Yellowhead

In autumn, from the end of September to the end of October, barren, stony hill slopes, road sides, clearings and disturbed places (such as abandoned quarries) in the low and middle altitudes of Paggaio are filled with the yellow flowers of the false yellowhead.

Perennial herbaceous plant, with heavy odor, up to 120 cm tall. It has several ascending multi-leaved stems. Their leaves are lanceolate and have smooth or toothed edges, as well as sticky, glandular hairs on their surface. Its compound flowers (heads) are quite large, placed at the top (edge) of the stems, arranged like a grape. In autumn, buzzing resonates across its habitat, as the plant is one of the few food sources for bees. Most importantly, it helps them fight varroa destructor mites which can cause complete hive abandonment. The plant’s healing and antiseptic properties have long been known to the inhabitants of the Aegean islands, which used its leaves as a poultice. The plant was also used to control meligra from vegetables and citrus, and lice and fleas from poultry. It is found in Mediterranean basin countries.

Due to its relatively wide distribution on Mount Paggaio, no particular threats and pressures were observed or reported, which could lead to a significant reduction in its population.

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