246 



Remarks on the most Important Plant-Societies of the Island. 



Stavros tis Psochas. Typical instances of the same growth are occasionally met with also in the lower 

 regions of the island, though as a rule somewhat more limited as to the number of species. 



We shall now pass to the description of a typical example, the vegetation of the little Vassiliki- 

 valley near Kykko, and subjoin a few words of similar growth in other parts of the island. 



The Vassiliki-valley is a fertile gorge, cut by the running water into the mountain side near Kykko 

 monastery. At the bottom of the valley there has from ancient times stood a solitary church-building, 

 the Hag. Vasileos. The axis of the valley is directed from South to North. It is sufficiently inclined 

 for its draining brook to form a series of pretty cascades. The hills on either side are steep and wooded. 



1 



Pig. 89. Vegetation in the Vassiliki- Valley near Kykko. 



1'he head of the valley is formed by a spreading detritus cone, the uniform slope of which is clad mainly 

 with Bhut) coriaria and Bubus uJmifolius subsp. anatoUcus. Near its foot, from beneath two mighty 

 plane-trees, springs a fountain of clear, cold water, the source of the above-mentioned brook. Down the 

 whole length of the valley plane-trees large and small, together with a flourishing growth of Pistaciu 

 Tereb'mthds. Acer ohtusifoVimn, Arbiitug Andrachne and Quercus alnifoUa, arch the river-bed, while Biibiib- 

 iilmifolma subsp. anatolicus. Lonicera etrusca. Smilax mauritanica and partly Hedera Helix climb up the 

 branches, weaving an impenetrable mat-work of foliage. The shady space underneath is occupied by a 

 dense vegetation, mostly of ferns: Aspidium rigidum var. mistrals, and especially Pteridium aqml'mum 

 which attains a height of 2 m. A number of other plants join these, e. g. Campamda peregrina (fairly 

 numerous), Brachi/podiiim silvaticum (numerous), Bvmex Patientia subsp. graecus (sparse), Datisca cannabina 

 (rather scarce; taller than a man). P'nup'nx'Ua iM'rcgrhKi (scarce), Bnuidla vulgaris (fairly numerous). 



