Animals listed in the Red Book of Crimea: list, photo. Deadly plants of the Crimea Amazing plants of the Crimea

February 19th, 2017 admin

Spring is the most best time to visit the Crimea, this is the time when the peninsula especially pleases the eye with bright and fresh greenery of forests, fields, plains, gardens and parks. The flora of Crimea is very unusual and diverse. There are 2,500 varieties of wild plants on the peninsula. There are 250 endemics in Crimea, that is, such unique plants that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Crimea is rich in relics - plants that have been preserved for millions of years and have survived to this day without any changes.

In Crimea, there are a lot of plants related to the neighboring Black Sea regions, since for thousands of years the Crimean peninsula has been disconnected from the mainland many times, then rejoined by land isthmuses from the Caucasus, or the East European Plain. Of course, such geographical changes led to changes in the flora and fauna of the Crimea. We should also not forget that more than a thousand species of exotic plant specimens were brought to the Crimea over the past thousand years of the history of this land. All these factors that influenced the nature of the Crimea created that amazingly diverse and colorful world of vegetation that we see today on the peninsula.

Many unique plants of the Crimea are under state protection, and more than 250 plants of the horsetail, gymnosperms, angiosperms, mosses and algae families have long been listed in the Red Book. We list only a few of them: River horsetail. The bone is graceful. North Kostenets. Juniper deltoid. Maple Steven. Ira is beautiful. The cuff is oak. Red onion. Cuneiform hawthorn. meadow sage. Crimean dandelion. Tulip Bibirshtein. Forest grapes. Sea rock. Cystoseira bearded and many others.

Among the diverse vegetation of the Crimea, there are quite a few plants that are quite attractive in appearance, but very dangerous for humans. As long as these plants and flowers grow in the Crimean forests and fields, they are quite safe. The danger arises when their juice, roots, leaves or other parts come into contact with a person. Not only the inhabitants of the peninsula, but also those who come to visit us should know about dangerous plants. Every traveler unknowingly can pick a poisonous flower or eat a life-threatening berry.

In general, look at them carefully and avoid mindlessly picking these plants.

1. Delphinium or larkspur

Larkspur causes depression of the central nervous system with simultaneous effect on gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system. At toxic doses, respiratory paralysis occurs, accompanied by damage to the heart.

2. Cicuta (lat. cicuta)

perennial herbaceous plant family Umbelliferae, with the smell of parsley or celery. This plant looks so innocent: white flowers, collected in idyllic umbrellas. But when drinking the juice of this plant, severe abdominal pain, salivation, vomiting and diarrhea will begin, followed by convulsions, which can lead to respiratory and cardiac arrest.

3. Spotted hemlock (lat. Conīum maculātum)

this is poisonous plant with an intoxicating smell, it should be collected only with rubber gloves. hemlock has long been used for two opposite purposes: with the help of tincture, death sentences were carried out, or they were prepared from it medicines. Once in the human stomach, the juice (or decoction) of hemlock causes nausea, often vomiting and diarrhea. There is a loss of sensation and a gradual paralysis starting from the legs. It only takes a hemlock two hours to finish off its prey.

Most often, foxglove flashes in the detective stories of Agatha Christie. In her short story "Dead Grass", foxglove caused the death of a young girl and the illness of other characters. The plant was mixed with onions, and the duck was stuffed with the resulting mixture.

The plant, especially the leaves, contains the well-known atropine, as well as asparagine, then lime and other alkaline substances. Belladonna is highly poisonous to humans, although herbivores eat it with impunity.

6. Aconite or wrestler

In the beech forest of the Crimea, you can find a very beautiful perennial herbaceous plant from the buttercup family with bright blue or purple flowers. Its most popular names are aconite or wrestler. AT ancient Greek mythology it is told that the wrestler appeared from the poisonous saliva of the formidable guardian of the underworld kingdom of Hades - the three-headed dog Cerberus, who was brought to earth by the great hero Hercules. This suggests that aconite has long been considered one of the most poisonous plants. The ancient Greeks used aconite juice to carry out death sentences. There is a case when the legionnaires of the Roman emperor Mark Antony, having eaten several tubers of aconite, lost their memory and soon died. In many countries, the very possession of aconite root was considered a serious crime and was punishable by death. According to one of the ancient legends, the famous conqueror Tamerlane died, poisoned precisely by the poison of aconite, with which his skullcap was soaked. Aconite juice was used in ancient times to apply it to arrows. The ancient Germans compared aconite flowers with the helmet of the god Thor, they soaked weapons - spears, swords and daggers - in aconite juice before going into battle or hunting. The plant contains a deadly poison - aconitine.

This flower is an ideal candidate for decorating any suburban area. Unfortunately, Colchicum is extremely poisonous. Moreover, all parts of the plant are poisonous, both external and underground. Even picking up a flower should be in mittens, so as not to get burned. Light purple or pink flowers, which bloomed their buds in the fall, on the eve of the winter cold, gave the name to the flower - colchicum. But their innocent defenselessness is very deceiving - the flower is very poisonous. There are over 20 toxins in Colchicum sap, some of which are deadly. Gardeners are advised to work with colchicum with gloves. The literature describes cases of death of people who were treated as prescribed by healers with a decoction of colchicum. Another name for this plant is colchicum. According to ancient Greek myth, this plant sprouted from the drops of blood of Prometheus, who was chained to a rock in the mountains of the Caucasus, and tormented by an eagle. Colchicum, according to legend, adorned the garden of the goddess Artemis in Colchis. On the Crimean peninsula, there are two similar types of colchicum: shady, which blooms in autumn, and winter Ankara. Moreover, the shady colchicum, which blooms only in autumn, is often confused with a harmless plant more common in the Crimea - beautiful crocus, which blooms only in spring.

The plant is dangerous from the roots to the tips of the leaves, but the most dangerous part is a bud. The consequences of ingesting even a piece of this plant into the body will be the same as with the use of potassium cyanide! Suffocation, loss of consciousness, convulsions, rapid pulse, drop in blood pressure and even death - this is the price of careless handling of this cute flower.

Bringing a bouquet of daffodils into the house, know that if you taste it, the consequences can be sad: nausea and vomiting, convulsions and loss of consciousness, with increased sensitivity, paralysis and death are not excluded.

