Aphrodite and Adonis Trail

1) CAROB TREE Ceratonia siliqua. Carob, Olive,and Lentisk are "old" species which survived the ice ages from Tertiary times. These plants have few or no relatives,indicating that they diverged from main stock a long time ago and all closely related species have become extinct. The Carob for example is the only species in the genus Ceratonia.Carob, Olive and Lentisk are important constituents of the maquis too. This important type of Mediterranean vegetation - a very dense cover of xerophilous, sclerophyllous evergreen shrubs or small trees - resulted largely from man's work on the evergreen sclerophyllous forests constituting the climax community. Carob is one of the most characteristic trees of the drier parts of the Eastern Mediterranean region and is most commonly cultivated. The pod, which was locally known as "black gold" due to its contribution to the National Economy (at least in the pa'S't) in addition to its other uses, is valuable fodder for animals. The wood is hard and it is used as firewood,a practice with the people

2) Olive had its origin in theOrient, yet by the end of the pre-christian era was cultivated throughout the whole Mediterranean region; it was derived most probably from the wild form (Olea europaea ssp.oleaster). The wealth of many Mediterranean civilisations since the Minoans was based on the cultivation of olives.An olive branch has been used as the emblem of peace. Olive branches are also part of the emblem of the Republic of Cyprus. Olive oil has been used for cooking, lighting and anointing the body during festivities since the earliest times:it is considered by many people as contributing to longevity.We ask you now to keep the image of this species in mind as we want you to recall it later and to compare it with the wild form.

3) Lentisk is known for its"mastic", a resin obtained from punctured stems and used as a chewing-gum for preserving the gums and sweetening the breath.

4) Bramble usually growsabundantly near water sources

5) This romantic spot, as we noted earlier, is associated with Aphrodite. According to legend, here in the cool, clear pond, the Goddess of Love took her bath.

5A) This is the wild form of the well known cultivated variety.

6) The number of species in the genus Eucalyptus exceeds 600, most of which are native to Australia. Today, these beautiful and fast growing trees can be found all over the world.

7) One of the commonest members of the so called "low maquis". Also a member of the garigue-it is an important type of Mediterranean vegetation distinguished by its low scattered bushes, rarely more than 0.5m high, dotted over the hillsides, with bare patches of rock or stony ground between. A popular infusion (tea) made from its dried aromatic leaves is believed to have medicinal properties.

8) Cairns are permanent signs to delimit forest land.

9) GOLDEN DROP Onosma fruticosum. Endemic; native only to Cyprus.

10) GROMWELL Lithodora hispidula ssp. versicolor.

11) HEADED THYME Thymus capitatus. It is a typical member of the •maquis and garigue. Its aromatic leaves produce an oil which has medicinal properties and is used in perfumery and cosmetics. Honey produced in areas where this shrub is abundant has a characteristic flavour and is, highly valued.

12) VIEW POINT

13) As you walk, notice the hard crust of calcium carbonate which is locally called "Kafkalla": it was formed years ago when calcium carbonate was washed downwards and accumulated in thin layers on top of secondary depositions of calcareous materials.Shallow red soils of Terra rossa are usually found on the top of "Kafkalla"; they are red in colour due to the presence of the reddish coloured iron. Notice that, as a result of erosion, the soil is found only in pockets. Note that both "Kafkalla" and Terra rossa are characteristic of the Mediterranean region.

14) ALEPPO PINE Pinus brutia. Aleppo Pine is the commonest of the conifers on the island and it is in fact the principal forest tree.

15) GREEN BRIER Smilax aspera. This woody climber is common in thickets and hedges all over the island.

16) You have already been made familiar with this species. Simply, try first to identify it by yourself and then back - check to No. 1 to make sure.

17) LIMESTONES

18) VIEW POINT

19) ROCK ROSE Cistus monspeliensis. Cistus species are among the dominant and characteristic species of the low maquis. They are also members of garigue. This pretty shrub, which is common elsewhere in the Mediterranean, is found from sea level to about 650m in isolated patches only in the western part of the island. Cistus species exudes the gum "ladanum" w^hich is collected by dragging a kind of rake with leather prongs through the shrubs. "Ladanum" is a dark brown, fragrant and bitter gum used today in perfumery and medicinal plasters.

20) WICK WEED Phlomis cypria var. occidentalis.Endemic.

21) ROYAL OAK Quercus infectoria ssp. veneris. Isolated trees or groups of Royal Oak are frequently found in cultivated fields particularly in the western part of the island;They are found occasionally in the forest, but never form pure forest stands.

22) The ruins of "Pyrgos tis Rigaenas" (The shelter of the Queen), as we mentioned earlier, are associated with both history and mythology. Histpry, supported by the existence of frescoes, tells us that this was a medieval monastery.

23) A fountain built by the Forestry Department. We are positive that you are in need of its cool and potable water.

24) STORAX Styrax officinalis. The Latin word "officinalis" means "medicinal" which indicates the usefulness of this shrub. The gum, storax, obtained by making incisions in the stem and branches, is also used in perfumery. Moreover, at one time, its fruit was ground to a powder which was then thrown into streams. A froth was produced, capable of stupefying eels which come half-stunned to the surface where they were easily caught.

