WILD FLOWERS OF THE ALGARVE
SOUTHERN PORTUGAL

A good time to learn to identify the shrubs and trees of the Algarve is autumn when their fruits and berries mature. Many of the Algarve oaks, shrub-like Holm oaks and Kermes oaks as well as the beautiful shade tree, the Evergreen oak, are bearing their different acorns,

Mastic (Pistacio lentiscus) bushes are bright with red berries and curious red pod shaped galls which develop from some leaflets. The leaves have 6-8 pinnate leaflets without an end leaflet. It is an evergreen plant.

The Turpintine tree belongs to the same genus. Pistacio terebinthus is a small deciduous tree or shrub. Its pinnate leaves have 5-9 leaflets including an end leaflet. Its berries are green to pinkish brown. It also bears curious red galls shown in the diagram.

Evergreen Oak forests used to be the climax community of plants in Portugal and South Spain. Quercus rotundifolia is more prevalent here than the Holm Oak, Quercus ilex which requires higher rainfall. Both can develop into good sized trees although here the Holm oak tends to be shrub like. The Evergreen oak has sweet acorns, while Holm's oak has bitter ones.

The Cork Oak Quercus suber is still very important economically in the Algarve. Visit the museum in S�o Bras de Alportal to see an interesting display of the ancient ways of harvesting the cork.

The shrubby oak which rarely develops into a tree is Kermes Oak Quercus cocciferra famous as an ancient source of red dye.

The Strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo) are full of fruit varying in colour from orange to scarlet which will be distilled to make the famous Algarve "schnaps" Aguadente de Medronha.

Another bush, the common myrtle Myrtis communis bears dark blue berries in October. This attractive shrub has upright branches of green lance shaped leaves which are aromatic when crushed.

Daphne gnidium, a medium sized bush has long slender branches completely covered with whorls of bright green lanceolate leaves. In autumn it bears red to black berries.