If you taste any part of this plant, the sad consequences will not keep you waiting. The first symptoms will be salivation and tearing, then all this will turn into vomiting, slowing of the pulse and a drop in blood pressure.

Crimea is a completely unique and amazingly beautiful place, striking with the extraordinary richness of the plant world. There are not many places on our planet that could boast of such a species richness of flora brought from other regions and successfully taking root in a new place.

11. Datura common

Those who read Bazhov's fairy tales in childhood can remember the famous stone flower - the ideal bowl that the master Danil created according to the almost unattainable image of the Datura flower. The inhabitants of Crimea have appreciated its beauty for a long time. Datura, which grows everywhere in the Crimea, is often used by local residents as an ornamental plant. Dangerous plant of the Crimea - dope ordinary. Even more often in the Crimean gardens and parks you can find large white Indian Datura gramophones. But this poisonous plant became famous not only for its beauty, but also for its other properties. Only the folk names that indicate them, what they are worth: dope grass, crazy potion, bad drunk, crazy grass ... And all these names are well deserved, since the plant is poisonous and is a strong hallucinogen. Therefore, shamans and priests of some tribes and peoples, knowing safe dosages, took it to enter a trance. In India, there was even a profession - a dope poisoner. The “professional” blew powder from dope seeds into the nose of a sleeping person through a tube, which made him fall asleep even more soundly, and the thieves easily, without any obstacles, took property out of the house.
12. Belena.

The very name of this plant in many causes a vivid association with the poison, which was discussed in the brilliant work of the great English playwright William Shakespeare "Hamlet". After all, it was the poison of henbane that poisoned the king - the father of Prince Hamlet. In Russian folklore, the name of henbane is associated with the expression: “Are you overeating henbane?”, Which is undoubtedly associated with the expressive symptoms of henbane poisoning. The famous doctor and scientist Avicena described the characteristic symptoms of poisoning: "Harbane is a poison that often causes insanity, deprives memory and causes suffocation and demonic possession." A rather bright and noticeable henbane flower is often found in the Crimea, a plant with not very catchy, but very attractive flowers. also A common cause of poisoning is the similarity of henbane seeds, similar to safe poppy seeds. Dr. Mettesi noted: “Children, having eaten henbane, fall into such folly that their relatives, not knowing the reasons, begin to think that these are the machinations of evil spirits.” In pharmacology, henbane is used to prepare some anti-asthma drugs and painkillers.

13. White-winged aronnik

In April-May, an exotic aronnik flower, a bit like kala, appears in the forests of Crimea. Its single petal is compared to a wing, hence the name of the rarest of the three species growing on the peninsula, the white-winged aronnik. Dangerous plant of the Crimea - aronnik Despite the peculiar decorative effect, the Crimean aronnik has not received popularity because of the sharp and very unpleasant smell. However, to flies - their pollinators, the ambergris that comes from these flowers seems to be a very attractive aroma.
Unusual Aronnik orientalis flowers have two flowering phases - male and female. Insects, having visited a plant with a male flowering period, after a while they sit down on a female one and slide inside. At the same time, they are prevented from getting out of the flower by filamentous outgrowths that are directed downwards, and they have no choice but to crawl along the cob located at the base of the flower, pollinating it with pollen brought. After that, the aronnik enters the male phase of flowering, removes all its traps and releases insects to freedom.
All types of Crimean aronnik (Arum italicum) are toxic . In summer, their cobs ripen and are covered with attractive orange berries. If you eat them, at least a few pieces, then severe inflammation of the oral cavity occurs and characteristic signs of poisoning appear. In some places of the Crimea, aronniks are called forest pencils for the ability of the rod located in the center of the inflorescence to color surfaces, for which it is called "forest pencils".

14. Yew berry

In ancient times, entire forests of yew berry grew in the Crimea, but at present there are very few old trees left. The age of the yew berry can be very respectable - some trees have more than a thousand years. The widespread destruction of the yew led to its beautiful, eternally strong wood, painted in different shades of red, which is why it is also called mahogany. In ancient Egypt, the sarcophagi of the Egyptian pharaohs were made from yew. In ancient times, the best bows were made from the unusually strong wood of the yew berry. But craftsmen working with the toxic wood of the yew berry did not live long, and those who trimmed the branches of the yew felt severe headaches. Ancient legends have been preserved that in the old days beautiful cups were created from yew berry, which were then presented as a gift to enemies in the hope of poisoning them. In Europe, yew wood was used to make very expensive furniture. The toxicity of the yew berry was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. Everything is poisonous in a tree: wood, seeds, needles, bark, roots. The exception is juicy shells similar to berries. Sweetish, but not distinguished by exquisite taste - they are completely harmless. The danger lies in the fact that if they are eaten together with the fruit - the bone, then poisoning will inevitably occur.
15. Peonies

Like many medicinal plants Crimea, peonies are poisonous. Everything in it is toxic - from the rhizome, petals, seeds. The flora of the peninsula is decorated with two types of peonies, which compete with each other with their magnificence. Peonies are listed in the Red Book, as their number is decreasing throughout the Crimea. Two millennia ago, delicate peony flowers adorned the imperial gardens of China. Peonies were brought to the court of the emperor from the south of the country in specially made bamboo baskets, and to protect against withering, each stem of the flower was covered with wax. In ancient Greece, the peony flower was considered a symbol of longevity. There is an opinion that the Greeks valued the peony not only for its beauty, but also for its amazing healing properties, the flower got its name from the Greek word "paionios", which sounds like healing in translation. Ancient Greek doctors were called peonies. In ancient Greece, there was a myth about a disciple of the god of healing Aesculapius - Peony, who surpassed his mentor in the art of healing. This aroused the wrath of the god Zeus, and he ordered Hades to poison Peony, however, the lord of the underworld took pity on the dying young man and turned him into a peony flower of extraordinary beauty.

