Parco nazionale del Gargano

The Gargano is a well known place to look for wild orchids and other rare plants. For that reason, the area had been on our list for a very long time. In 2018 we were finally able to go to Italy and visit the Gargano. We took a plane to Bari, hired a car with an unwanted but comprehensive all-risk insurance and headed northwards. Our destination was a campsite located south of Manfredonia. However, upon arriving at the late hour of 2 o'clock in the night, we found the campsite in deep sleep, leaving us no choice but to spend the night in our car instead of a "mobilhome". As you can imagine, we didn't get much sleep that night...

The Gargano is part of the Italian Puglia region. When you look at a map of Italy, you will notice the peninsula of the Gargano straight away: it is sticking out of the heel of the country for about 70 kilometers into the Adriatic Sea. The area is characterized by its mountainous terrain, with peaks reaching over 1000 meters above sea level. Within the Parco Nazionale del Gargano one can discover diverse landscapes, including lush forests, rocky slopes, grassy meadows and abandoned olive groves. The area south of the Gargano, where our campsite was situated, has a rich variety of salt marshes and coastal plains. The view of the Gargano peninsula from the sandy beaches is absolutely breathtaking.

On this page you will find (click to jump):

• Used identification keys on the flora of the areas we visited
• A day-by-day report of our Botanical Journey
• A list of all recorded species

Useful identification keys

• Pierre Delforge: Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East (London 2005).
• Sandor Jávorka: Iconographia Florae Partis Austro-Orientalis Europae Centralis (Budapest 1979).
• Sandro Pignatti: Flora d'Italia (Bologna 1982).
• Angela Rossini & Giovanni Quitadamo: Orchidee Spontanee nel Parco Nazionale del Gargano (Foggia 2003).
• www.actaplantarum.org

Report of this BotanicalJourney

23 April 2018: Around campsite Lido Salpi (Manfredonia) (Google map)

So that first night in Italy was far from restful, as our car provided a cold and uncomfortable sleeping spot. However, the silver lining was that we woke up early, allowing us to start our plant-listing adventure promptly. We began by examining a barren field near the main road to Manfredonia, just outside the still-closed gate of the campsite. This area mainly had common plant species. Papaver rhoeas (see picture) was abundant in the field. Impressive was the large amount of Ferula communis, which grew everywhere and had caught our attention even in the darkness of the night before.

After checking in at the campsite, we headed to the nearby beach at Lido Salpi. The coastal region featured small dunes where we spotted various typical species, such as Hordeum marinum, Erodium cicutarium subsp. dunense, Artemisia campestris subsp. maritima, Cakile maritima and Medicago marina. On the beach itself we noted the presence of Ononis variegata (see picture). Moving northward, in the direction of Manfredonia, we encountered fallow fields with low and dry vegetation a little more away from the sea. We recorded Dittrichia viscosa, Alkanna tinctoria, Pancratium maritimum, Salsola kali and Scolymus hispanicus here.

At the remains of an old camp site or something, we followed a tarmac road away from the coast. In its surroundings we recorded species like Urospermum dalechampii, Convolvulus elegantissimus, Dipsacus ferox and Bartsia trixago. An interesting finding was Serapias cordigera, of which we found only two specimens here. A little further we had to cross a narrow bridge by foot. That was quite an adventurous experience in the busy Italian traffic: people were supposed to drive at a speed of only 50 km per hour, but the slowest car went about 90. So we turned back quickly and returned to Lido Salpi via the beach.
   

23 April 2018: Alongside the road from Manfredonia to Tomaiolo (SP57)  (Google map)

In the afternoon we drove up a road north of Manfredonia, with numerous curves. When we noticed a large quantity of Anacamptis pyramidalis, we parked our car and walked into the grassy field. Climbing the hill randomly, we hoped to stumble upon more intriguing plant species. We recorded Stachys germanica, Centaurea solstitialis, Pallenis spinosa and Bituminaria bituminosa on this hill. Other decorative species were Tragopogon dubius and Nigella gallica.

In addition, we found a Serapias species as well, which we identified as Serapias bergonii. Near the road were several spots with Ononosma echioides, which is a truly delightful plant indeed. The fruits of Onobrychis aequidentata were very characteristic and above all funny to see (see picture). At one point, we found ourselves near a shallow ravine, where the sounds of young peregrine falcons filled the air. From that point, we made our way back to the road and returned to our car. At the end of our first day in Italy, we had recorded a total of 245 plant species – a fantastic start to our Botanical Journey!
   

24 April 2018: Sentiero Pellegrini near Monte Sant'Angelo (Google map)

The next day we made our way to Monte Sant'Angelo, where we discovered the "Sentiero Pelegrini" footpath just outside the town. As we followed the path down the hill, we were immediately greeted by a field filled with numerous orchids, including Ophrys sphegodes and Anacamptis morio. There were some nice specimens of Ophrys tenthredinifera as well (see picture). Passing through a gate, the road led us through rugged grassy areas, where we recorded many nice species like Cerastium brachypetalum, Silene italica, Campanula garganica, Asperula cynanchica and Smyrnium perfoliatum.

By pure coincidence we stumbled upon numerous specimens of Viola graeca, which, according to Sandro Pignatti, is only recorded in Italy in the area around Monte Sant'Angelo. The color variation of these plants was remarkable, ranging from deep purple to pale yellow and almost white. Further down the hill we left the footpath as we spotted an abundance of orchids. Among them were Anacamptis papilionacea, Orchis anthropophora and Orchis quadripunctata. From that point we returned to Monte Sant'Angelo. We did not follow the path, but crossed the hill randomly. This spontaneity rewarded us with the discovery of several new plant species. In the town where we had parked our car, we found a large quantity of Lamium garganicum.
   

