Flora
Petroula Mustaka –Argiro Perraki – Elpida Kourkoutaki
Starting from the crossroad at Kaloudiana village, heading towards Topolia village, we meet the village Voulgaro. Bulgarian soldiers settled this village who were brought by Nikiforos Fokas in Crete in 961 A.D. they gave the name to the village. Near the village there used to be (and still exist) many running waters, which help the development of the poplar tree, a tree that requires a great amount of water. In Slavic language the poplar tree is called “topoli”, so that is why the village is named Topolia. There are still many poplar trees in this village but what really excites the naturist are the blooming slopes of Topolia Gorge just near the tunnel during spring (April – May). These slopes are “painted” by one of the most glorious Greek Bushes, which is called “katsoulia” by the locals. The place is scattered with wild sages, whose lovely white and blue blossoms adorn the landscape. The locals make a concoction with its fruit, which helps to drop the level of diabetes. Furthermore, the region is rich in the most common herbal plants the thyme, the furze, the lentisk (pistacia lentiscus), locust trees(ceratonia silingua) and many others. Little further, just in the gorge's bed we shall find the odoriferous myrtus communis. This plant was dedicated to Aphrodite. Theofrastos (an ancient philosopher) had mentioned it 4 times in his writings, while Dioskouridis (a Greek botanist of the 1st century A.D.)
used its fruit in order to heal cyst affection, spider and scorpion bites. Boiling the fruit and mixing it with wine he healed diarrhea. The plant's leaves and fruit are rich in tannins (a substance useful for many occasions). The leaves contain volatile oil, which its wonderful fragrance. In Cretan local medicine the pulverized, desiccated leaves of myrtus communis are used for healing ulcer, whereas chewing its fruit is regarded to be very efficient for gingivitis. Nevertheless many other herbal plants that thrive in the region have attracted scientists' interest. However, even if you have no idea about botanology, the colours and odours will sure impress you in this enchanting landscape.
Continuing our way south, we shall pass by the small cave with the picturesque church of St. Sophia in its entrance, in Koutsomatado settlement. Chestnut, plane trees, ericas and arbutus prevail on both sides of the road. 
Thereby we reach Elos a captivating town, which along with the nearby villages Vlatos, Rogdia, Limni and Strovles constitutes a vivid oasis in the region. What really impress in this particular place are the chestnut forests. Elos, the capital of the Nine Villages (Inachorio), is the center of Cretan chestnut production. The area is afforested with ericas and arbutus (arbutus unedo) from which the locals make a beverage called “koumaroraki” (famous Cretan alcoholic beverage). During autumn you can taste the delicious arbutus berries, which were regarded (and still are) very indigestible by the Romans. Moreover stop and taste raspberries from the bramble shrub (Vatos in Greek). Vatos according to Greek mythology was a cloth merchant. He used to be very pushy to the local women, who asked Zeus to help them, so he transformed him to the prickly bush. But even nowadays he (as a bush) tears with his prickles the clothes of the passerby's so they will by new ones. In the region a wonderful plant called “astyrakas” with fascinating white blossoms during spring makes its presence felt. At one time fragrances were produced from this plant.
The beautiful, tall trees (plane trees, wild chestnut trees) are usually embraced by the ivy (hedera helix), a plant, which according to Greek mythology had been brought to Europe, from Asia, by Dionysus. That's why the plant was dedicated to the God. Pafsanias (a Greek traveler of the 2nd century A.D.), Theofrastos and Dioskouridis mention the ivy in their writings. A tincture made by the ivy leaves is used to combat cataract, rhinitis and rachitis in homeopathic medicine.
Nevertheless, continuing our itinerary it would be an irreverence not to point out he importance of the olive tree in the regions life. Is has played a predominant role is island's economic and cultural development and it is closely related to our religion.
Heading in a higher altitude, towards Agios Dikaios peak -St. Righteous in Greek-(1008m) you cannot help admiring the Cretan cyclamen and an extremely sparse species silene holzamanii.
