Indigenous Trees of the Maltese Islands   

    other  Indigenous plants   plant4B.jpg (16914 bytes)

 

Trees which were natives to the Mediterranean Islands are becoming very rare in the wild and some could be regarded as endangered species.  Many of the Maltese indigenous trees has completely disappeared from their natural habitat.  Fortunately some of these trees can still be found in parks,  private gardens and as street plantations. Listed below are some of the most commonly known species. 

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 Holm Oak   (Il-Balluta )

Botanical Name:   Quercus ilex  Family:   Fagaceae  (e)

 This very ancient tree was very common on the Maltese Islands but it is now becoming increasingly rare. Some of these trees could still be found in some parks and streets. The fruit of the Balluta is called Gandra.

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Carob Tree   (Harruba) 

Botanic Name:   Ceratonia siliqua   Family:   Caesalpinceae  (e)

The Carob Tree ({arruba) is quite common on the Maltese Islands and could still be found in it's natural habitat.  The seed pods of the Carob is used as animal fodder and it is also used as a substitute for cocoa. The Carob Bonsai below was propogated from the seed taken from a Maltese tree in 1970

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White Poplar   (Il-Luq)   

Botanical Name:  Populus alba   Family:  Salicaceae  (d)

The Luq (White Poplar) is a deciduous tree with silvery leaves and it is very rare in the wild. The tree has been planted in parks and in public and private gardens.

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Bay Laurel   (Randa)

Botanical Name:  Laurus nobilis   Family:   lauraceae    (e)

Another native tree that all but disappeared from the wild, but it is common in parks and private gardens. The leaves of the Laurus is used in cooking and are valued for their medical properties.

 

Araar Tree     (Sigra tal-gharghar)    

Botanical Name:  Tetraclinis articulata    Family:  Cupressaceae      (e)

The Gharghar or Araar Tree is the national tree of Malta which is also rare in the wild.  This species of Cypress is on the World endanger list as the tree is endemic to the Maltese Islands and a small forest pocket in Spain

 

The Judas Tree     (Sigra ta' Guda)

Botanical Name:    Cercis Siliquastrum     Family:   Leguminosae     (s.d)

The Juda's Tree has disappeared from the countryside where it was very common. This tree can only be seen in parks and in the streets The tree is semi-deciduous and it flowers in Winter.

 

Common Myrtle    (Ir-Rihan)

Botanical Name:    Leptospermum scoparium   Family:   Myrtaceae     (e)
Syn. Myrtus Communis

Very rare in the wild this beautiful shrub has been planted in streets and in parks and gardens. The flowers of the Rihan are very fragrant and smell like Citrus buds. Ghajn Rihana (Rihan creek)in Malta and Wied ir-Rihan (Rihan valley)in Gozo were named after this small tree.

 

Aleppo Pine    (Iz-Znuber-Sigra tal-Prinjol)   

Botanical Name:  Pinus Halepensis      Family:   Pinaceae   (e)

The Maltese pine tree was the tallest tree found on these island and it was known to attain the height of over 100 feet. Today it has became very rare in the wild but could be still found in gardens and as a street tree. The tree has a very distinctive pine cone.

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