24 April 2018: Along the roads SS272 and SP52b from Monte Sant'Angelo to Virco del Gargano (Google map)

We parked our car at various parking areas along the SS272 and the SP52b. Our last stop, near the SP52b, turned out to be particularly interesting. It caught our attention as we noticed an abundance of Orchis italica in the area. Excited by the beautiful sight, we decided to venture into the forest, which predominantly consisted of Quercus pubescens and Quercus ilex, along with other species. In the shaded parts of the forest we came across typical plant species like Lamium bifidum, Arum italicum, Neottia nidus-avis, Lamium maculatum, Fragaria moschata, Platanthera chlorantha and Brachypodium sylvaticum. It did not take us long to find Limodorum abortivum too. This species is well known from cork oak forests.

As we explored the more open areas of the woods, we encountered Tordylium maximum, Cistus monspeliensis, Valeriana tuberosa, Polygala nicaeensis and Dactylorhiza romana. In addition, we stumbled upon several grassy fields within the forest. Though cows had clearly grazed the vegetation, there were no recent signs of cow activity. Surprisingly, these fields were abundant with wild plant species, including Ornithopus compressus, Calepina irregularis, Helianthemum apenninum and a Polygala species that we have not been able to identify yet. One remarkable discovery was Iris revoluta (see picture), which was present with both white and purple flowers. The extensively grazed fields turned out to be rich in wild plant species! On our way back to the car we also recorded Ophrys bertolonii near the dirt road.
  

25 April 2018: Oak forests near Santuario di San Matteo Apostolo (Google map)

Today our plan was to explore the deciduous forests of the Gargano. Contrary to the rocky impression you get from Manfredonia, the area around San Marco in Lamis boasts well-developed forests, mainly consisting of mature oak trees. We parked our car below the Santuario di San Matteo Apostolo and began our ascent up the hill, crossing several tarmac roads. Narcissus poeticus was abundant in the woods, but unfortunately there were only few specimens with intact flowers. Allium triquetum was the second plant that colored the forest almost completely white. Among the stones and old tree trunks we discovered Helianthemum apenninum (see picture), along with Asplenium trichomanes and Asplenium ceterach. Surprisingly we also found Viola graeca, a species that according to Pignatti should be restricted to the area around Monte Sant'Angelo.

Our woodland adventure led us to encounter a variety of plant species, including Corydalis cava, Thlaspi montanum, Crocus tommasinianus, Sedum cepaea and Cyclamen repandum (see picture). Orchids were abundant as well, and we were delighted to find Ophrys argolica, Ophrys holoserica, Dactylorhiza sambucina, Orchis provincialis and Cephalanthera longifolia.

Then we followed a narrow path near the Sanctuary, where signs warned us that we entered holy grounds and therefore were not allowed to consume pasta. The forest became denser in this area, and we recorded Selaginella selaginoides here. Near the sanctuary we encountered some stray dogs. A tourist was foolish enough to try to pet one of the dogs. He is lucky that he still has both of his hands. It was a close call.
   

25 April 2018: Several stops alongside the SP22 and the SP43 south of Cagnano Varano (Google map)

We made several stops along the SP22, particularly when we spotted striking plant species (often orchids or daffodils). One remarkable location was a former Lupine field where we observed some interesting weed species, including Mentha longifolia, Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifolia, Agrostemma githago, Lithospermum arvense, Asperula arvensis and Ranunculus arvensis. Additionally, we found Paeonia mascula in the forest.

Heading south of Cagnano Varano, we visited an olive yard. Olive trees are known to live for many years, and in the undergrowth of derelict olive yards you can find all kinds of plant species. We recorded Cynoglossum creticum, Cnicus benedictus, Lathyrus clymenum and Serapias cordigera (see picture) here.
   

25 April 2018: Shore of Lago di Varano (Google map)

On the north side of the Gargano lies a vast saltwater lake called Lago di Varano. Intrigued by the area, we followed a narrow tarmac road that led us to the lake shore, where a small freshwater stream flowed into the salty lake. he environment around this junction of waters offered a unique habitat, showcasing species that thrive in humid conditions, including Typha latifolia, Apium nodiflorum, Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Conium maculatum. The surroundings of the not well-maintained cottages on the shore provided us with Matricaria chamomilla and Brassica nigra. Moreover, the presence of Spergularia salina and Suaeda maritima served as clear indications of the influence of salt water in this vicinity.
   

26 April 2018: Litoranea Varcaro (Google map)

We were desperately looking for fresh water. Not for ourselves, but for finding fresh water plants. So we used Google Maps to locate small streams and ravines that might harbor such species. Our search led us to Litoranea Varcaro, located south of Mattinata. Unfortunately, luck was not on our side this time. Not only did we fail to find any fresh water, but the small ravine we had hoped to explore turned out to be inaccessible due to its steep borders and dense, thorny vegetation. However, the adjacent olive tree yards proved to be easily accessible, and there we made some interesting botanical discoveries. Among the plants we recorded were Trifolium glomeratum, Medicago polymorpha and Hippocrepis multisiliquosa — three clover species that provided a good food source for Orobanche minor, of which we found some rather big specimens. While these findings might not have been as visually striking as some others, they were still valuable contributions to our growing plant list.
   

26 April 2018: Coastal road SP53 towards Vieste (Google map)

We also wanted to record species of the maquis vegetation, a dry and dense landscape of low shrubs and plants. We followed a footpath down hill at first, but soon we noticed Serapias politisii (see picture) and Serapias neglecta ssp. apulica on the hill slopes surrounding us. So we ended up walking randomly through the maquis to find more plant species. This worked out very well: we recorded Himantoglossum robertianum, Biscutella didyma, Anthyllis montana, Cistus creticus and Coronilla juncea. Although the Ophrys species we encountered had no fresh flowers, making identification impossible, we were fortunate to find Gladiolus italicus widely distributed throughout the area. Additionally, besides the previously mentioned Serapias species, we also recorded Serapias bergonii and Serpias cordigera.

