A mountain with more than 600 plant species
Walking on Mt. Hymettus, you will be impressed by the colour diversity of its wildflowers, the rare beauty of orchids flourishing on the mountain and the intoxicating aromas of plants such as thyme.
There are over 600 species and subspecies of plants on the mountain, a great number considering its expanse. 54 of these plant species are native to Greece and 59 are protected by Greek law (e.g Presidential Decrees) and by International Conventions (e.g Berne Convention Treaty) or are listed as endangered.
A more extensive study of the flora on Mt. Hymettus may result in an increase of these numbers. Among these plants are 44 protected species of wild orchid, the density of which is considered the highest in Europe in relation to the area of the mountain.
Among the species native to the area are, namely, the Centaurea pentelica, Malcolmia graeca, Dianthus serratifolius, Campanula celsii, Onosma kaheirei, Scorzonera crocifolia, Silene rigidula, Crocus laevigatus, Cerastium candidissimum, Consolida tenuissima.
The Aesthetic Forest of Kaisariani is considered one of the most significant protected areas of Mt. Hymettus. This forest is the result of artificial reforestation, a project initiated by the Athens Forestry Association during the 1940s.
The result is a vegetation mosaic of great ecological and aesthetic value.
A mountain with more than 600 plant species
Walking on Mt. Hymettus, you will be impressed by the colour diversity of its wildflowers, the rare beauty of orchids flourishing on the mountain and the intoxicating aromas of plants such as thyme.
There are over 600 species and subspecies of plants on the mountain, a great number considering its expanse. 54 of these plant species are native to Greece and 59 are protected by Greek law (e.g Presidential Decrees) and by International Conventions (e.g Berne Convention Treaty) or are listed as endangered.
A more extensive study of the flora on Mt. Hymettus may result in an increase of these numbers. Among these plants are 44 protected species of wild orchid, the density of which is considered the highest in Europe in relation to the area of the mountain.
Among the species native to the area are, namely, the Centaurea pentelica, Malcolmia graeca, Dianthus serratifolius, Campanula celsii, Onosma kaheirei, Scorzonera crocifolia, Silene rigidula, Crocus laevigatus, Cerastium candidissimum, Consolida tenuissima.
The Aesthetic Forest of Kaisariani is considered one of the most significant protected areas of Mt. Hymettus. This forest is the result of artificial reforestation, a project initiated by the Athens Forestry Association during the 1940s.
The result is a vegetation mosaic of great ecological and aesthetic value.