15. Heracleum (Heracleum L.), hogweed - a large umbrella plant.

White caps of inflorescences against the background of beautiful carved leaves already clearly distinguish this plant from all others. But even more impressive is its majestic size. Dangerous plant of the Crimea - heracleum Under favorable conditions, some types of hogweed grow up to 4 meters with a leaf area of ​​up to 1 square meter. In this case, the diameter of the inflorescence often reaches 60 centimeters. For such a powerful and very high growth rate - 10-12 centimeters per day, he received his Latin name - Heracleum. Surprised by its extraordinary appearance, residents middle lane Russia brought its seeds from the Caucasus, the Urals and other regions. Settled in a new place as ornamental plant, cow parsnip soon got out of control and, conquering the environs of the peninsula, began to crowd out many local species, becoming a malicious weed. It soon became clear that the handsome Heracleum not only prolific, but also very poisonous. Even touching this plant can cause a serious chemical burn, so remember it well and try to admire its beauty from afar during the flowering period.
16. Ranunculus oxyspermus.

The affectionate-sounding name of the plant "buttercup" actually comes from a formidable, even ferocious epithet - fierce. Bright yellow buttercup flowers, as if varnished, received another popular name - night blindness . This happened, apparently, due to the irritating effect of the juice on the mucous membranes, including the eyes. Of the beautifully flowering toxic plants of the Crimean peninsula in terms of the number of species - buttercup is a true champion - of the 23 species of this plant, all buttercup flowers are poisonous. Contact of the plant with the skin can cause severe dermatitis, and the likely outcome of its ingestion will be fatal. In antiquity, the buttercup was a symbol of malevolent banter and served as the emblem of the formidable god of war Ares, and in In ancient Russia, buttercup was considered a flower Thunderer Perun . And according to one of the Christian legends, fleeing from the Archangel Michael, Satan was hiding among the buttercup thickets, which is why the flower became so evil. In the Ottoman Empire, buttercup leaves were widely used in greenhouses and became a symbol of the greatness of the sultans.

17. Lily of the valley

This plant from the lily family, despite its modest appearance, has won the hearts of all many peoples. Widely known since ancient times medicinal properties lily of the valley. In medieval Europe, it became a symbol of medicine. However, lily of the valley is completely poisonous. Few people know that this plant ripens bright red, appetizing-looking fruits in the fall, which, if eaten, can seriously poison you. There are even cases with a fatal outcome, when water was accidentally drunk, in which there was a bouquet of lilies of the valley.

Medium-sized snow-white, graceful lily of the valley flowers, like magic bells, exude a delicate, refined aroma that leaves no one indifferent. By the number of legends and myths, he is unlikely to have competitors. In a Christian legend, lilies of the valley grew on the tears of Mary that fell to the ground, mourning her crucified son. In Russian legends and epics, the lily of the valley is associated with the appearance of the sea princess Mermaid. fairy tale hero Sadko rejected the love of the sea maiden for the earthly love of Lyubava. The bitter tears of the sea princess sprouted into tender and a little sad flowers - lilies of the valley, intoxicating with their smell. Little Russian legends say that. that lily of the valley flowers appeared from the happy laugh of Mavka in love, and scattered like white pearls throughout the forest. AT Western Europe it was believed that lily of the valley flowers serve as lanterns for gnomes, and miniature elves hide under lily of the valley flowers from the rain. Lily of the valley flowers are still loved today. In France, on the first Sunday of May, the lily of the valley is celebrated, and the Finns even consider it their national flower.

The end of April/May is the best time to visit Crimea. It is still not very hot, the greenery has not burned out, there are no crowds of people, as in summer.
But the main attraction of this time is the flowers.

Below are photographs and descriptions of Crimean flowers taken in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, during the May holidays (end of April/beginning of May). Basically, the Bakhchisarai, Yalta and Sudak regions of Crimea are represented.

DREAM-GRASS, CRIMEAN SHOT (Pulsatilla taurica)

He’s a snowy tulip, he’s a sonchik, he’s a grass-grass lumbago, he’s a pine forest lumbago, he’s a shooter, he’s a razlapushnik, he’s a beaver.
Grows in the mountains, oak forests, mountain meadows, steppe areas foothills and rocky slopes.
The most beautiful spring Crimean flower- you can admire it and photograph it endlessly.
Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine

Sleep Grass. May 2005 Chatyr-Dag

Sleep Grass. May 2005 Chatyr-Dag

Sleep Grass. April 2004 Chatyr-Dag

Sleep Grass. 2.05.03 Yalta Yayla

Sleep Grass. May 2005 Chatyr-Dag



Sleep Grass. 5.05.07 Angar-Burun

FOLDED SNOWDROP (Galanthus plicatus M. Bieb.)

Folded snowdrop (Galanthus plicatus) - a species that differs from other species in folded leaves with a bluish bloom, with folds bent to the underside.
It was previously considered as an endemic Crimean species, but now the habitats of the folded snowdrop have been identified in the Caucasus, Turkey, Romania and Moldova.
Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine

4.05.07 Not far from t/s "Boyko"

Snowdrop. May 2005 Chatyr-Dag

Snowdrop. 1.05.03 Grand Canyon

Scilla bifolia L.

It is also the Crimean Scilla (Scilla taurica (Regel) Fuss), it is also the Snow Scilla (Scilla nivalis Boiss.). Glades overgrown with a blueberry mixed with a snowdrop look very nice.

Scilla. 02.05.03 Ascent to Roman-Kosh

CRIMEAN CROCUS (Crocus tauricus (Trautv.) Puring)

He is Crimean saffron. Endemic Crimean Caucasian species. It grows in the mountains on open stony places, grassy slopes of yail. Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Crocus Crimean.4.05.07 Not far from Ai-Petri

Crocus Crimean.1.05.03 Yalta yayla

PRIMROSES (PRIMULOSES) Primula

grows in southern regions European part of Russia, in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, Southern and Central Europe. The species is similar to the spring primrose, but with an undeveloped flower arrow. Flowering from April. The plant is cold-resistant - blooms on the edge of the snow.
The ancient Greeks believed that the primrose was able to heal from all ailments and called it "the flower of the twelve gods."

In the old German sagas, the primrose is the keys of the spring goddess Freya. With the help of these keys, the beautiful goddess, adorned with a multi-colored rainbow necklace, opens the real warmth after a long winter. Wherever her rainbow falls, golden keys appear there, and spring flowers sprout from them - primroses.