26 April 2018: Riserva Statale Monte Barone (Google map)

There are a few things about Italians that we do not fully comprehend. One is the dangerous way they drive, the second is the enormous amount of garbage that they throw out of their cars everywhere, and the third is the tendency to fence off beaches, restricting any public access and making it challenging for anyone to reach the shoreline. So when we followed a narrow road down to the shore in the Riserva Statale Monte Barone, expecting to reach the sea, we were surprised by the inaccessibility of the coast thanks to some hotels. We walked around for a bit and recorded Klasea flavescens, Scandix australis and Echium sabulicola. But because the path ended at a fence every time we tried to follow a new track, we left the area with disappointment. Though we could add some species to our list, we would not advise anyone to go there. Unless you like fancy hotels with fences and private swimming pools at the beach. We prefer swimming in the sea at publicly accessible places.

26 April 2018: Sentiero natura Mergoli-Vignanotica (Google map)

Our next destination turned out to be quite rewarding. We followed a nature trail that led us through various unique habitats. The trail began in an environment resembling maquis, where we spotted Clypeola jonthlaspi, Ononis ornithopodioides, Nigella arvensis and Dorycnium hirsutum. As we continued along the path we entered a dry and exposed pine forest that was abundant with Cistus creticus. Additionally, we recorded Dorycnium hirsutum, Melilotus sulcatus, Leontodon hyoseroides and Vicia tetrasperma subsp. gracilis.

In an open clearing within the woods we found a single specimen of Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans. As we progressed, the forest gradually transitioned into a deciduous forest with a milder climate. It was initially challenging for us to identify Ononis viscosa, but with the aid of some digital resources, we managed to do so later on. The nature trail finally led us to a parking area near a public beach, where we came across Urtica pilulifera (see picture).

Then we made our way back to our car. To our dismay there was quite a bit of broken car glass scattered around, indicating that some unfortunate car burglaries had taken place. Thankfully, our Ford Fiesta seemed to hold no appeal to the burglars, as there was nothing valuable inside, except for a slice of bread and a jar of marmalade, along with Rutgers' rather odorous shoes.
   

26 April 2018: Torre dell'Aglio (Google map)

Despite (again) the presence of broken car glass and signs of frequent human sanitary usage of the area, we managed to make a remarkable discovery at the Torre dell'Aglio: Allysoides sinuata (see picture). According to Pignatti, this plant's occurrence in Italy is restricted to the region of Puglia, making our finding all the more significant. We were delighted with this rare plant sighting. Additionally, it was a pleasure to come across the lovely flowers of Nigella arvensis during our walk.

26 April 2018: Beach next to the SP53 (Google map)

Late in the day we made our way to a beach near the SP53. To our delight, the beach seemed to have been less frequented lately, allowing for an interesting vegetation to grow on the partially overgrown sand. We spotted Silene colorata (see picture) and Medicago littoralis. Additionally, Xanthium orientale, Convolvulus soldanella and Sagina maritima also caught our attention on this beach. Some parts of the beach were marked by small streams of fresh water flowing into the sea, where we recorded Juncus ambiguus, Equisetum ramosissimum and Cyperus laevigatus. As we explored the area, a stray dog approached us, seeking companionship. Although the dog seemed happy to see us, we were more focused on our quest to find wild plants, so we left the dog behind to it's disappointment.
 

27 April 2018: Salt lakes at Lido di Rivoli (Google map)

To find plant species of totally different habitats (salty in this case), we ventured towards the (former) salt lakes at Lido di Rivoli, situated south of Manfredonia. Our journey led us along a road that had been closed for cars, but it remained accessible on foot. At the end of the road we walked across the beach, behind a small embankment that separated the beach from the salt lake. We encountered numerous bird species, although we shall not delve into their details in this BotanicalJourney. However, we did come across some plant species that were new additions to our list and were typical of salty environments. Notable finds included Salsola vermiculata, Juncus inflexus, Polygonum maritimum, Matthiola tricuspidata, Limonium vulgare and Puccinellia convoluta. Amidst this coastal landscape, the vibrant red hues of Papaver rhoeas created a striking contrast with the serene blue waters of the salt lakes (see picture).
   

27 April 2018: Salina di Margherita di Savoia (Google map)

The Salina di Margherita di Savoia is a vast complex of both active and abandoned salt lakes, which has been designated as a Nature Reserve. While this area is primarily known for attracting bird watchers, we also came across some interesting plant species during our visit. Along a small fisherman's path leading to the sea, we spotted Cyperus esculentus, Arenaria leptoclados and Galium spurium. Near a pile of waste in an alley of Ferula Communis (the SP66), we crossed a ditch to get into a wet land (probably a former lake). We recorded Lemna minor, Oenanthe lachenalii, Alopecurus myosuroides, Ranunculus baudotii and Medicago murex there.

27 April 2018: Fallow fields near Manfredonia (Google map)

We attempted to access some fallow fields near Manfredonia, but were sent away by the Guardia di Finanza at the harbor ("no photo near the sheeeeep!"). However, we found a suitable alternative near a school, which turned out to be a vast area of fallow fields, containing many spectacular plant species. Hundreds (maybe thousands) of specimens of Serapias orchids were present. We believe they were Serapias parviflora and Serapias orientalis. Noteworthy was a completely white specimen of Serapias orientalis, which we have posted on our page of anomalies. Hypochromy, a color variation, is apparently not uncommon in S. orientalis, as mentioned by Pierre Delforge. Another exciting find was Anacamptis coriophora ssp fragrans, of which we encountered nearly a hundred specimens (see picture). Bellardia trixago (Bartsia trixago) was also abundant in the area. Additionally, we spotted other delightful plant species such as Carduus defloratus, Ophrys sphegodes subsp. atrata, Trifolium resupinatum, Pallenis spinosa and Amaranthus hybridus.
 