A25) OLIVE TREE Olea europaea ssp. oleaster. Does this species look familiar to you? It is the wild form of the known cultivated variety Olea europaea met earlier (No.2 on the common part of the trail)

A26) You should be familiar with this species too! In any case check No.l (common part of the trail) again.

A27) THORNY BROOM Calycotome villosa. It is a typical member of the maquis, and garigue family, which grows from sea level to about 1,200 m. In early spring, in areas where it is abundant, it makes a pretty show with its aromatic yellow flowers.

A28) THORNY CORSE Genista sphacelata var. sphacelata. This is a common constituent of the maquis where it forms impenetrable thickets.

A29) This is Lentisk again

A30) STRAWBERRY TREE Arbutus andrachne. This beautiful small tree or shrub is quite common and found in areas up to 1300m. It is, however, one of the dominant species and characteristic of the "high maquis". Its reddish fruit, reminiscent of strawberries, is edible but not very palatable. The Latin word "unedo" (from the similar species Arbutus unedo) means "eat one".

A31) A species you met earlier. Check No.19 (common part of the trail) for details.

A32) ROCK ROSE Cistus parviflorus. In spite of its name this species is often found abundantly flowering in Cyprus and with more than ten flowers in a cyme.This pretty shrub, which is found in large numbers in the Kyrenia range, occurs only on limestone soils and has never been found in the igneous central mountains.

A33) ROCK ROSE Cistus salviifloius. This shrub is common all over the island up to 1,700m. Its leaves, contrary to other species of the genus Cistus, are hardly aromatic.

A34) ROCK ROSE Cistus monspeliensis x parviflorus. A hybrid resulting from cross-breeding between two different species, that is between Cistus monspeliensis and Cistus parviflorus.

A35) VIEW POINT

A36) THORNY RURNET Sarcopoterium spinosum. This pioneer species is the commonest of all shrubs in the maquis and garigue in all parts of the island, from sea level up to an altitude of 1,250m. Its ripe fruits are widely used in folk medicine. An infusion made from crushed ripe fruits is used as a tonic.

A37) VIEW POINT

A38) This is the third time you've seen this species so identification should be easy.

A39) The downhill area has been recently cleared by fire, the worst enemy of the forest. You should note that the climatic conditions of Cyprus favour forest fires and thus protection is a difficult task. Nature has its own means to fight disturbances and restore the balance. In the case of fire, pioneer species such asThorny Burnet, Rock Rose, and Sage colonise the burnt area thus preparing the way for other more demanding species. What you see now is an intermediate stage; significant changes, however, occur continuously and will lead to the ultimate stage of the "climax" community.

A40) Sage

A41) Thorny Corse again

A42) PHOENICIAN JUNIPER funiperus phoenicea. This is the most common species in the Akamas region. It grows up to an altitude of 700m. It is one of the dominant species and is characteristic of the high maquis. The durability of its wood has made it suitable for housebuilding for thousands of years. Juniper, in addition to its medicinal uses, is well known for its flavouring and aromatic properties; it is the principal flavouring and aromatic substance in gin.

A43) This is Cromwell again

A44) VIEW POINT

A45) LENTISK HYBRID Pistacia x saportae This pretty shrub is a hybrid between 'Lentisk Pistacia lentiscus and Terebinth Pistacia terebinthus. It is very rare and although it is believed to exist in other places, has never been found anywhere else than this spot.

A46) Aleppo Pine again

A47) Does this species look familiar to you? If not, check No. A30

A48) VIEW POINT

A49) VIEW POINT

B25) PHOENICIAN JUNIPER funiperus phoenicea. This is the commonest species in the Akamas region, growing at altitudes as high as 700m. It is one of the dominant species and is characteristic of the so called "high maquis".

B26) STRAWBERRY TREE Arbutus andrachne. This beautiful small tree or shrub is quite common and found up to 1300m. It is however one of the dominant species and characteristic of the high maquis. Its reddish fruits, reminiscent of strawberries are edible but not very palatable. Check earlier reference.

B27) Eroded site

B28) THORNY CORSE Genista sphacelata var. sphacelata.This is a common constituent of maquis, forming impenetrable thickets.

B29) The trail now joins a forest road, constructed by the Forestry Department to serve a forest nursery which has now been abandoned. Remember, however, that forest roads serve against fire, the worst enemy of forests.

B30) As you walk on, notice to your right the thick stand of Aleppo Pine. Relatively speaking, this is an example of a good quality site.

B31) Notice now to your left an example of a poor quality site. Not only are the trees scattered but also look at their height, shape, and robustness. But how come? The demar-cation line between the two sites is just a road! The answer is not that difficult. It is due to the existence of moisture, one of the factors controlling tree growth, which is in fact the limiting factor in the case of Cyprus. Erosion left little or no soil behind and thus moisture is almost nonexistent, a situation aggravated by the southern aspect of this site.

B32) Have you met this species earlier? Yes, just check No.11 (from the common part of the trail). been selected by horticulturists to produce the many forms available to the gardener. Cyclamen tubers contain "cyclamine" which is used in medicine although it is a poisonous compound.