The Danes are sure that the princess of the elves herself has been turned into a primrose. Once the spirits released the girl to the ground, and there she fell in love with the young man, forgetting about her relatives. For this, the spirits turned the princess into a primrose, and her lover into an anemone.

In Russia, the primrose was affectionately called lambs. There was even such a custom: to throw plucked lambs under one's feet and stomp - for longevity.

The British have a primrose - a favorite flower. It is grown in gardens and vegetable gardens, taken with them on trips, given to loved ones. By English fairy tales, gnomes hide in primroses, and if you go out into the clearing in the spring, you can hear a chorus of gentle voices from the flowers.

Common primrose (Рrimula vulgaris) or stemless (Primula acaulis) April 2004. Area of ​​t / s "Boyko"

Road overgrown with primroses.26.04.03 from Eski-Kermen to Shuldan

Primula Sibthorpa (Primula sibthorpii) 04/25/03 Near Eski-Kermen

Common primrose.25.04.03 near the Red Poppy

VIOLETS

There are many different ones in Crimea. Especially beautiful and large ones are found on the yayla. The yellow and blue look very pretty.

Violet dog (Viola canina)25.04.03 near Eski-Kermen

Fragrant violet (Viola odorata)25.04.03 near Eski-Kermen



Mountain Violet (Viola oreades Bieb.) April 2004 Ai-Petri Yayla

Mountain Violet (Viola oreades Bieb.) April 2004 Ai-Petri Yayla

Field of violets. April 2004 Eski-Kermen

Kupena fragrant (Polygonatum odoratum)

She was bought medicinal, bought pharmacy (Polygonatum officinale L.), she is Solomon's seal. Grows on drying, slightly acidic, rich, humus, loose, for the most part shallow, sandy, stony and clay soils: in forests, bushes and slopes. Edge-forest view. The plant is poisonous.

Bought fragrant. April 2004 Eski-Kermen

Dubious poppy (Papaver dubium L.)

Doubtful poppy is an annual herbaceous plant 30-60 cm high. It blooms in April-June. Grows on dry stony, gravel, clay slopes, among shrubs, on sands, in forest-steppe and steppe, in fields, along roads, in mountains up to the mid-mountain belt. Poisonous.

Mac is questionable. April 2004 p. Red poppy

IBERIAN, STENNIK (Iberis)

The name of the plant indicates the area of ​​\u200b\u200bnatural distribution: Iberia, as Spain used to be called. The genus includes about 40 species distributed in the Mediterranean and Central Europe.

Iberian forms dense rounded cushions, which during the flowering period, in April-May, seem to be powdered with snow due to lilac-white flowers. In Crimea, they live on rocky places, in the mountains, on the South Coast.

There are rocky Iberian (Ib.saxatilis), Crimean Iberian (Ib.taurica), very rarely - bitter Iberian (Ib.amara) and pinnate Iberian (Ib.pinnata). These species differ mainly in leaf shape.

Candytuft. 1.05.03 Great Crimean Canyon

FRINGED POULTRY (Ornithogalum fimbriatum Willd)
He is also a fibrous bird-man, he is a ciliated bird-man.
It grows in forests along the edges, in the steppes, on the yayla. From the subgenus Ornithogalum. Plants no more than 12 cm tall. The arrow is covered with hairs. Blooms in mid-spring, up to 15 days.

poultry farmer. April 2003 District of the Pavilion of the Winds

PEONY THIN-LEAVED Paeonia tenuifolia L. (P. lithophila Kotov, P. biebersteiniana Rupr.)

He is a narrow-leaved peony. Herbaceous perennial up to 50 cm tall. grows on meadow steppes, on leached chernozems, mountain slopes. Blooms in May. Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Peony thin-leaved. April 2004 and 05.05.07 On the ascent to Chatyr-Dag

Peony thin-leaved. April 2004 Chatyr-Dag

Thin-leaved peony thickets 29.04.08 Slopes of Lyalel-Oba

CRIMEAN PEONY (Paeonia daurica)

It is also a Taurian peony (Paeonia taurica auct.), it is also a three-fold peony (Paeonia triternata) Endemic of Crimea. It grows in light forests, typically in the undergrowth of oak forests. It occurs en masse at altitudes from 200 meters up to the upper border of the forest. Blooms in May. Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine

Peony Crimean. April 2004 Eski-Kermen

MUSCARI (Muscari neglectum Guss)

He is a viper onion unnoticed, he is also a mouse hyacinth.
Low, up to 15 cm tall, bulbous perennial of the lily family.
It grows in sunny stony glades, on the edges of the forest. Often forms a solid blue carpet. Blooms in April-May.

Muscari. End of April 2004 Chatyr-Dag



Muscari. 25.04.03 Eski-Kermen

Dwarf IRIS (Iris pumila) OR CRIMEAN IRIS (Iris taurica. Iridaceae)

He is a low iris, he is also a dwarf iris.
Herbaceous perennial 10-20 cm tall. Grows in steppes, on grassy slopes, on stony and thin soils, at altitudes from 300 to 700 m above sea level, rarely descends to 50 m and rises to 900-1000 m.

Violet and yellow irises 29.04.08 Slopes of Lyalel-Oba

Dwarf iris. April 2004 Eski Kermen

Dwarf irises. 04/25/03 near the village. Red poppy

EAST ARONNIK (Arum orientale Bieb., A. maculatum auct.)

Relic species, belongs to one of the oldest genera of tropical origin in Ukraine. Perennial herbaceous plant 20-30 cm high. Grows in shady forests. A very specific smell. Blooms in May. Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine

Eastern Aronnik. April 2004 near Shuldan Monastery

TULIP SHRENK (Tulipa schrenkii Regel)

He is Gesner's tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.). Plants are 10-40 cm tall. stem b. hours naked, sometimes pubescent. Leaves recurved, sickle-shaped, spaced, more or less curly, glabrous or pubescent, not exceeding the flower. Single flower, red or yellow. The tepals are relatively short, wide, obtuse. The spot at their base is black, with a yellow border, yellow or absent. Blooms in April. It grows mainly in the steppe Crimea, as well as in the foothills and on the South Coast.

Tulip Schrenk 29.04.08 Slopes of Lyalel-Oba

LOW ALMOND (Amygdalus nana L.)