28 April 2018: Alongside the SP57 north of Manfredonia (Google map)

We explored the SP57 road, which wound tightly along the slopes of a rocky mountain. Around km 6, we parked our car and ventured into the hill meadows. The panoramic view of the Manfredonian coast was breathtaking, and we were delighted to come across numerous flowers of Nigella arvensis. Serapias species were abundant as well, although some of them had already dried out. The tiny yellow flowers of Ajuga chamaepitys seemed to be everywhere. Amidst the meadows, we discovered Ornitogalum comosum and many plants of Onobrychis alba. Additionally, we stumbled upon a cushion of leaves on the rocks, the identity of which we couldn't immediately determine. We made sure to take photos for later analysis. Similarly, we struggled to accurately identify a Stachys species (see picture), and we plan to consult our photographs for further examination (without result up to the present day).

28 April 2018: Near Ruggiano (Google map)

We took a road near the village of Ruggiano, but it quickly became too narrow for our car. Fortunately, we had been obliged to buy an insurance we didn't want, so now we didn't need to be bothered by minor scratches on our vehicle. According to the Ryanair website our car should have been "a Volkswagen Polo or similar", but it turned out to be a Ford Fiesta. That comparison is like saying Ophrys lutea is similar to Helianthemum nummularium. Speaking of which, Ophrys lutea was by far the most common orchid in the area around Ruggiano.

We followed the narrow path all the way north and recorded various plant species, including Sideritis italica, Erysimum rhaeticum and Euphrasia stricta s.l.. We also spotted some specimens of Ophrys bertolotii, Orchis tridentata and Ophrys tenthredinifera. Along the way we came across several old arable fields, where we discovered Legousia hybrida, Camelina microcarpa and Bifora radians. As we continued northward we noticed a small depression in the landscape, which turned out to be a somewhat moist habitat. There, we found Neotinea ustulata (see picture) and Ajuga genevensis. Under the oak trees we came across Doronicum, but a small detour through a pine forest didn't yield any new plant species. Nevertheless, this was a worthwile walk!
   

28 April 2018: Alongside the SP52b (Google map)

We noticed grassy fields when we were looking through the woods near the SP52b, north of Monte Sant'Angelo. The meadows proved to be very rich in plant species, and we spotted the beautiful blue and white flowers of Salvia clandestina throughout. The occurrence of Serapias species is almost not worth mentioning anymore, but Euphorbia barrelieri was new for us. Other new species to our list were Globularia nudicaulis, Salvia verbenaca and Herniaria glabra. In the forest we recorded Limodorum abortivum as well.

28 April 2018: Arable field near the SP50bis (Google map)

Due to a navigation error, we ended up stopping at the SP50bis. We had originally intended to follow a narrow road through the higher parts of the Gargano, where we had been a couple of days ago, but we couldn't recall which road it was. However, this unplanned stop turned out to be a fruitful one as we recorded some new plant species that are commonly found in arable fields. Among them were Viola tricolor, Veronica agrestis, Allium nigrum and Vicia hybrida.
 

28 April 2018: Hornbeam forest southwest of Carpino (Google map)

Due to the aforementioned navigation error, we were not expecting to come across a Hornbeam forest with impressive old trees. Therefore, the forest southwest of Carpino turned out to be a delightful surprise. Its lush undergrowth was extremely rich in plant species. The recent rain had filled the air with pleasant scents, making our walk through the woods a delightful experience. We recorded plant species such as Sanicula europaea, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, Polygonatum multiflorum, Euphorbia amygdaloides and Rosa arvensis. After that, we returned to the camp site. The atmosphere there was quite lively with noisy Italians engrossed in watching football. Their cheers and shouts filled the air, almost driving the other campsite guests to the brink of madness. Despite the commotion, we surprisingly had no trouble falling asleep that night...

29 April 2018: Strada communale Paratino (Google map)

A few days ago, we explored a road that led through promising orchid pastures. However, due to the late hour, we didn't pay much attention to the surrounding plant species at that time. Later, when we tried to recall where we had been, we struggled to remember the exact location. After some deep thought, we finally recollected that the road was somewhere northwest of Mattinata. It turned out to be the Strada comunale Paratino and an unnamed road to the north of it. Our first stop was at the Strada communale. The area exhibited a dry vegetation with numerous Serapias, Orchis and even some Ophrys species. Sadly, most of the Ophrys and Orchis had completely dried out, making it impossible to identify them accurately. Nonetheless, there were plenty of other flowering plants, including Orchis coriophora subsp. fragrans, Cistus crispus, Ononis pusilla, Sideritis italica (see picture) and Linum bienne. As we recorded these species, Rutger entertained us with a story about Ollie B Bommel (a talking bear who is a well-known Dutch literary character along with his friend, the white cat Tom Poes).

29 April 2018: Water source near a nameless road (Google map)

Next to the nameless road, we came across a grassy field with a water source. After encountering the knee-high prickly vegetation of the Gargano, it was a pleasant change to be in an area with short grass and tiny plants. The field turned out to be rich in various clover species, such as Trifolium micranthum and Trifolium ornithopodioides. We also spotted other interesting plants like Galactites elegans, Carex ovalis, Oenanthe silaifolia, Ranunculus trilobus (see picture) and Parentucellia latifolia. Underneath the trees we discovered Leucojum vernum.
   

