The Ebro delta and mountains of southern Spain

[Liz M]

I have just got back from a few days in Spain. Although primarily a holiday and birdwatching trip, I always keep my eyes open for Cacti and Succulents, as these are frequently grown there.
One day whilst driving in the mountains, west of Tortosa, we came along a road which went over a barranca, a sunken dried up river bed. I first noticed the Opuntia fruits, so got out to take a picture, on exploring I also found several other plants of a non-native variety. These were all within a few feet of each other and I found their proximity and variety quite amazing.
This is the fruiting Opuntia, you can see why it is growing all over Spain.

Then there was this, another Opuntia, in flower

Then there was another one, also in flower

Then I found this healthy Aloe, which had been in flower, obviously another escape.

[Liz M]

We were in the Ebro delta, which is a wonderful strange place, primarily used for rice production, flat and water-logged and a haven for all sorts of water-birds and others on migration. Whilst we were there we stopped for lunch at a small restaurant near Riumar, it was a quiet place and I noticed a few pots, so went to investigate. Wow, what a collection of succulents this lady had and so many huge and beautiful pots. Here is a sample.
This is the thing I first noticed

I wish mine looked like this

A bit weedy but still a good potful

[Liz M]

A few more, I don't know what this is but it is a strange and fascinating plant with a bright pink tufted flower.

This is a Tylecodon, I think, as it is similar to one I have

Not the world's best Echinopsis

A beautiful Agave attenuata

A Haworthia

[Liz M]

Some more, an Aloe

Another Aloe

There was plenty more but I was there to eat. A few more general shots.
A view across the rice fields to the mountains beyond

One of hundreds or thousands Little Egrets

Another of one of the inhabitants of the Delta, I stayed in the car for this

I can not recommend the Ebro Delta enough if you like Egrets, Bitterns, Herons, Waders, Gulls, Terns, Ducks and Warblers. It was migration time, so we saw flocks of Bee-eaters and dozens of Marsh Harriers, which winter there, along with a lot of others.

[Liz M]

Above all, I love the mountains, they are great for Vultures, Eagles, Thrushes and smaller birds, wonderful scenery and so many alpine plants. The fig trees are everywhere and at this time in fruit.

A Verbascum rosette

One of many hilltop towns

We found Morella, a town tucked inside some ancient walls, with a castle and the fabulous aqueduct.

On the wall in front of the aqueduct I found a whole collection of native Sedums, brevifolium, sediforme and hispanicum.

IMG_3049.10001.jpg (241.19 KiB) Viewed 3069 times

There are Sempervivums to be found if you go high enough to some inaccessible spots but there are many more interesting plants to be found without breaking your neck.

[MikeT]

Some interesting finds there, Liz, and excellent photos. Are you on a commission from the travel agent?

Could the 3rd Opuntia be subulata? (= Austrocylindropuntia subulata).

The plant to the right of the Faucaria looks strange. Did you have any idea what it was? Peperomia??

The “strange and fascinating plant with a bright pink tufted flower” looks like Senecio stapeliiformis, but that has red flowers - unless there is also a pink flowered form. “Bright pink tufted” would seem to exclude a Ceropegia. Hope you didn’t bring back any of the Oxalis growing with it!

The Sedum hispanicum looks very red, was it very exposed to the sun?

[Liz M]

Hi Mike, I'm sure you are right about O subulata, I only came across it in this one instance but others are all over the place.
As for the proposed Peperomia, I did not notice it, you are obviously more expert than I, to have seen it.
The Senecio flower was bright pinkish red, so maybe there are variations.
The Sedum hispanicum was in full sun, I should think, so no surprises it was so red. I saw it in several other places where it was green but probably more shady.
No, I did not bring any of the Oxalis back, I did not need to, I have plenty already.

[Phil_SK]

Opuntia No2 looks like the spiny form of O. stricta known as O. dillenii. It's a troublesome weed, I believe.

Could your Tylecodon be the plant I used to know as Coleus aromaticus (although most of the plant coming up from a google images search don't look quite right - does anybody else know the plant I mean?

[ChrisR]

I thought it was Coleus as well Phil - thick felted leaves that smell amazing when crushed. Def not Tylecodon anyway.

Thanks Liz - a nice presentation.

[Jim_Mercer]

I thought it was Coleus as well Phil - thick felted leaves that smell amazing when crushed. Def not Tylecodon anyway.

Could your Tylecodon be the plant I used to know as Coleus aromaticus (although most of the plant coming up from a google images search don't look quite right - does anybody else know the plant I mean?

Perhaps it is Plectranthus amboinicus aka Coleus amboinicus and Coleus aromaticus