He is a beaver, he is a dwarf almond, he is a steppe almond.
It grows in the zone of herb-meadow steppes, in hollows, along ravines, beams.

Thickets of dwarf almonds. 29.04.08 near the t/s "Ai-Serez"

ADONIS SPRING (Adonis vernalis L.)

He is the spring adonis, he is the spring old oak. Blooms in May
in the steppes, along the outskirts of forests, on lighted forest glades, steppe slopes, meadows. Very bright and beautiful flower.

Spring Adonis. 29.04.08 Upper reaches of the Ai-Serez river

ASPHODELINA YELLOW Asphodeline Lutea (L.) Reichend

A rare endangered eastern Mediterranean species. Herbaceous perennial with a thick high, up to 60 cm, stem. The stem from the base to the inflorescence is covered with dagger-shaped, trihedral fleshy leaves. The flower brush is dense, long and consists of large greenish-yellow flowers up to 2.5 cm in diameter. The tepals have a characteristic green vein. After flowering, a fruit is formed - a large box. Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine

Asphodelina yellow (Asphodeline lutea) 29.04.08 t/s Maski in Ukraine is found only in the Crimea

ORCHID(Orchidaceae)

Wild-growing orchids are the most wonderful flowers of the spring Crimea.
According to various sources, 20-39 species of orchids grow in Crimea. All are listed in the Red Book. Populations of wild-growing orchids are small and continue to decline mainly due to deforestation and the destruction of flowers for bouquets.
Basically, there are orches (purple, monkey), I was lucky to stumble upon the rarest Crimean ofris, of which there are only a few specimens left.

04/27/08 Fox Bay. Orchis painted (dotted) (Orchis picta Loisel.)

Crimean ophrys Ophrys taurica Nevski

Orchis simia Lam.

Purple Orchis Orchis purpurea Huds.

Orchis punctulata

Wolf's orchis Orchis x wulffiana and steveniella satyrioides Steveniella satyrioides Schlechter

Orches April 2004

The following wonderful resources were used in the preparation of the material:
1) http://www.plantarium.ru On-line plant guide
An open illustrated atlas of vascular plants in Russia and neighboring countries.
2) http://family-travel.narod.ru/flora/flora.html Photo herbarium. Wild plants of the Crimea.
3) http://mail.menr.gov.ua/publ/redbook/redbook.php Chervona book of Ukraine.

Yaroslav Kuznetsov ©2009

Crimea can rightly be called "little Australia". Firstly, on this unique peninsula there are three climatic zones: temperate continental climate of the steppes, mountain belt and subtropics of the southern coast. Secondly, a huge number of endemic plants grow here and many endemic animals live here. Thirdly, in a relatively small area (just over 26 thousand square kilometers) there are about 50 salt lakes and 257 rivers flowing.

The high Crimean mountains, the proximity of two seas at once - the Black and Azov, the most ancient cities - all this determined the uniqueness of the nature of Crimea.

Flora of Crimea

The flora of the Crimean peninsula is very unusual and original. Its diversity is astounding. So, on the peninsula there are over 2500 species of plants. For comparison: only 1,500 species of vegetation grow in the European part of Russia. In addition to endemics, there are many relict plants - those that have not been seen for many millennia. And the main feature of the Crimean flora is that it varies significantly from north to south.

In the north of Crimea, where the Kerch Peninsula is located, is the kingdom of hilly steppes. Most of them are plowed under agricultural land. Only uncultivated grain areas remained uncultivated: solonchaks, ravines, gullies, rocky plains. In this part of the Crimea, cultivated plantations and crops predominate.

If we move from here to the south, we will find ourselves in a zone of foothills, where the steppe is replaced by forest-steppe. Linden, ash, skumpia, hornbeam, a lot of juniper, pear, and hawthorn are more common here.

Even further south, the forest-steppe gradually develops into a strip of oak forests. Dubnyak, by the way, occupies more than 60% of the peninsula. Among the varieties, the most popular are rocky, fluffy, pedunculate oaks. Oak forests in the Crimea are very light, sparse, with luxurious undergrowth and tall grass.

A little higher in the mountains are the richest beech forests. These mighty trees grow at an altitude of 700 to 1200 m above sea level. Beech forests amaze with their grandeur and silence. They are dense, dark, without undergrowth and grasses, only a sea of ​​fallen leaves wraps around the roots of trees. And only on the very peaks of the Crimean Mountains, beech trees are small and gnarled. And often here they are interspersed with hornbeams.

In rocky damp places, thickets of berry yew, a relict tree that has been preserved since the Tertiary period, have been preserved.

However, the very peaks of the Crimean Mountains are usually called Yayla. Yayla is a chain of peculiar table-like flat peaks connected by deep passes. Once upon a time there were beautiful pastures with lush grass and meadow plants. Most of the Crimean endemics grow on yayla.

And further south begins the descent to the sea, and the flora in these places is simply amazing with the brightness of greenery and diversity. On the southern slopes of the mountains, beech forests give way to pine forests. Even further south, the shilyak belt begins (sparse woody-shrub forests), where fluffy oaks, junipers, pistachios, strawberries, Pontic larch, dense thickets of dogwood and prickly derzhitree meet.

But it should be noted that on the southern coast of Crimea, the shiblyak in its original form was preserved only in some places: in Laspi Bay, on Capes Martyan, Aya. Basically, this part of the peninsula has undergone significant changes due to human activities. It is here that all the health resorts and resorts of Crimea are located, and the plants in this part of the peninsula are 80% imported. But many have been growing here for centuries. So, for example, birch is an extremely atypical tree for the Crimea. It was brought here from Russia only some 200-250 years ago.

In total, the area of ​​Crimean parks stretched over 2,000 hectares. Here you can already find exotic plants brought to the peninsula from all over the world: cypresses, figs, crocuses, almonds, over 20 thousand species of orchids, ferns, tulips and cyclamens.

Fauna of Crimea

Uniqueness geographical location The peninsula also determined the uniqueness of the fauna. There are many endemic animals in Crimea, but at the same time animal world represented much poorer than, for example, even in the neighboring regions of Russia and Ukraine.

Studies have shown that ostriches and giraffes once lived in the Crimea. Then, with climate change, reindeer and arctic foxes moved to the peninsula. Thus, the fauna of the peninsula is an amazing conglomerate of the most diverse species, many of which have adapted to local habitat conditions.

