Flora

In Cala Millor can be observed a wide range of habitats, each one with a great diversity of plant species typical from Mediterranean areas. The garrigue is the most abundant vegetation you can observe, mainly it consists of shrubs of medium height as mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), white steppe (Cistus albidus), black sttepe (Cistus monspeliensis), heather (Erica multiflora) or rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). This habitat could be found in different areas of Cala Millor, from the end of the dunes of Sa Punta de n’Amer to the highest areas of the interior mountains of the neighbouring municipality.

The proximity to the coast allows to detect other interesting habitats as the dunes. They are characterized by the presence of the sand as substratum and the exposition to the saline spray and the wind; both restrict the presence of the species in function of their ability to resist these conditions. The first species you can observe in this habitat is the European marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), that shows a great ability to fix the sand and to ease the presence of other plants. In this habitat, must be mentioned the sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum), the sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), the yellow hornpoppy (Glaucium flavum) or the sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias), all of them bloom during summer and fall. It attracts attention the lawns of grey birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus cytisoides) and aromatic plants as the ones included in the genre Teucrium spp.

At the dunes area, further away from the sea, where the substratum is stable and rich in nutrients, it is where we find the plant community own of the junipers. It is composed by trees as the juniper (Juniperus phoenicea) and the white pine (Pinus halepensis). At the coast areas where there is a rocky substratum and there is no sand, is where we can find species as the rock sea-lavenders (Limonium spp, where the Balearic endemism Limonium biflorum stands out), the sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) and the endemic Socarrels of Balearic Islands (Launaea cervicornis).

At the interior areas of Cala Millor, where the ground is wet and deep enough, we can find the holm oak wood, peculiar because of its high humidity, shade and leafiness. It is in this habitat where appears a great diversity of plants adapted to shade and humidity areas, where abounds the holm oak (Quercus ilex) and other peculiar neighbour as the pa porcí (Cyclamen balearicum), the sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera) and the wild madder (Rubia peregrine) or even fern as Pteridium aquilinum and Polypodium cambricum. In other environments where the quantity of ground is not so abundant or the humidity conditions are not high enough, we find the wild olive tree (Olea europaea var sylvestis).

Out of the Mallorca natural areas, it is remarkable the typical rural crops of the island, as the almond trees (Prunus dulcis), fig trees (Ficus carica), carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua) and the olive trees (Olea europaea). Specifically, the bloom of the almond tree during the first trimester of the year leaves an emblematic picture of the traditional crop of Mallorca. During August and September, it is very common to see the peasant farmers collecting the fruits in Cala Millor landscape.

Below it is explained the main characteristics of some representative species of the flora present in Cala Millor:

Wild Olive Tree (Olea europaea var sylvestis): It is the most common tree species of Cala Millor. It is found in a great variety of places as the side paths, crags or mountains. Its cultivated variety is the olive tree.

The Summer Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus): It is an herbaceous very common at the garrigue, path sides and rural areas. It is characterized by the white flowers that it does. It is frequently visited by the area insects and for that reason it is a good place to observe the pollination.

Thistle: Set of different species that share a characteristic: They are very thorny with big violet flowers. In Cala Millor it is possible to find a great variety of thistle, from the sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) to the cardus marianus (Silybum marianum) or the globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus). The most abundant is the white thistle (Galactites tormentosa).

Stramma (Ampelodesmos mauritanica): Grass very abundant at the mountain and the garrigue, it is characterizing by the size of its spike. At the burned areas, the stramma dominates the area until formed a reedbed. The leaves are rough and they even can hurt.  They have traditional uses as the grass and the manufacture of ropes and carpets.

Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis): It is the only indigenous palm tree from the Balearic Islands that abounds at the high areas. Normally, they have a short size, around 2 meters. Traditionally, at the towns of Arta and Capdepera they are used to made “llatre”.

Sabine (Juniperus phoenicea): It is a short size tree from the coast areas with the ability to resist the exceed of marine salt that the wind brings. With the tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) both are the only trees with the ability to resist the coast conditions. They are abundant at the areas of Cala Millor and Sa Costa de Pins.

As a particularity, the vegetation of Mallorca presents emblematic species that are important to know when you do a naturalistic route. On one side, the orchids are abundant at the garrigue areas and even at the dunes interior areas (Orchis spp., Ophrys spp., Serapias spp.). On the other It is important to highlight the autumn geophytes that appears at the garrigue, as the endemic Crocus cambesedesii or the Merendera filifolia.

The abandoned crops are quickly invaded by nitrophile plants with a powerful colours. They are a fundamental part of the rural landscape of Cala Millor. Among them, you can distinguish the poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and the crown daisy (Chrysanthemum coronarium).

Near Cala Millor we find the Llevant Peninsula Natural Park where we can find a great variety of indigenous plant species and they create a unique landscape. Besides, it is a good opportunity to observe endemic plant species as the steppe joana (Hypericum balearicum), the steppe blanera (Phlomis italica), the coixinet de monja (Astragalus balearicus) and the Hippocrepis balearica.