Daphne oleoides

On Mt. Paggaio, it is found in the wider area of the peaks and in openings of beech forests, always at altitudes higher than 1,500 m asl.

Its population on Mt. Paggaio is not very large. It is an evergreen, multi-branched shrub with a height of 30-60 cm and with hairy, reddish-brown stems. The leaves are olive-like, leathery, 13-20 × 4-6 (-10) mm in size, while they may be obovate, oblanceolate or more rarely oblong-elliptical in shape. Its flowers form groups of 3-5 or rarely 7, with a very small peduncle. The flowers are white or creamy- white, while more rarely can be pinkish. Perianth lobes (corresponding to the petals of typical flowers), are linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, with an acute apex. The fruit is small, spherical orange-red. The common name of the plant is “The oily Daphne“, while it has several local names in various parts of Greece. The name of the genus (Daphne) comes from the Nymph Daphne, who transformed into a laurel to avoid Apollo chasing her. However, this plant has nothing to do either with the edible laurel or with the edible olive, as all its parts are poisonous; even simple contact can cause dermatitis. It prefers stony or rocky places in the subalpine and alpine zone, at altitudes between 1,400-2,200 m. More rarely it can rise up to 2,800 m or reach low up to 450 m. It is found in forest openings or grasslands, on limestone and schists, while it can rarely be found in serpentine. We will see it in flower from the ends of May until August, depending on the altitude.

So far, no threat was recorded for this species. This could be attributed to its poisonous properties. Actions that could lead to a significant reduction in its population size are not expected.

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It is not subjected to any national or international conservation status.