The ichthyofauna is richly represented: there are more than 200 species of marine fish, many live permanently, more than 50 species are "in transit", traveling along the coast of Crimea to the Bosphorus. In the fresh waters of lakes and rivers, zoologists have counted 46 species of fish, with 14 species being "aboriginal". The rest, such as carp, pike perch, perch, crucian carp, silver carp, grass carp were introduced and perfectly acclimatized in the Crimea.

Of the amphibians, the most common are lake and tree frogs, toads and newts. And of the 14 species of Crimean reptiles, only the steppe viper is poisonous. There are many snakes, copper snakes, there are yellow-bellied, four-striped and leopard snakes. Only one species of turtles lives in Crimea - marsh ones. They inhabit mainly mountain waters. But at once there are 6 species of lizards, among which Crimean, rocky and nimble ones are more common.

Birds in the Crimea and more than 200 species. More than 60% of them nest on the peninsula, about 17 species arrive on the peninsula for wintering. Large birds of prey have chosen to live in mountainous areas. These are eagles, ospreys, imperial eagles, golden eagles, vultures, black vultures, sea eagles, peregrine falcons, eagle owls, saker falcons, griffon vultures. Sandpipers, larks, quails are found in the floodplains of river valleys, bustards and little bustards are found in the steppe. Pelicans can be seen on the Crimean coast. But mostly they live here. sea ​​birds: gulls, terns, ducks, geese, gray herons, cormorants. And on the Swan Islands you can see a huge number of species of swans.

As for mammals, there are about 60 species of them in the Crimea. They live mainly in nature reserves, sanctuaries and mountainous areas. Their predators are weasels, foxes, badgers, martens. Hares and ferrets are found in the steppes and forests. Red deer and wild boars live in mountainous regions and foothills. Fallow deer and moufflons have been introduced recently, attempts are being made to revive the population of these animals, but so far to no avail. Once upon a time, wolves also lived in the Crimea, but the last of the wolf tribe disappeared at the beginning of the last century.

There are 4 representatives of marine animals on the coast of Crimea: these are monk seals and three species of dolphins.

Climate in Crimea

The ridge of the Crimean mountains protects the peninsula from air masses coming from the continent, and therefore a tropical climate is preserved on the southern coast with warm summer, hot sun, abundance of greenery and warm sea water.

Spring in Crimea is incredibly beautiful and varied. Heavy rains and fogs are often replaced by clear, fine days. Opening in May bathing season. Summer is not hot, as sea breezes cool the air considerably. The temperature "ceiling" is observed at the height of July, when the air warms up to +36°С +38°С.

Until mid-October, warm autumn reigns on the coast - sunny, velvety. And only at the end of December, winter sets in - not cold, often with positive temperatures, rains and very rare snowfalls. But in the mountains, winter reigns with might and main, sweeping tall snowdrifts. In the mountainous regions of Crimea, winter lasts 100-120 days.

It is known that the Bible mentions many plants. Some of them are widespread in Russia - wheat, barley, apple, narcissus, lily, blackthorn, wormwood, etc. Others can be found only in the south, including while relaxing in the Crimea. The botanical affiliation of some is obvious, while others are still disputed. For example, no one knows what kind of gopher from which Noah built his ark, some translate this word as acacia, others - Lebanese cedar, others - cypress. Therefore, we will not argue that all the plants mentioned in the article are exactly those that the authors of the Bible had in mind, but this does not make them less interesting.

Which of the plants of the Bible grow in the Crimea

Fig tree(fig, fig). This plant is mentioned many times in the Bible. It was fig leaves that Adam and Eve covered themselves with after they ate the forbidden fruit and realized that nudity is not good. Jesus cursed the same tree near Jerusalem for lack of fruit.

The fig sings

In Crimea, figs feel great on the South Coast and in Sevastopol, in some places they have run wild and grow on their own. In other parts of the peninsula, it has to be covered for the winter. Locals make excellent jam from figs, be sure to try it!

Lebanese cedar is mentioned 75 times in the Bible. For example, with his bark, the prophet Moses ordered the rabbis to treat leprosy and disinfect wounds during circumcision. It was used in the construction of the Jerusalem temples and, perhaps, Noah's Ark was built from it.

Primorsky Boulevard, Sevastopol

In Crimea, it can be found in almost all South Coast parks and just on the streets.

Burning bush(fraxinella). Careless tourists remember meeting with this plant forever. The thing is, touching it beautiful flower you can’t smell it either, otherwise blisters appear on the affected areas the next day, as if from a burn, which soon burst and expose bare meat.

Yasenets near the Black River near Sevastopol

This plant is called incendiary for interesting property- its fruits contain essential oils, and in such quantities that if, during the period of seed ripening in sunny calm weather, a match is brought to the bush, the air around it will flare up for a second, and the plant will remain unharmed. Not all researchers agree that the Bible mentions exactly the ash tree. They remind that there was a bush with thorns, which the ash does not have.

olive tree(European or cultivated olive, European olive, olive tree) On the southern coast of Crimea there are old olive groves that look like they were planted in biblical times:

Olive grove in Nikitsky botanical garden

This useful oil-bearing plant was apparently brought here along with grapes by ancient Greek settlers.

Olive trees in the park of the sanatorium. Aivazovsky in Partenit

In the Bible, olives, the tree itself, flowers, fruits, olive oil, are mentioned both directly and allegorically. For example, King David owned olive orchards, oil was added and added to the myrrh. A dove brings an olive branch to Noah, thus indicating that the flood is ending. It is also held in the hands of the Archangel Gabriel, telling the Virgin Mary the good news.

Palm. With palm branches, the inhabitants of Jerusalem met Jesus Christ. John the Theologian saw the saints before the throne of God with palm branches in their hands. There are many palm alleys and separately growing trees on the southern coast of Crimea. They tolerate short-term frosts and even snowfalls well.

Palm trees in Gurzuf, in the sanatorium "Pushkino"

In the Nikitsky Botanical Garden you can admire a whole collection of these heat-loving plants:

One of the palm groves of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden

Moreover, the palmarium is expanding in last years many new species have been planted.

