Wild Flowers of Mount Olympus. 1980. 106 full-page coloured plates. 380 p. Cloth. Format 25 x 31 cm.

Olympus became the nucleus of ancient cosmogeny and theogony, and because later it became also the dwelling place of the gods, it has remained, until recently, untrodden ground. Classical Olympus, situated on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, is the highest mountain in Greece and one of the botanically most interesting. Until recently the area remained relatively inaccessible, and the flora was only fragmentarily known. Because the mountain rises virtually from the sea and reaches well into the alpine region (2917 m), it has an unusually complete series of vegetational zones. About 1500 species and flowering plants and ferns have been recorded from the sea shore to the summit.The upper montane and alpine flora (above 1800 m) contains about 400 species, including 19 or so that are endemic to the mountain. The plates are arranged ecologically according to altitudinal zones and plant communities. Practically all species found at alpine levels are illustrated as well as a selection of the most interesting and conspicuous ones from lower altitudes. Full botanical descriptions andkeys to genera and species (including also many that are not illustrated) are given in a separate part of the book. This text is arranged systematically according to families and genera, with cross references to the plate legends. An introductory chapter describes geographical and climatic conditions, geology, history of botanicale xploration, access to the mountain, and vegetational zones.