29 April 2018: Orchid meadows near a nameless road (Google map)

High in the hills, we rediscovered the orchid field we had been passing a couple of days ago. This time we identified the orchid species as Anacamptis papilionacea, Dactylorhiza sambucina, Orchis morio, Serapias spec., Neotinea tridentata and in the adjacent oak woods Dactylorhiza sambucina. We also spotted numerous Nacissus poeticus, some of which were still in bloom. Underneath the trees, we made discoveries like Genista germanica, Carex depauperata and Thapsia garganica. It was a spectacular environment to conclude our BotanicalJourney, and we were very happy with our results. Including some species we recorded on our way to Bari airport, our grand total came to 844 different plant species. You can find the comprehensive day-by-day list of these species below.

List of the recorded plant species

PLEASE NOTE:
Only the first finding of species is mentioned. This means that species recorded on multiple dates, such as both on the 27th and the 28th of April, are only noted on the 27th.
 

23 April 2018: Around campsite Lido Salpi (Manfredonia) (Google map)

Alkanna tinctoria
Ammophila arenaria
Anagallis arvensis subsp. foemina
Anisantha diandra
Anisantha madritensis
Anthericum ramosum
Antirrhinum majus
Antirrhinum siculum
Apium graveolens
Aposeris foetida
Artemisia campestris subsp. maritima
Arundo donax
Asparagus officinalis
Asphodelus fistulosus
Bartsia trixago
Bellis annua
Beta vulgaris
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Bromus rubens
Cakile maritima
Calendula arvensis
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Cardamine hirsuta
Carduus pycnocephalus
Carpobrotus acinaciformis
Carpobrotus edulis
Catapodium rigidum
Cerastium glutinosum
Cerastium semidecandrum
Chenopodium album
Chenopodium murale
Cirsium arvense
Convolvulus elegantissimus
Convolvulus arvensis
Conyza sumatrensis
Cortaderia selloana
Crassula vaillantii
Crithmum maritimum
Cuprina spec.
Cynoglossum cheirifolium
Cyperus capitatus
Dactylis glomerata
Daucus carota
Dipsacus ferox
Dittrichia viscosa
Ecballium elaterium
Echium plantagineum
Erodium cicutarium subsp. dunense
Erodium malacoides
Erodium nervulosum or E. gussonii
Erophila verna
Eryngium campestre
Eryngium maritimum
Eucalyptus spec.
Euphorbia helioscopia
Euphorbia peplus
Fallopia baldschuanica
Ferula communis
Ficus carica
Fumaria capreolata
Fumaria officinalis
Fumaria vaillantii
Geranium dissectum
Geranium molle
Geranium purpureum
Geranium rotundifolium
Glebionis coronaria
Helichrysum italicum
Hirschfeldia incana
Hordeum marinum
Hordeum murinum
Hyoseris radiata
Hypecoum procumbens
Hypochaeris laevigata ?
Lactuca serriola
Lactuca viminea
Lagurus ovatus
Lamium amplexicaule
Lavatera cretica
Lepidium draba
Linaria micrantha
Lobularia maritima
Lolium temulentum
Lotus creticus
Lotus cytisoides
Lotus ornithopodioides
Lotus pedunculatus
Malcolmia ramosissima
Malva verticillata
Matricaria chamomilla
Medicago littoralis
Medicago marina
Medicago minima
Medicago sativa
Melilotus infestus
Mercurialis annua
Muscari atlanticum
Muscari comosum
Myosotis ramosissima
Myosotis stricta
Olea europaea
Ononis diffusa
Ononis variegata
Ophrys sphegodes
Opuntia ficus-indica
Orobanche canescens
Oxalis corniculata
Oxalis pes-caprae
Pancratium maritimum
Papaver rhoeas
Parietaria judaica
Phalaris minor
Phleum arenarium
Phleum paniculatum
Phragmites australis
Picris echioides
Picris hieracioides
Piptatherum miliaceum
Pistacia lentiscus
Plantago afra
Plantago lagopus
Poa annua
Poa bulbosa
Poa infirma
Polycarpon tetraphyllum
Raphanus raphanistrum
Reichardia picroides
Reseda alba
Robinia pseudoacacia
Rostraria cristata
Rumex crispus
Salsola kali
Salvia clandestina
Saxifraga tridactylites
Scirpoides holoschoenus
Scolymus hispanicus
Sedum caespitosum
Sedum ochroleucum
Sedum rubens
Sedum rupestre
Senecio squalidus
Senecio vulgaris
Serapias cordigera
Sherardia arvensis
Silene colorata
Silene conica
Silene gallica
Silybum marianum
Sisymbrium irio
Sisymbrium orientale
Sisymbrium spec.
Sonchus oleraceus
Sonchus tenerrimus
Spergularia nicaeensis
Stellaria pallida
Taraxacum officinale s.l. (incl. all sec.)
Tolpis virgata
Trifolium aureum
Trifolium campestre
Trifolium scabrum
Trifolium tomentosum
Triticum durum
Umbilicus rupestris
Urospermum dalechampii
Valantia muralis
Verbascum sinuatum
Veronica polita
Vicia lutea
Vicia sativa
Vulpia myuros
Xanthium spinosum
Zostera marina

The next day Rutger also discovered in the area:

Atriplex halimus
Atriplex prostrata
Carex distans
Inula crithmoides
Ranunculus trilobus
Spergularia media
Suaeda vera
 