One of the corners of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden

Grape. More often than this plant in the Bible, only the olive tree is found. Raisins, vines, wine, vineyards are mentioned in the Holy Book in connection with a variety of events.

Grape varieties "Moldova"

For example, King David takes raisins on the road, and he also receives them from Abigail with other gifts. Jesus on the cross is smeared with a sponge soaked in sour wine. Often grapes are used allegorically, for example, identifying Christ with the true vine, and his followers with its branches.

Old vineyard near the village of Chernorechye

In Crimea, grapes have been grown almost since biblical times, and therefore many autochthonous varieties have been preserved here, there are also wines made from them, for example, the famous Black Doctor.

New vineyard in the vicinity of the village. Angular

Hyssop is mentioned in the Bible 12 times and each time it is associated with some kind of ritual that helps to cleanse, whiten, protect, anesthetize something. Now this volatile plant is also used for medicinal and culinary purposes, and simply adorns the streets of southern cities. In Crimea, it can be found in various places, in parks, squares, flowerbeds.

hyssop blooms

Juniper mentioned in the Bible in connection with the life of the prophet Elijah, who rests under it, and then finds food under it. Again, the researchers argue whether it was exactly a juniper or the translation is incorrect, and if it is a juniper, then what kind?

Junipers at Cape Sarych

Different types of junipers grow in the Crimea, some of them are listed in the Red Book, so when buying products from its wood, tourists either indulge poachers or acquire fakes - products from other wood soaked in coniferous oils.

Juniper right on the rock - a typical Crimean picture

Saffron(crocus) is mentioned in Scripture only once - in the Old Testament in the Book of Song of Solomon in the list of fragrant plants next to nard, calamus, cinnamon and myrrh.

Crocus - one of the Crimean snowdrops

In Crimea, it can be found everywhere, in forests, on city lawns, in front gardens. local residents. Its delicate flowers can also be found in autumn - these colchicums:

Autumn saffron on the Omega beach in Sevastopol

And these crocuses were taken on the Baydar Pass, where they, along with bright blue scillas in early spring bloom in mountain forests under the crowns of trees that have not yet spread their leaves:

Saffron on the Baidar Pass

Cypress It is mentioned 7 times in the Bible. For example, in the Old Testament, in the Book of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord promises to open springs and plant plants in the desert – cedar, myrtle, olive, cypress, sycamore…. Now the Crimean landscapes cannot be imagined without these dark green candles. It is hard to believe that they were created not by nature, but by people - the ancient Greeks brought them out of the local wild form with horizontal branches. Most likely, the authors of the Bible meant it.

Alley of old cypresses in Simeiz

In the Crimea, the pyramidal cypress was settled twice. First, he arrived here with Greek settlers in the 1st millennium BC, and when they practically left the peninsula, the cypress trees gradually disappeared too - the old ones died over time, no one was engaged in breeding new ones. After the annexation of Crimea to Russia in the 18th century, this volatile plant was brought back.

Judas tree(Purple or Cercis European, Judaic tree). Once upon a time it was brought to the Crimea as an ornamental culture, but it grows wild and now often grows on its own, especially in Sevastopol and its environs. Its main feature is that flowers bloom not only at the ends of the branches, but also right on the trunks.

Flowers on the trunk of a Judas tree

There are two versions of the appearance of this name. According to the first, it was on its branches that Judas Iscariot strangled himself, according to the other, the birthplace of this plant is Judea, and it is named after him.

Crimson blooms - Judaic tree

By the way, there are many versions of what Judas hanged himself on. These are the aspen, because of which its foliage still trembles with horror, the birch, whose trunk has turned white with fear, the alder, the wood of which, allegedly since then, has acquired a reddish color, elderberry, mountain ash, etc. In general, almost every nation has its own version.

Adam's apple(Maclura orange or apple-bearing, false orange, inedible, Indian or Chinese orange, mulberry dye). This plant was brought to Europe from North America as an ornamental crop. First of all, its inedible, but unusual fruits, resembling tennis balls, attract attention. They are also green, have an uneven surface and can reach 15 cm in diameter, but usually about 10 cm.

Maclura on a branch

You can admire them in any Crimean market. Although the Crimeans themselves do not use this plant in any way, they are happy to sell its fruits to gullible tourists as a panacea for all diseases. According to legend, it was this inedible and even poisonous fruit, and not a tasty apple, that convinced Adam and Eve to try the cunning Serpent. According to another version, God in anger turned the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge into these inedible balls.

Pomegranate(Pomegranate, Pomegranate tree). Everyone tried the fruits of this tree, but few northerners saw how it grows (except on window sills, decorative varieties). Crimea provides such an opportunity, although even here it is a little cold, so the easiest way to see this exotic is in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, which is located on the South Bank, in a place with the mildest climate.

Ripe pomegranates in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden

In the Bible, the pomegranate, or rather its fruit - the pomegranate apple, is mentioned several times. Including there is a version that Eve, seduced by the Serpent, treated Adam with a pomegranate apple, and not a nasty maclura.

There are a lot of mistletoe in Crimea. In summer, it is almost invisible, but in winter, its balls, dressing trees in green, which have long shed their own foliage, are visible from afar.

Crimea is famous not only for the sea, beaches, but also for unique plants. Trees, shrubs, herbs fill the air with a pleasant aroma. In total, more than two thousand species of plants grow on the territory of the peninsula, about 260 of them are listed in the Red Book. Below I have described the most interesting, rare representatives of the Crimean flora.

Bay leaf is one of the most popular spices. In the Crimea, it is included in the fund of evergreens of the South Coast. The life expectancy of a laurel bush is about 300 years. The fruits are black in color and are used to make fragrant oil used for medicinal and technical purposes. The leaves are rich in volatile substances (phytoncides), which have a beneficial effect on human health. The main feature is the suppression of the development of tubercle bacillus. The plant is able to withstand temperatures down to -13 °.

You can see an evergreen plant of the myrtle family with fruits resembling a cucumber in the Crimea today in and in. It grows wild in Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Feijoa blooms with beautiful red-white petals, the middle of the flower is decorated with a purple stamen. The tree tolerates frosts up to 12 ° and drought well. Fruits are especially valued for their high iodine content. This property is inherent only to those plants that grow near the Black Sea coast.

