FLORA & FAUNA
The environment of Inachorio
The entire area of Inachorio is of great interest in terms of flora, fauna, geomorphology and natural beauty and have all the special characteristics that arouse the interest of visitors, tourists and walkers.
Flora
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme is an angiosperm, angiospermic, ovate plant belonging to the order Tubiflorae and the family Labiatae. It is a small shrub (up to 30 cm tall), with erect stems, extremely hardy, with a very pleasant fragrance. It is found in the southern and Mediterranean regions of Europe. The mountains of Crete are full of thyme, as is the area of Inachorio where our race takes place. Through the Retzakas Trail Run you will be able to run and walk among the thymes of the area.
Common chickweed ( Arbutus unedo L. )
The pine trees are a characteristic plant of the area of Inachorio and you will find them on a large part of our routes. The dwarf tree is an evergreen large shrub or small tree, widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and one of the most characteristic plants of the long vegetation. It is a plant with minimal requirements, growing on dry and stony slopes with well-drained and relatively acidic soils. Rich and deep, its creeping root system exploits soil moisture and protects it from erosion. Its height usually ranges from 2-3 m but can reach up to 12 m. The bark is brownish, wrinkled and rough, and is characterised by spherical glandular fruits. The leaves are glossy, dark green, oval in shape, serrated, rough and leathery.
Aspalathus ( Calicotome villosa )
Aspalathus is a plant of the Mediterranean flora belonging to the family of the chedropha, the legumes. It is a perennial thorny shrub up to 1,5 to 2 metres high. It flowers in early spring and its flowers are bright yellow in colour and have a characteristic odour. The fruit is small, cedar-shaped and covered with greyish hairs. The fruit is eaten by goats. When the shoots dry out in summer they turn into hard thorns. It grows in bushes in dry, low-lying areas. The name aspalathos is an ancient one, and Dioscorides used it to describe the plant. It is thought that the name is linguistically derived from some unknown prehistoric Mediterranean language.
Fauna
Lizard of Crete ( Podacris cretensis )
The Cretan lizard is the only endemic species of lizard on the island, which until a few years ago was thought to belong to Podarcis erhardii. It is also known as the Cretan silverbird, the little colice lizard or the cloistered lizard. The species is mainly distributed in western Crete, it is a small lizard, 7 cm long, living mainly in rocky areas with toadstools, where it finds shelter among the rocks. When there are not many rocks, it hides in the rocks. It feeds on a variety of small arthropods and other invertebrates (e.g. snails). Its main enemies are snakes, hawks, some small mammals, but especially man, who constantly interferes with its preferred places.
