The threats to the integrity of Crete’s endemic plants, particularly its aromatic herbs, were discussed at a conference held on 28th March in Chania, organised by the Samaria National Park Management Unit, which is now part of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA). The following is an edited version of the report of the conference published on the Haniotika Nea website. Sideritis is also known as “ironwort” as the name is derived from the Greek word for iron – in modern Greek sidiros. Because of its anti-microbial properties it was used in ancient times as a treatment for wounds from iron weapons.

Hybridisation and the introduction of propagating materials from species of the Sideritis family now constitute one of the biggest threats for malotira, an endemic plant of Crete. The main solution for saving the plant is cultivation with the right propagating material, as is being practised by many producers at Omalos.

At the conference, Anna Daskalaki, president of the Cretan branch of the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE), spoke of the lack of certified propagating materials for many aromatic plants in Crete, malotira among them. She noted that “in some cases propagating material from the rest of Greece (other varieties of sideritis) has been used, which is dangerous for our plant populations and for Cretan biodiversity.”

“We found plants with different phenotypic characteristics from malotira,” she added. “There are at least 8 different species of sideritis in mainland Greece and the Balkans, which are not malotira. There is also a tendency to cultivate malotira at altitudes lower than 800 metres, which will lead to an inferior quality product. Also some producers use the name malotira for all the species of sideritis, because malotira ‘sells better’, although malotira is something different.”

The president of the Cretan GEOTEE proposed the designation of protected zones so as to geographically restrict other species of sideritis, and the protection of propagating material derived from natural populations in Crete so as to avoid hybridisation. She also suggested that the cultivation of malotira should be permitted only at an altitude of over 800 metres.

Plant integrity at risk

The same issue was raised by Kostas Oikonomakis, an agronomist and former researcher at the Institute of the Olive Tree and Subtropical Plants in Chania. “We must protect the natural populations of the aromatic and medicinal plants of Crete, which are of great interest because of their high-quality characteristics, but we also have endemic plants which are only found in Crete and are at risk for various reasons.

“The causes are not only intensive gathering and grazing, but the creation of hybrids by the cultivation of plants of the same genus but different species. This represents an immediate threat to malotira and I am afraid that there are signs that things are not going well,” the researcher said.

Amongst these things, he mentioned the “invasion” of other species of mountain tea, or sideritis. “…The most effective way of protecting the aromatic and medicinal plants of Crete is by their cultivation,” he said. “And when we say cultivation, we mean organic cultivation, so that the plants which are used as medicines are not polluted with chemicals. In any case, organic cultivation gives added value, which is very important for us here, where the available land is restricted.” Also of note, he said, are other plants such as the two varieties of Cretan oregano, savory, marjoram, rock rose, etc.

“Unfortunately the protective regulations are not applied in practice so we do not have effective protection – we have horizontal bans which are not acted upon,” commented Panagiota Gotsiou, a biologist at MAICH. She mentioned the extensive work of the Unit for the Preservation of Mediterranean Plants at MAICH, which amongst other projects has registered 363 very important plants as part of the government’s “Green Fund” programme. “There are many unique plants in Chania and Crete because of the island’s unique terrain and isolation,” she said.

The producer

Producer Giannis Kalogridakis spoke about his experience in the organic farming of malotira and marjoram at Omalos. “I started out on my own, I got seeds and small plants and I planted 35,000 plants in 15 stremmata. I was the first at that time.

“Today, thanks to God, things are going very well and this year I am expanding by 6 stremmata. Of course nothing in life is easy,” he said, adding: “The biggest problem in growing malotira is removing weeds, which has to be done by hand.” Mr Kalogridakis distributes his produce to chains of shops in Greece and Germany.

Finally Giorgos Stavropoulos, the agronomist in charge of scientific programmes at the producer of natural beauty and skincare products, Korres, gave a presentation on the cosmetics which his firm produces making use of Greek flora. His company puts great emphasis not only on Cretan herbs but also Cretan olive trees and olive oil, he said.