The plant (evergreen) reaches a height of 2 - 3 meters. It looks especially impressive during flowering, in May - June. Belongs to the myrtle family, as well as eucalyptus, feijoa, and so on. The leaf is dark green in color, fills the space with a fragrant aroma when rubbed. The flowers form black fruits with pleasant smell. The first plant appeared on the peninsula in 1815, in the famous botanical garden. Today, myrtle is very rare on the peninsula.

Not an annual plant of the sumach genus, in which there are about 20 species. It is one of the most ancient trees, the age can be up to one thousand years. The height of the pistachio with a dense crown and gray bark reaches 8 meters. The leaves are tufted, the flowers do not cause much emotion. The fruits are not edible. The root system has unique properties- anti-erosion. Pistachio tolerates drought and frost very well. The leaves have a strong smell of resin, it is she who has a healing property. Pistachio resin is used in medicine.

Corm plants, from the iris family, about 80 species of representatives are included in this group. The height of crocuses varies from 8 to 30 centimeters. On the territory of the peninsula, all wild crocuses are listed in the Red Book. Flowers adorn stone slopes, glades, delighting tourists with beautiful flowers from February to 15-20 April. The leaves of the plant are narrow, the flowers are light purple or yellow with a graceful limb. On the peninsula, you can often find saffron (the second name of crocus) in juniper groves.

Herbaceous perennial plants of the legume family - astragalus, have more than 2 thousand species. The height is small - from 5 to 10 centimeters. Feel comfortable in areas of increased drought. Astragalus bristleus is an endemic species. On the southern coast of Crimea, it is found on the famous, in the vicinity of Sudak. The best soil for it is gravelly slopes, rocky surfaces. You can enjoy the beauty of unusual red-violet flowers in May. At this time, by the way, many rare species bloom.

Orchid

Scientists disagree on how many species of orchids the orchid genus has, and the data vary greatly (from 20 to 35 thousand). Up to 39 species of orchids will melt in Crimea, including rare representative- Komperia Kompera. Komperia is a relic representative. A beautiful plant up to 50 centimeters tall. The leaves are grayish-green, three to four little things. The flowers are quite large, unusual shape. The orchid blooms from May to June. Meets unique plant in the so-called "Crimean Africa" ​​-.

Fern

This is the rarest plant of the entire family, numbering more than 10 thousand species. In the Crimea, this fern is represented by only 12 units. You can see them only on the majestic. The evergreen plant is covered with black-brown films on the vine. Rhizome creeping, reproduces by spores in summer period. The leaves are distinguished by an unusual dark green color, sometimes even black. The same species is found on the territory of Dagestan and Turkmenistan.

An endemic species that grows only in the Crimea. A frequent flower, but due to constant destruction is at risk. Therefore, it is reserved and carefully protected by the state. Snowdrop is a member of the Amaryllis family, which includes less than 20 species. Grows in shady places. Flowering begins in December - January and continues until the first leaves appear on the trees.

The perennial plant belongs to the buttercup family. Height from 10 to 25 centimeters. It grows mainly in pine and oak forests on rocks. Blooms from February to May. The stem is covered with a silvery fluff, the flowers are fluffy, lilac with a yellow center. The buds are large (3 - 3.5 cm). When the flower is closed, it can be confused with one of the tulip species. With the onset of evening, the flowers close, lower their heads. In the morning they bloom again. The plant is rare. Listed in and included in the Red List of Europe.

The plant, reaching a height of up to 50 cm, belongs to the peony family. It grows in the southern regions of Crimea. The leaf is green, elongated, similar to pine needles. The flower is bright red with a diameter of up to 10 centimeters. Flowering begins at the end of April and continues until June. Favorable soil for growth - stone slopes. It is found in the vicinity of Koktebel, on the territory. Most representatives of this species are on Mount Klimentyev.

Perennial plant of the orchid family. Listed in the Red Book. "Shoe" is distinguished by bright green oval-oblong leaves and inflorescences similar to shoes. They flaunt on tall stems, up to 60 centimeters tall. That's where the name came from. In the season of mass flowering, it spreads a pleasant aroma in the area, attracting a huge number of insects. Grows mainly in shady forests mixed type, on the edges, but sometimes can be found in open areas.

A Red Book plant, only 5 centimeters in height, pleases with its flowering from January - March. This family includes more than 70 species, the Ankara colchicum is one of them. The leaves are covered with a bluish bloom, the flowers are pink-lilac in color, somewhat similar to a crocus. The main difference is the simultaneous appearance of inflorescences and leaves. Colchicum belongs to the category of poisonous, so it is strongly not recommended to tear it. You can get serious poisoning. It is found in the steppes, on mountain slopes. It looks especially impressive on them.

A perennial plant (buttercup family) that prefers the beech forests of the Crimea is as dangerous as it is beautiful. Blue, purple inflorescences are located on a long thin stem. Height can reach 2.5 meters. Flowers usually have irregular shape. Some species are distinguished by yellow inflorescences. In antiquity, aconite was used as one of the ways to enforce the death sentence. Some citizens manage to dig up tubers to plant in their summer cottage. Even knowing about the strongest poisonous properties.

The rose grows in Unlike the aconite described above, it has healing properties. The flowers look like wild roses when in bloom. Leaves and shoots, young, exude a pleasant aroma. It is from this plant that dark green or brown incense oil is obtained by distillation. It is used in perfumery as an excellent fixing agent. In the countries of the East and Egypt it is used for aromatic incense. Blooms white, pink or reddish in June - July, no longer than one day.

Iris

Only three types of irises out of 250 grow in Crimea: false calamus, dwarf and Siberian. False calamus irises prefer marshy places, foothill areas. The plant has powerful leaves and bright sunny flowers. The dwarf species is named due to its small growth, the maximum to which they grow is 20 centimeters. Flowers of different shades - golden, purple, blue and even brown-yellow. Iris blooms from March to May, decorating large areas. What can not be said about the Siberian, it is very rare.

It is simply unrealistic to describe all the plants listed in the Red Book of Crimea. There are a huge number of them. But the species listed above, in my opinion, is quite enough to understand how rich, diverse and unique vegetable world peninsulas. All interesting and good rest!