Phryganic Vegetation

This is a characteristic phryganic vegetation of Kythera. “Phrygana” are low shrubs often with barbed leaves and a wide variety of species. Many of them, such as thyme, sage and celandine, are useful, fragrant and medicinal plants that have been used since ancient times. Traditionally, dry brushwood is used for kindling, but also as doors or fences in caves or dry stone walls for the protection of goats and sheep. They are plants adapted to dry and hot conditons of the summer that grow in barren places up to 300 meters high, even degraded areas after fires. Thyme (Thymus capitatus) is not only the most economically native species in Kythera, but also an element of the island's identity. The famous thyme honey from Kythera is produced from its nectar. «Phrygana” here grow in mix with individual bushy skinos (Pistacia lentiscus), greek strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne) and heather (Erica manipuliflora).