23 April 2018: Alongside the road from Manfredonia to Tomaiolo (SP57) (Google map)

Aegilops geniculata
Ajuga iva
Allium subhirsutum
Anacamptis pyramidalis
Anthyllis montana
Arisarum vulgare
Asparagus acutifolius
Asphodeline lutea
Astragalus sesameus
Aurinia sinuata
Bituminaria bituminosa
Blackstonia perfoliata
Brachypodium distachyon
Briza maxima
Bunias erucago
Campanula erinus
Capsella rubella
Centaurea solstitialis
Centaurium pulchellum
Cephalaria transylvanica
Cheilanthes pteridioides
Coronilla scorpioides
Cuscuta planiflora
Dasypyrum villosum
Diplotaxis tenuifolia
Euphorbia characias
Galium tricornutum
Helianthemum spec.
Iris germanica
Iris tuberosa
Isatis tinctoria
Lathyrus cicera
Lathyrus clymenum
Lotus edulis
Medicago scutellata
Misopates orontium
Moraea sisyrinchium
Nigella gallica
Onobrychis aequidentata
Onosma echioides
Orlaya grandiflora
Ornithogalum montanum
Osyris alba
Pallenis spinosa
Phagnalon rupestre
Pisum sativum
Plantago altissima
Prasium majus
Reseda lutea
Rhagadiolus stellatus
Rhamnus pumila
Rosmarinus officinalis
Sanguisorba verrucosa
Scorpiurus muricatus
Scorzonera villosa
Serapias bergonii
Sideritis romana
Silene latifolia
Silene vulgaris
Sinapis alba
Sisymbrium officinale
Stachys germanica
Thesium humile
Tragopogon dubius
Trifolium stellatum
Trifolium subterraneum
Tripodion tetraphyllum
Trisetaria parviflora
Tuberaria guttata
Urginea spec.
Veronica cymbalaria
Vicia cassubica
Vicia peregrina
 

24 April 2018: Sentiero Pellegrini near Monte Sant'Angelo (Google map)

Acer pseudoplatanus
Achillea millefolium
Aesculus hippocastanum
Alyssum alyssoides
Alyssum diffusum
Anacamptis morio
Anacamptis papilionacea
Anemone hortensis
Arabis alpina
Arabis hirsuta
Arabis verna
Arenaria grandiflora
Asperula cynanchica
Asplenium ceterach
Asplenium trichomanes
Athamanta sicula
Aubrieta columnae
Bellis perennis
Bellis sylvestris
Brassica fruticulosa
Campanula garganica
Carex flacca
Carlina vulgaris
Centranthus ruber
Cerastium brachypetalum
Cerastium glomeratum
Cerastium pumilum
Chaerophyllum temulum
Onopordum horridum
Clematis flammula
Clematis vitalba
Clinopodium suaveolens
Crataegus monogyna
Crepis sancta
Crepis setosa
Crepis vesicaria
Cruciata laevipes
Cymbalaria muralis
Cynosurus cristatus
Cynosurus echinatus
Doronicum columnae
Draba muralis
Eranthis hyemalis
Fraxinus ornus
Galium verum
Geranium lucidum
Hedera helix
Hermodactylus tuberosus
Hippocrepis unisiliquosa
Hypericum spruneri
Inula conyzae
Lamium garganicum
Lathyrus aphaca
Lonicera etrusca
Malus sylvestris
Marrubium vulgare
Medicago arabica
Medicago falcata
Muscari racemosum
Ophrys lutea
Ophrys tenthredinifera subsp. grandiflora
Opopanax chironius
Orchis anthropophora
Orchis purpurea
Orchis quadripunctata
Origanum vulgare
Parentucellia latifolia
Pimpinella peregrina
Poa pratensis
Podospermum laciniatum
Polypodium australe
Potentilla reptans
Prunus avium
Prunus cerasus
Prunus dulcis
Prunus spinosa
Pteridium aquilinum
Pyrus pyraster
Quercus pubescens
Ranunculus bulbosus
Ranunculus millefoliatus
Rosa canina s.l.
Sagina micropetala
Saxifraga granulata
Scandix pecten-veneris
Sedum hispanicum
Senecio bicolor subsp. cineraria
Silene italica
Smyrnium perfoliatum
Spartium junceum
Stellaria neglecta
Tephroseris longifolia
Teucrium chamaedrys
Thlaspi perfoliatum
Trifolium montanum
Trifolium nigrescens
Trifolium pratense
Ulmus glabra
Valerianella carinata
Valerianella locusta
Veronica arvensis
Vicia bithynica
Vicia lathyroides
Vicia melanops
Viola aethnensis
 

24 April 2018: Along the roads SS272 and SP52b from Monte Sant'Angelo to Virco del Gargano (Google map)

Acer campestre
Acer opalus subsp. obtusatum
Aethionema saxatile
Agrimonia eupatoria
Ajuga chamaepitys
Anchusa azurea
Anemone apennina
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Aremonia agrimonoides
Aristolochia lutea
Arum italicum
Asphodelus ramosus
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum
Asplenium onopteris
Astragalus glycyphyllos
Avena fatua
Biscutella laevigata
Brachypodium sylvaticum
Buglossoides purpurocaerulea
Calepina irregularis
Calicotome villosa
Carex alba
Carex caryophyllea
Chelidonium majus
Cistus monspeliensis
Clinopodium vulgare
Cyclamen repandum
Dactylorhiza romana
Doronicum orientale
Euonymus europaeus
Euphorbia amygdaloides
Euphorbia spinosa
Ficaria verna
Filago vulgaris
Fragaria moschata
Galium mollugo
Galium rotundifolium
Geranium sanguineum
Geum urbanum
Gladiolus italicus
Helianthemum apenninum
Hippocrepis comosa
Holcus lanatus
Hypericum perforatum
Hypochaeris radicata
Iris revoluta
Juglans regia
Lamium bifidum
Lamium maculatum
Lamium purpureum
Limodorum abortivum
Linum austriacum
Lolium perenne
Luzula campestris
Luzula forsteri
Malva sylvestris
Myosotis sylvatica
Neottia nidus-avis
Ophrys bertolonii
Orchis italica
Ornithopus compressus
Petrorhagia prolifera
Plantago lanceolata
Plantago major
Plantago serraria
Platanthera chlorantha
Polygala nicaeensis
Polygala spec.
Potentilla recta
Potentilla rupestris
Prunella vulgaris
Quercus ilex
Ranunculus montanus
Ranunculus velutinus
Rosa arvensis
Rubia tinctorum
Rubus ulmifolius
Ruscus aculeatus
Sambucus ebulus
Sedum acre
Sedum stellatum
Silene dioica
Sonchus asper
Sorbus aucuparia
Stachys sylvatica
Tamus communis
Tordylium maximum
Torilis japonica
Torilis leptophylla
Trifolium angustifolium
Valeriana tuberosa
Verbena officinalis
Viola reichenbachiana
 

