Flora

Paliamas Olive Tree has been declared monumental by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities due to its relief trunk and size. This olive tree dates back to the Sub-Minoan First Geometric period, produces big olives and it’s got a big cavity in its trunk, where three people can fit in. Its perimeter at its foot measures 20.40 meters and at a height of 80 cm from the ground it measures 10.50 meters.

Below this plane tree, that has been declared as nature monument, the 99 Holy Fathers settled after arriving to Crete from Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey. This is located inside the monastery if the 99 Holy Fathers. They say that its branches form 99 crosses.

The monastery of Gorgolaini hosts two ancient trees that have been declared a nature monuments by the Greek state: a cypress and a plane tree. Both are located at the end of the garden, one next to the other.

This plane tree forms a small oasis in the monastery of Saint John Giona, contrary to the arid and eerie landscape around. It is said that a weird phenomenon takes place here, as the leafs of the plane tree are from the other side than usual.

The olive tree has been declared by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities as a natural monument due to its relief trunk. Its variety id called hontrelia and is grafted on a rootstock of a wild olive tree. The tree belongs to the Church and at a height of 0.8m it has 4.2m diameter and 10.6m perimeter, while its base has 4.5m diameter and 12.1m perimeter.

The Cretan cephalanthrera (Cephalanthera cucullata) is an endemic species of orchid that grows exclusively in the mountain forests of Crete, at an altitude of 700-1500m. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with short, creeping rhizomes. Its height reaches up to 20cm and it develops up to 24 whitepinkish flowers from May to June, but it does not bloom every year. In late June the seeds ripen and the aboveground plant parts dry.

The oak of Madalenis or Manalenis is located near the village Korfes. This centenarian oak has been declared a natural monument. It is said that under the branches, that today touch the ground due to their size, assemblies of the rebels in the area took place during the Greek revolts.

The olive tree is located on the right side of the road heading from Sitia to Piskokefalo and locals call it fourkolia, i.e. the olive tree where the Christians were drowned by hanging by the Turks. Unfortunately, the tree has been damaged severely due a car crash.