The Calanques: a plant biodiversity hotspot

From the hills...

Along the rocky ridges and screes, you can see the Genista lobelii, a small thorny shrub that resists the winds thanks to its cushion-like shape. Growing in the scree and limestone pavement, the Arenaria provincialis is a protected endemic species: it is found only in Provence and nowhere else in the world.

The outlines of the Aleppo Pines, often tortuous because they are exposed to violent winds, dominate the garrigues. At the edge of the paths, one can see rosemary, thyme, and even Cistus albidus.

...to the coast

The coastline has a concentration of halophytes, which are plants that tolerate the salt burn of the sea, such as Astragalus tragacantha, which has adapted to the extreme conditions of its environment, thanks to its cushion-like shape and its small hairy leaves.