25 April 2018: Oak forests near Santuario di San Matteo Apostolo (Google map)

Actaea spicata
Ailanthus altissima
Allium trifoliatum
Anthriscus sylvestris
Arabis turrita
Atropa bella-donna
Bryonia dioica
Calamagrostis arundinacea
Cardamine bulbifera
Cardamine graeca
Carpinus orientalis
Centaurea triumfetti
Cephalanthera longifolia
Chaerophyllum hirsutum
Conopodium majus
Cornus mas
Corydalis cava
Corylus avellana
Crataegus laevigata agg.
Crepis rubra
Crocus tommasinianus
Cyclamen repandum
Dactylorhiza sambucina
Daphne laureola
Digitalis lutea
Euphorbia myrsinites
Fraxinus angustifolia
Geranium columbinum
Hippocrepis emerus
Ilex aquifolium
Laserpitium siler
Lathyrus latifolius
Lathyrus niger
Lathyrus venetus
Lathyrus vernus
Leontodon hispidus
Ligustrum vulgare
Linaria purpurea
Melica uniflora
Mercurialis perennis
Mespilus germanica
Meum athamanticum
Mycelis muralis
Narcissus poeticus
Narcissus tazetta
Ophrys argolica
Ophrys holoserica
Orchis provincialis
Ornithogalum brutium (?)
Orobanche hederae
Plantago subulata
Potentilla micrantha
Pulmonaria saccharata
Quercus cerris
Rosa sempervirens
Rumex sanguineus
Sambucus nigra
Sambucus racemosa
Scutellaria columnae
Sedum cepaea
Selaginella selaginoides
Sorbus torminalis
Stachys officinalis
Stellaria holostea
Thlaspi montanum
Thymus pulegioides
Umbilicus horizontalis
Veronica officinalis
Vinca major
 

25 April 2018: Several stops alongside the SP22 and the SP43 south of Cagnano Varano (Google map)

Agrostemma githago
Anchusa cretica
Armeria majellensis
Asperula arvensis
Asterolinon linum-stellatum
Borago officinalis
Cnicus benedictus
Colchicum autumnale
Cynoglossum creticum
Filipendula vulgaris
Globularia bisnagarica
Lithospermum arvense
Lupinus albus
Mentha longifolia
Orobanche ramosa
Paeonia mascula
Papaver hybridum
Ranunculus arvensis
Rhinanthus spec.
Rumex pulcher
Scrophularia peregrina
Smilax aspera
Torilis nodosa
Urtica membranacea
Verbascum phlomoides
Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifolia
Viola riviniana
Ziziphus lotus
 

25 April 2018: Shore of Lago di Varano (Google map)

Ammi majus
Apium nodiflorum
Atriplex pedunculata
Ballota nigra
Brassica nigra
Conium maculatum
Convolvulus sylvaticus
Dipsacus fullonum
Echium vulgare
Elytrigia repens
Glebionis segetum
Lolium rigidum
Myosotis arvensis
Parapholis incurva
Plantago coronopus
Ranunculus muricatus
Ranunculus sceleratus
Smyrnium olusatrum
Spergularia salina
Suaeda maritima
Typha latifolia
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
 

26 April 2018: Litoranea Varcaro (Google map)

Anthemis nobilis
Anthemis tinctoria
Artemisia arborescens
Centaurea deusta
Cichorium intybus
Clematis cirrhosa
Colutea arborescens
Cynodon dactylon
Helianthemum nummularium
Hippocrepis multisiliquosa
Medicago polymorpha
Micromeria graeca
Orobanche minor
Pinus halepensis
Pistacia terebinthus
Salvia viridis
Trifolium glomeratum
 

26 April 2018: Coastal road SP53 towards Vieste (Google map)

Biscutella didyma
Carex spec.
Centaurium erythraea
Cistus creticus
Coronilla juncea
Crepis bursifolia
Erodium ciconium
Fumana ericifolia
Fumaria densiflora
Himantoglossum robertianum
Linum strictum
Onobrychis caput-galli
Ononis pusilla
Orobanche variegata
Serapias neglecta subsp. apulica
Serapias politisii
Seseli praecox
Stipa pennata
Teucrium polium
 

26 April 2018: Riserva Statale Monte Barone (Google map)

Allium roseum
Centaurea spec.
Echium sabulicola
Galium murale
Klasea flavescens
Orobanche purpurea
Scandix australis
Teucrium fruticans
Valerianella eriocarpa
 

26 April 2018: Sentiero natura Mergoli-Vignanotica (Google map)

Allium subhirsutum
Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans
Clypeola jonthlaspi
Dorycnium hirsutum
Juniperus communis
Laburnum anagyroides
Lamarckia aurea
Leontodon hyoseroides
Matthiola tricuspidata
Melilotus sulcatus
Nigella arvensis
Ononis ornithopodioides
Ononis viscosa
Papaver dubium
Urtica pilulifera
Viburnum tinus
Vicia tetrasperma subsp. gracilis
 

26 April 2018: Torre dell'Aglio (Google map)

Agave americana
Andropogon distachyos
Aurinia sinuata
Brachypodium phoenicoides
Hyparrhenia hirta
Melica ciliata
Micromeria fruticosa
 