B33) The site here, an abandoned forest nursery, is again an example of a good quality site. The significance of moisture is self evident.

B34) Potable water

B35) MYRTLE Myrtus commumis. This decorative shrub is common near water sources and in moist places all over the island up to 1700m. Myrtle is one of the "old" species which have survived the ice ages. As a symbol of love and peace. Myrtle was held sacred and it has been used to decorate the entrance of churches, schools and other public buildings during celebrations. It was also a traditional bridal flower in the Orient, a symbol of virginity. The bark, leaves and flowers produce an oil known as "Eau d'Agnes" used in perfumery. A little Myrtle oil in a hot bath water is very relaxing and good for the skin.

B36) As you walk along this steep limestone rock, depending of course on the time of year you are visiting the area, notice, at its lower part, different species characteristic of this rocky and rather damp habitat such as Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp), Stonecrop (Sedum spp), Squill .{Scilla cilicica), Venus navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris) Fern, Mosses etc.

B37) Notice on your left, along the stream, Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens). This plant is very common in Cyprus; it grows both in the wild, especially on limestone hillsides and as a cultivated tree in gardens and cemeteries. Legend says that the island was probably named after it. What we know for sure, however, is that the stream was named after it!

B38) TEREBINTH Pistacia terebinthus. A common constituent of the maquis and pine forest, found from 300 up to 1200m. One of the peculiarities of this species is the great variation in leaf-form and size among individual examples and the perfect constancy of the leaf-form on any one.

B39) ZOULATSIA Bosea cypria. This decorative plant, which is endemic, forms an attractive hedge or wall covering. It is frequently found in hedges in the villages or towns and also on rocky outcrops in forest and maquis in the lower altitudes.

B40) CHAMAEPEUCE Ptilostemon chamaepeuce var cyprius. Endemic

B41) You should have been familiar with this species. If not check No.3 (from the common part of the trail).

B42) VALLOTI Ballota integrifolia Endemic

B43) CYCLAMEN Cyclamen persicum. This is the wild parent of our cultivated winter-flowering cyclamen. The considerable range of variation shown in the wild

B44) KERMES OAK Quercus cocci fera ssp. caHiprinos. This shrub, which occasionally grows into medium sized trees, is one of the dominant species and characteristic of the high maquis. It is found in middle and lower regions in most parts of the island and exists in a great number of varieties, all showing minor morphological differences. Its acorns are used as pig fodder and its wood as fuel.

B45) Green-brier suppressing both Carob Tree and Aleppo Pine.

B46) This is another example of "Kafkalla". See No.13 (from the common part of the trail).

B47) You have heard about the maquis. Here we would like to tell you just a few things about this plant community which is in fact the most important vegetative feature of the, Akamas region. But to begin with what is the maquis? You will have been looking at examples on your walk of a very dense cover of xerophilous, sclerophyllous evergreen shrubs or small trees.This plant community can be found in all environments with a Mediterranean climate. Its geographical distribution, however, is so vast that the vegetation of the maquis varies greatly from place to place. In most cases it is undoubtedly originated from the deterioration of tree formations as aresult of man's work on the evergreen sclerophyllous forests.There are many causes of deterioration but the most significant are tree felling, pasturing, and fire. Only in a few special cases is there an undisturbed climax community, and so, "primary maquis". Although the maquis shows a bewildering number of variations, two broad variants are easily distinguised. These are:"High maquis" is characterised by the presence of a number of trees and shrubs which may grow as high as 4-5m.The most important trees are Strawberry Tree, Holm and Kermes Oak, Phoenician Juniper, Olive Tree, Carob Tree, Aleppo Pine, and larger shrubs such as Myrtle, Tree Heather, Wig Tree, and Spanish Broom. There are gradations between this and "Low maquis" where the bushes are l-2m high and there are no tree-forming species. The commonest species are Lentisk, Thorny Broom and Corse, Sage and Rock Rose.

B48) Is this a species you met earlier? Yes, it is. Check,however, No 19 (from the common part of the trail) to make sure.

B49) ROCK ROSE Cistus monspeliensis x parviflorus. A hybrid resulting from cross-breeding between two different species, that is between Cistus monspeliensis and Cistus parviflorus.

B50) VIEW POINT

B51) A cairn again

B52) ALATERNUS Rhamnus alaternus. This is found here and there in the lower and middle regions as a constituent of the maquis but never in large numbers. Its Greek name "Chrysoxylo" is derived from the golden-like colour of its wood, which is hard and durable.

B53) SMALL-LEAVED MARJIORAN Origanum majorana var. tenuifolium. This is endemic and an excellent culinary and medicinal plant. An infusion (tea) made rom its dried leaves is regarded as very beneficial in cases of the common cold, tonsilitis and pharyngitis.

B54) Does this species look familiar to you? If not, check No.7 (from the common part of the trail).

B55) THORNY BROOM Calycotome villosa. This is a typical member of the maquis and garigue, from sea level to about 1200m. In early Spring, in areas where it is abundant, it makes a pretty show with its aromatic yellow flowers.

THE END OF APHRODITE AND ADONIS TRAIL