Juniper drupacea

In the area of monastery Malevis we can find the unique forests of Juniper drupacea in Europe. The Juniper, also called Syrian drypodis is small conical tree that can reach a height of up to 20 meters. It is characterized by very large wrists with a diameter of 2.5 cm. These kinds of trees are mainly spread in Asia Minor, Syria and Lebanon. At Parnonas except from Malevi area where it forms pure forest, we can usually find it together with fir at Prastis, Kosmas, Platanakia and Agios Vasilis. It is recently discovered in a small area in Taygetos. The whole area that occupies the forests at Malevi was declared as the”Natural Monument” of the Greek state in 1980.

The forests of Juniper drupacea are the priority habitats of the European Union under Natura 2000 and Greece has the sole responsibility within the European Union, to preserve its clusters at the Peloponnese.

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