26 April 2018: Beach next to the SP53 (Google map)

Aster tripolium
Bromus rigidus
Carex extensa
Convolvulus soldanella
Conyza bonariensis
Cutandia maritima
Cyperus laevigatus
Elytrigia atherica
Equisetum ramosissimum
Euphorbia seguieriana
Isolepis setacea
Juncus acutus
Juncus ambiguus
Juncus maritimus
Limonium virgatum?
Plantago maritima
Sagina maritima
Tamarix gallica
Trisetaria panicea
Vulpia ciliata
Vulpia membranacea
Xanthium orientale
 

27 April 2018: Salt lakes at Lido di Rivoli (Google map)

Amorpha fruticosa
Frankenia laevis
Juncus bufonius
Juncus inflexus
Lathyrus ochrus
Limonium vulgare
Melilotus siculus
Polygonum maritimum
Puccinellia convoluta
Ruppia cirrhosa
Salsola vermiculata
Tragopogon porrifolius
Typha domingensis
 

27 April 2018: Salina di Margherita di Savoia (Google map)

Alopecurus myosuroides
Arenaria leptoclados
Asperugo procumbens
Atriplex tatarica
Chenopodium opulifolium
Cynara cardunculus
Cyperus esculentus
Dichondra micrantha
Diplotaxis erucoides
Fumaria parviflora
Galium spurium
Lemna minor
Malva parviflora
Medicago murex
Oenanthe lachenalii
Portulaca oleracea
Ranunculus baudotii
Ranunculus circinatus
Rapistrum rugosum
Solanum nigrum
Vicia faba

Two days later we also recorded:

Asphodelus tenuifolius
Chamaerops humilis
Vitis vinifera
 

27 April 2018: Fallow fields near Manfredonia (Google map)

Aira elegantissima
Amaranthus hybridus
Anacamptis coriophora
Asparagus aphyllus
Astragalus hamosus
Carduus defloratus
Carduus nutans
Carlina corymbosa
Centaurium tenuiflorum
Chondrilla juncea
Cytisus aeloicus
Lonicera acuminata
Lotus tetraphyllus
Melica transsilvanica
Onopordum illyricum
Ophrys sphegodes subsp. atrata
Orobanche picridis
Petrorhagia dubia
Phagnalon sordidum
Polygonum arenastrum
Polypogon monspeliensis
Rumex lunaria
Rumex thyrsiflorus
Sanguisorba minor
Scabiosa cretica
Serapias orientalis
Serapias parviflora
Seseli annuum
Spergularia rubra
Thymus spinulosus
Trifolium resupinatum
Turgenia latifolia
 

28 April 2018: Alongside the SP57 north of Manfredonia  (Google map)

Cirsium spec.
Crucianella angustifolia
Elaeoselinum asclepium
Erinus alpinus
Erodium cicutarium
Euphorbia exigua
Galium spec.
Gypsophila repens
Lathyrus sphaericus
Linaria dalmatica
Micromeria juliana
Minuartia mediterranea
Onobrychis alba
Ornithogalum comosum
Plantago bellardii
Reseda phyteuma
Ruta chalepensis
Scrophularia canina
Stachys maritima
Teucrium flavum
Teucrium spec.
Thapsia garganica
 

28 April 2018: Near Ruggiano (Google map)

Aira caryophyllea
Ajuga genevensis
Aphanes arvensis
Bifora radians
Calendula suffruticosa
Camelina microcarpa
Dianthus sylvestris (subsp. garganica?)
Erysimum rhaeticum
Euphrasia stricta s.l.
Fedia cornucopiae
Galium aparine
Herniaria cinerea
Legousia hybrida
Linaria pelisseriana
Marrubium incanum
Neotinea tridentata
Neotinea ustulata
Potentilla pedata
Prunus mahaleb
Pyrus salicifolia
Quercus spec.
Rhamnus lycioides
Rosa glauca
Rumex acetosella
Saxifraga bulbifera
Serapias lingua
Sideritis italica
Sinapis arvensis
Trifolium fragiferum
Trifolium pallescens
Vicia villosa
 

28 April 2018: Alongside the SP52b (Google map)

Arabis auriculata
Erica arborea
Euphorbia barrelieri
Globularia nudicaulis
Herniaria glabra
Prunella laciniata
Rubia peregrina
Vicia hirsuta
 

28 April 2018: Arable field near the SP50bis (Google map)

Allium nigrum
Medicago truncatula
Trifolium repens
Veronica agrestis
Vicia hybrida
Viola tricolor
 

28 April 2018: Hornbeam forest southwest of Carpino (Google map)

Alliaria petiolata
Allium triquetrum
Athyrium alpestre
Carex sylvatica
Cornus sanguinea
Ostrya carpinifolia
Polygonatum multiflorum
Quercus robur
Ranunculus polyanthemos
Sanicula europaea
Thalictrum aquilegiifolium
Veronica montana
Vicia grandiflora
 

29 April 2018: Strada communale Paratino (Google map)

Anacyclus clavatus
Cistus crispus
Echium arenarium
Filago pygmaea
Fumana laevipes
Juniperus oxycedrus
Juniperus phoenicea
Linum bienne
Pimpinella tragium
 

29 April 2018: Water source near a nameless road (Google map)

Anthriscus nemorosa
Carex ovalis
Coronopus squamatus
Eleocharis palustris
Galactites elegans
Leucojum vernum
Oenanthe silaifolia
Scrophularia scopolii
Trifolium micranthum
Trifolium ornithopodioides
 

29 April 2018: Orchid meadows near a nameless road (Google map)

Carex depauperata
Genista germanica
Koeleria splendens
Polygala vulgaris
Rhamnus cathartica
 

29 April 2018: On our way to Bari airport (Google map)

Cerinthe major
Coincya monensis
Filago pyramidata
Hyoscyamus albus
Notobasis syriaca
Ornithogalum narbonense
Romulea columnae
Scabiosa atropurpurea