Athens

                   Anacamptis papilionacea ssp aegea                         Himantoglossum robertianum
                        Neotinea intacta
                        Ophrys aesculapii
                        Ophrys attica
                        Ophrys calocaerina
                        Ophrys cerastes
                        Ophrys cornutula
                        Ophrys ferrum-equinum
                        Ophrys gottfriediana
                        Ophrys leochroma
                        Ophrys leucadica
                        Ophrys melena
                        Ophrys mycenensis
                        Ophrys praemelena
                        Ophrys schlechteriana
                        Ophrys spruneri
                        Orchis pauciflora
                        Orchis quadripunctata
                        Serapias orientalis

	Notable species :- Anacamptis papilionacea ssp aegea Himantoglossum robertianum Neotinea intacta Ophrys aesculapii Ophrys attica Ophrys calocaerina Ophrys cerastes Ophrys cornutula Ophrys ferrum-equinum Ophrys gottfriediana Ophrys leochroma Ophrys leucadica Ophrys melena Ophrys mycenensis Ophrys praemelena Ophrys schlechteriana Ophrys spruneri Orchis pauciflora Orchis quadripunctata Serapias orientalis
Ophrys aesculapii		Athens

Ophrys calocaerina	Serapias orientalis	Ophrys cornutula
Areas of interest The massive and sprawling city of Athens doesn't at first sight offer much expectation of good orchid hunting and indeed the city itself and its immediate urban surrounds are not a natural habitat for most species. Whilst the occasional orchid may struggle for life amongst the rocky ruins of one or two of the cities archeological sites, to all intents and purposes there is very little prospect of finding significant plant life beyond some of the hardy Aegean Composites. Orchids do start to appear in the leafier districts as one leaves the city environs, particularly in the directions of Attica to the south and Corinth in the west. There are however two important areas on the outskirts of the city where orchids can be discovered, both in good numbers and in a wide range of species, these sites being Mount Hymettus (Mt Immitos) and Mount Pendeli (Mt Penteli), both of which form part of the municipality of Athens. Whilst a good number of orchids can be found on both mountains, the former is a much richer botanical area and the following notes refer only to Mount Hymettus. The area can be reached by bus from the city (at the time of writing route 224) which terminates at the Kaisariani Cemetery on Leoforia. Eth. Antistaseos . Alternatively one may travel by car where it would be easiest to follow directions to the Kesariani Monastry and park there. Mount Hymettus can also be reached from the east via Paiania where a small road initially signposted Koutouki or Peania Cave snakes up the rear flank of the mountain from the south west of the town. The first area of interest is close to the bus stop and is the triangle of land formed by the southern walls of the cemetery, Leoforia. Eth. Antistaseos and the motorway (Leoforia. Alimou. Katechaki). This is not a huge area but over 20 species of orchid have been recorded within it. From here follow the road under the motorway and the slopes of Mount Hymettus lie before you, with an endless choice of paths and tracks, all of which meander uphill towards the Monastry and ultimately (if you have the stamina) to the military installations at the summit. The tracks pass through several habitat types from open woodland to rocky scree and orchids can be found in plentiful numbers throughout. The gems of this site are undoubtedly the handsome Ophrys aesculapii and the often beautifully marked Ophrys calocaerina.