Kabanoula, the rock lover, of Kythira

Campanula saxatilis subsp. cythere

This species of bellflower is considered endemic to Kythira and Antikythira (Rechinger f. & Phitos (Phitos 1965:483). Very similar and perhaps indistinguishable to the untrained eye, Campanula saxatilis subsp. saxatilis is found in western Crete. Both species are considered extremely rare. The name comes from the Latin saxum = rock, saxatilis = living or growing among rocks. Indeed, this species of bellflower can be found in rock crevices, on rocky ground, or even on the walls of old houses, as in Ioanna's wonderful photographs.