine meadows

Undoubtedly, one of the habitats with the greatest species diversity in Grammos is the meadows we conventionally call alpine—that is, the areas devoid of tall vegetation between Gramosta (1,380 m) and the peaks (2,000–2,520 m). The meadows of Grammos are far from constituting a single, uniform habitat: hidden within the passage of time and the folds of the terrain lie dozens of different environmental conditions and, consequently, habitats. The snowfields that linger in the ravines, the streams that overflow and transform the dry grass into a wet meadow for a few months, the dark-colored rocky outcrops that blaze under the summer midday sun, and the small lakes are just a few of the countless habitats found in these seemingly uniform landscapes. And all of these environments are inhabited by the corresponding species of flora.

Although there are many species found across a wide range of environments—such as the common knapweed (Centaurea pichleri) or Plantago alpina—in each different combination of elevation, soil, aspect, historical land use, and environmental conditions, we will find different dominant species. For example, around the sheepfolds—even around the sites of old, barely visible structures—we will find the towering Verbascum longifolium, the wet meadows are dotted with the colorful Dactylorhiza sambucina, Viola albanica dominates the black peat bogs, while the Souflika ridge is home to a surprisingly large number of Lilium albanicum.

Two of the most characteristic plants of the Grammos meadows are the two alpine gentians, Gentiana verna and Gentiana lutea, with the latter having a prominent and almost year-round presence, as its tall stems stand out in the landscape almost all year round.

In the spring, the meadows are dotted with spring primroses (Primula veris). The upright stem with its drooping yellow flowers and the lush rosette of fleshy leaves are avidly harvested by locals and Albanians, dried, and exported in large quantities for the production of medicinal infusions and poultices. Specifically, the decoction made from “little dragons”—as spring primroses are locally called—is believed to have expectorant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and sedative properties and is recommended for pericarditis, headaches, insomnia, and neuralgia, while the flower petals have astringent properties and are applied topically to prevent wound infection.
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On the other hand, it is worth noting that the alpine meadows of Grammos are not a mountainous desert, like the rocky slopes of the Cretan mountains. For humans, certain edible grasses, such as lapata, are of nutritional importance, while animals seek out the berries of Daphne and bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), which may be abundant locally.

Rocks and rocky slopes

Among the plants found in Grammos, many species—such as Achillea abrotanoides, Artemisia eriantha, Saxifraga adscendens, Saxifraga paniculata, Euphorbia glabriflora, and Sempervivum marmoreum, thrive on both rich soils and limestone.

Limestone cliffs and rocky slopes

The most common species found on limestone rocks are Aubrieta deltoidea, which is found throughout the Greek mountains; Pedicularis graeca, the characteristic species of the Balkan Mountains; the Balkan-Italian Edraianthus graminifolius, the rock-slope species Cerastium banaticum subsp. speciosum, Arabis alpina, Thymus boissieri, and mountain tea (Sideritis raeseri).

Scree slopes and rocky slopes of the peaks

Apart from Souflikas, Gkoubel, Arenes, and Skala—which are limestone massifs—the other peaks of Grammos consist almost exclusively of plutonic rocks (ophiolites, greenschists, and serpentinites) . Although their slopes are not steep, they are sufficiently steep and are covered by a succession of scree, fragmented rock outcrops, and natural terraces formed by soil development.

The vegetation cover of these habitats has large gaps, created by barren soil and rocks. Among the grasses of the alpine zone, we can easily spot large clusters of Anthemis tenuiloba and Aubrieta scardica, violets (Viola albanica and Viola velutina), Alpine forget-me-nots (Myosotis alpestris subsp. suaveolens), as well as rock-dwelling species such as saxifrages (Saxifraga adscendens and Saxifraga paniculata).
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Springs and Water in the Green Stones

The two carnivorous species of the genus Pinguicula have been recorded in Grammos: Pinguicula balcanica, known from only a few locations in Greece, and the much more widespread Pinguicula crystallina subsp. hirtiflora.

In areas near the alpine lakes, we will find, in some places, the crimson Geum coccineum and, much more abundantly, daffodils (Narcissus poeticus). In subalpine lakes, at elevations below 2,000 m, the beautiful Cardamine acris stands out among the water-loving plants.