Wild flora of Kefalonia, Greece

This is a "Field-to-Fork" gallery of the wild flora (edible species only) on the island of Kefalonia, Greece

Portulaca oleracea

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  Common Purslane (Αντράκλα ή Γλιστρίδα)
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  Close-up view of edible leaves and stems.
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  Leaves and tender stems coarsely chopped in salad, with tomato and onion.
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  Common Purslane, pickled in vinegar and garlic.

Opuntia ficus-indica

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  Prickly pear (also known as paddle cactus or barbary fig) tree (Φραγκοσυκιά)
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  Ripe fruit in grocer's crate.
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  Peeled fruit.
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  Prickly-pear marmalade.

Lactarius deliciosus

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  Lactarius deliciosus mushrooms (κουμαρίτες). Often grow under strawberry trees.
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  Sliced mushrooms. Note the deep red colour of the flesh when sliced.
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  Μushrooms simmered in olive oil

Lycoperdon perlatum

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  edible wild mushroom in Kefalonia
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  edible wild mushroom in Kefalonia

Ceratonia siliqua

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  Carob tree (Χαρουπιά)
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  Ripe carob pods.
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  Coarse carob flour (pods processed in blender)

Cantharellus cibarius

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  Sliced Cantharellus cibarius mushrooms, prepared for dehydration process.

Arbutus unedo

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  Strawberry tree with ripe fruit (Κουμαριά).
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  Strawberry tree, close-up view. Fruit turns from yellow to red when ripe and at peak of flavour.
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  Strawberry tree fruit in preserves.
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  Liqueur made from Greek "tsipouro" as an alcohol base and strawberry tree fruit.

Urtica dioica

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  Stinging nettle (Τσουκνίδα)
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  Stinging nettle cut from the ground, to be used in recipe.
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  Nettle in pie with feta cheese (τσουκνιδόπιτα)

Oxalis pes-caprae

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  African wood-sorrel (Ξινήθρα ή Ξινάκι)
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  Oxalis cut leaves
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  Oxalis vinaigrette

Muscari comosum

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  Tassel Hyacinth (καλογήρια)
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  Wild muscari comosum (tassel hyacinth) cut from the field.
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  Omelet with muscari comosum (tassel hyacinth), feta cheese and sausage (optional).

Pinus pinea

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  Pine nut (κουκουνάρι ευρωπαϊκό)
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  same quantity of pine nuts, shelled
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  Salad made from fresh greens (local name "pissara" in Kefalonia), sun-dried tomato, feta and pine-nuts.

Tordylium apulum

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  Mediterranean Hartwort (καυκαλήθρα ή καυκαλίδα)
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  Close-up view
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  Pork with tordylium apulum, rosemary and feta (see gallery for details)

Rubus fruticosus

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  Fruit picked from wild blackberry bush.
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  Blackberries being cooked for preserves.
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  Jar of blackberry preserves.

Asparagus officinalis

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  "Wild" asparagus ("άγρια" σπαράγγια)
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  A handful of cut asparagus.
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  Boiled wild asparagus.

Salvia officinalis

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  wild garden sage (φασκόμηλο)
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  close-up view
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  Seftalies sausage potatoes seasoned with sage

Sonchus oleraceus

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  Common sowthistle (the plant with yellow flowers) ζοχός (το φυτό με τα κίτρινα άνθη)
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  Boiled wild greens (assorted, including sowthistle)

Salicornia europaea

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  Salicornia europaea growing wild in Kefalonia, Greece
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  Salicornia europaea growing wild in Kefalonia, Greece

Foeniculum vulgare

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  Fennel (Μάραθος)
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  Foeniculum vulgare cut stems and leaves
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  Foeniculum vulgare leaves chopped
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  Spanakorizo, a common Greek dish prepared with spinach, rice and flavored with herbs such as dill and/or fennel.

Tamus communis

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  Tamus communis (αβρωνιές ή οβρυές)
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  Tamus communis boiled

Picris echioides

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  Bristly ox-tongue (χηροβότανο)

Silybum marianum

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  Milk thistle (γαϊδουράγκαθο)
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  A stalk of silybum marianum, cut and partially peeled from thorny leaves.
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  A stalk of silybum marianum, peeled and ready to eat (taste is similar to cucumber).

Malva sylvestris

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  Common mallow (Μολόχα)
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  Μολόχα Malva sylvestris leaves
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  Dolmadakia μολόχα malva sylvestris
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  Μολόχα τσιγαριά malva sylvestris ragu

Vitis vinifera

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  Vine leaves cut from wild grape vine.
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  Stuffed vine leaves (a traditional Greek "mezes")

Borago Officinalis

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  Borage (Μπουράντζα, Πουράτζινα)
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  Wild borage, chopped.
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  Hortopita, a pie made of a variety of pot herbs (in season) and feta cheese (optional)

Smyrnium olusatrum

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  Alexanders (Αγριοσέλινο, Σμέρνο)
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  Smyrnium olusatrum (wild celery), chopped.
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  "Tsigaridia", a Kefalonian dish prepared with fennel, wild garlic, rice and a variety of pot-herbs.

Taraxacum officinalis

Thymus vulgaris

Origanum vulgare

Lavandula

Chicorium