Dodecanese / by J.L. Myres [and others].

  • Great Britain. Naval Intelligence Division.
Date:
1943
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dodecanese / by J.L. Myres [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    There are medicinal and hot springs near the volcanic areas, in Nisyros, Cos, and Calymnos, and also at Kalithea in the north-east of Rhodes. In Cos the town is fully supplied from the Burina spring through a Hellenic well-house and medieval aqueduct. In Rhodes the Roman aqueduct has been repaired. But at Leros, though there are local springs, drinking-water for the naval base was brought till lately from Cos. FLORA AND FAUNA Tue characteristic vegetation is the evergreen scrub common to all lands with Mediterranean climate, but the plants which compose it vary with soil and aspect. Formerly most of the islands had forests, but long neglect and devastation by fire and goats have almost com- pletely destroyed them, except in Rhodes, Carpathos, and Cos, which are lofty enough to catch sufficient rain, and offer shelter from the stronger winds. ‘Timber for constructions is almost all imported, and even fuel is scarce in most of the islands. Formerly it was imported freely from Anatolia. Principal forest trees are pines . (P. brutia and halepensis); cypresses (C’. sempervirens and horizon- talts); oaks (Quercus aegilops, coccifera, infectoria, robur, lanuginosa) ; junipers (7. macrocarpa, phoenicia (in Rhodes), excelsa (in Carpathos)). The plane (Platanus orientalis) grows both wild and cultivated where there is moisture enough; and a few very old planes, in Cos and elsewhere, are of great size. Wild species of pear, medlar (Crataegus azarolus), and carob are common; in Rhodes Liguidambar orientalis and integriloba grow in the Gadara valley, and Prstacia mutica near the city. The composition of the flora of Rhodes illustrates its geographical situation: out of 728 recorded species, of which 557 are widespread throughout the Mediterranean, 88 are at home in the eastern basin, 58 are shared with Anatolia and Syria, 11 with Anatolia and Crete, and 20 species and varieties are peculiar to Rhodes. Of 515 species recorded from Carpathos, 18 reappear only in Crete. Of lower growth are myrtle (/. communis), genista (G. acantho- clada), \entisk (Pistacia lentiscus), several kinds of cistus, lavender (L. stoechas), thyme (Th. capitatus), and other aromatic shrubs; in Rhodes Styrax officinalis is collected (on M. Profita especially) for its fragrant turpentine. In moist places Neriuwm oleander and Vitex agnuscastus thrive. A fragrant sage (Greek phlomos or phaskomuilia) is dried to make an agreeable ‘Greek tea’, and the peasant women J 3372 E