Serra de Sintra

March 14 2009

Serra de Sintra is located next to the Atlantic, 30km west of Lisbon city center. The local climate here is strongly influenced by the proximity of the ocean, with frequent mists and rain even when the skies are clear in nearby Lisbon.

Davallia canariensis grows in some costal locations around Portugal. It can be found growing both as an epiphyte and on the ground or covering rocks.
Fascicularia bicolor is a quite cold resistant bromeliad that will survive temporary frosts. It originates in Chile, unlike the majority of bromeliads that are natives of tropical parts of America. In nature it is found growing as epiphyte or lithophyte like on this image from Parque do Pena. It does well in the mild and moist climate of Sintra and can be seen thriving in many of the old gardens as well as spreading to nearby areas.
In Sintra Hedychium gardnerianum grows in some shadowed and protected areas along small streams going down the mountain. Originally from Nepal and introduced to Europe in the early 19th century. It is considered very invasive in some parts of the world. Hedychiums grow strongly and flowers on both indoor and outdoor vertical gardens.
Hedychium again.
Polypodium vulgare is nn evergreen fern commonly found on old stone walls or cliffs. Here covering a rock in Serra de Sintra, where it also can be found growing as an epiphyte in the misty forest.
Green carpet of Tradescantia fluminensis.