Lilium (Lilium chalcedonicum)

Katarraktis, Tzoumerka 23-7-12

Lilium chalcedonicum belongs to the Liliaceae family (λίλιουμ, κόκκινο κρινάκι, κρινάκι, τουρκοπούλα). It is native to Greece and Albania. It can grow up to 1,5m high and bears 1-7 flowers that smell strongly. The leaves grow like fish flakes around the stem.

Katarraktis, Tzoumerka 23-7-12

Katarraktis, Tzoumerka 23-7-12

Fritillaria (Fritillaria messanensis)

Profitis Ilias, Lefkada

 Fritillaria messanensis (fritillaria, φριτιλλάρια) belongs to the Liliaceae family and is closely related to the tulips. The name of the genus means dice box in Latin and refers to the pattern the petals have. The flower can be easily distinguished by its narrow leaves and broadly ovate nectaries. The flower has 6 petals each of them having a green stripe in the center of the petal. It likes sunny places and usually blossoms from March to April.

Profitis Ilias, Lefkada

Profitis Ilias, Lefkada

Profitis Ilias, Lefkada

Yellow star of Bethlehem (Gagea peduncularis)

Arta, Epirus

Gagea penducularis (Liliaceae family) belongs to the group of flowers that are commonly known as yellow star of Bethlehem. The genus was named after the English naturalist Gage. G. penducularis can be found insouthern Europe. It usually grows in dry and rocky places and can bloom from January to April.

Arta, Epirus

Arta, Epirus

Summer asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus)

Menidi, Aitoloakarnania

Menidi, Aitoloakarnania

Asphodelus aestivus (Liliaceae family) is commonly known as summer asphdel, tall asphodel, asphodel or common asphodel (ασφόδελος ή ασφόντηλας). The name of the genus "asphodelus" means unsupassed and the species name "aestivus" of the summer, but despite the name it blossoms in spring. It is a bolbus plant with leaves growing directly from the ground and the stalk is hollow. The inflorescence is small with 6 petals and white with a red-brown stripe in the middle. One of the quite unusual features is that the ovary is superior (situated above the flower parts, see picture below) when in most flowers it is inferior.

Menidi, Aitoloakarnania

In greek mythology it is a plant connected with death and the underworld and according to Homer it was covering the haunt of the dead. Also Persephone was supposed to wear an asphodel crown. The roots were eaten by poor people and also it was supposed to be a remedy for snake bites and against sorcery.
The appearance of vast number of the flower in an area is an indication of desertification of it.

Menidi, Aitoloakarnania

Menidi, Aitoloakarnania

Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon)

Lilium martagon (Liliaceae family) or commonly known as Turk's cap lily, martagon (λείριο το μάρταγο ή κρίνος) derived it's name from the Turkish word "martagon" which means turban or cap. It's colour is pink-purple but it can vary between white and nearly black. One of its main characteristics are the dots on the petals and that every plant has many flowers.
It's bulb is edible when cooked and can be used in a similar way with potatoes as it is reach in starch. 
It has a breath taking beauty when seen in the wild as it can be up to one meter high. I found this one near Astraka in Pindos mountain range.

Wild Tulip (Tulipa australis)

Tulipa australis or wild tulip (άγρια κίτρινη τουλίπα in greek) belongs to the Liliaceae family. It is a perennial bolbus plant. I came across this specimen in early June at Mt. Helmos in Peloponnese.