The flora of Ikaria consists of 92 families, 401 genera and 829 species. A large number of species found in Ikaria, belonging to three families: Leguminosae, Compositae and Gramineae, and there are several species of the family Caryophyllaceae, Cruciferae, Labiatae and Umbelliferae.
In the southern part of the island, found some rare endemic species and subspecies, such as the peony Ikaria (Paeonia mascula cariensis) and especially unique species Iberis runemarkii the slope. The existence of endemism plant is mainly due to the geographical position of the island (near the coast of Asia Minor). The endemic flora consists of 42 species (5%): 15 species are exclusively endemic to the island, and 14 species are endemic to the islands of the Aegean and 13 species are endemic to Greece. (Source Archipelago).
In recent years due to human interventions on the island, created areas suitable to support new varieties. According to studies, 27% (228 species) of the total flora in Ikaria was a result of human activities, while only 10% (80 species) was created naturally. Endemic species Linum gyaricum, Verbascum ikaricum, Nigella icarica, Polygonum icaricum, Symphytum icaricum, Rorippa icarica, protected by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/1981) and included in the European Red List of Globally Threatened Plants and Animals, list of threatened Species of IUCN (1993), in the category of threatened plants, and are described as rare species.
Also, we found a 'Perikathe' in Ikarian dialect, a kind of hawthorn (Crataegus Monogyna) that grows in the highlands of Ikaria and the fruit has beneficial properties for the human body. The English name is Hawthorn. Ikaria, due to variations in the geomorphological structure, found wide variety of populations and species of flora. Noteworthy is the Skatzocheiros, encountered the plain Fanar, endemic herpetofauna from Asia Minor, such as Turkish lizard (Lacerta oertzeni) which is endemic to Ikaria, the gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), the Ablepharus kitaibelii (Ablepharus kitaibelii), the Ofisops ( Ophisops elegans), the Agama (Laudakia stellio), the Lacertidae Lacertinae, the Skoutzikas (laudakia stellio), while the famous "Lizard Ikaria» (Lacerta oerizeni) found only in Ikaria. Of the most common snakes of the island is efios Efios (Coluber caspius) and sapitis Sapitis (Malpolon insignitus), and protected Viper (Vipera xanthina). while there are no poisonous species.
Ikaria presents even rich avifauna (GR143), with rare species such as the seagull, the shag. The area is important for breeding raptors and migratory birds like the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), the Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) and Cinereous Bunting (Emberiza cineracea). The sea around the island of Ikaria, mainly in the northern part of the island, shelter endangered species such as the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). (Data source: Archipelago and Greek Ornithological Society).
In the southern part of the island, found some rare endemic species and subspecies, such as the peony Ikaria (Paeonia mascula cariensis) and especially unique species Iberis runemarkii the slope. The existence of endemism plant is mainly due to the geographical position of the island (near the coast of Asia Minor). The endemic flora consists of 42 species (5%): 15 species are exclusively endemic to the island, and 14 species are endemic to the islands of the Aegean and 13 species are endemic to Greece. (Source Archipelago).
In recent years due to human interventions on the island, created areas suitable to support new varieties. According to studies, 27% (228 species) of the total flora in Ikaria was a result of human activities, while only 10% (80 species) was created naturally. Endemic species Linum gyaricum, Verbascum ikaricum, Nigella icarica, Polygonum icaricum, Symphytum icaricum, Rorippa icarica, protected by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/1981) and included in the European Red List of Globally Threatened Plants and Animals, list of threatened Species of IUCN (1993), in the category of threatened plants, and are described as rare species.
Also, we found a 'Perikathe' in Ikarian dialect, a kind of hawthorn (Crataegus Monogyna) that grows in the highlands of Ikaria and the fruit has beneficial properties for the human body. The English name is Hawthorn. Ikaria, due to variations in the geomorphological structure, found wide variety of populations and species of flora. Noteworthy is the Skatzocheiros, encountered the plain Fanar, endemic herpetofauna from Asia Minor, such as Turkish lizard (Lacerta oertzeni) which is endemic to Ikaria, the gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), the Ablepharus kitaibelii (Ablepharus kitaibelii), the Ofisops ( Ophisops elegans), the Agama (Laudakia stellio), the Lacertidae Lacertinae, the Skoutzikas (laudakia stellio), while the famous "Lizard Ikaria» (Lacerta oerizeni) found only in Ikaria. Of the most common snakes of the island is efios Efios (Coluber caspius) and sapitis Sapitis (Malpolon insignitus), and protected Viper (Vipera xanthina). while there are no poisonous species.
Ikaria presents even rich avifauna (GR143), with rare species such as the seagull, the shag. The area is important for breeding raptors and migratory birds like the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), the Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) and Cinereous Bunting (Emberiza cineracea). The sea around the island of Ikaria, mainly in the northern part of the island, shelter endangered species such as the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). (Data source: Archipelago and Greek Ornithological Society).