Research in Context
Tree species with area of origin
the Mediterranean region
Liquidambar orientalis
Altingiaceae
Image source: Vaso Timonidou (January 2026) Athens
Distribution in Athens. Specimen trees are located at the collections of Diomedes Botanic Garden. Also it has been observed and recorded by iNaturalist community members on the northern side of the Parnitha mountain of Attica.
Biomes primarily in the temperate biome
Countries and areas
Area of origin East Aegean Islands (Rodos) to W. & SW. Türkiye
Tree inventories around the world (GUTI Database).
Its presence is recorded in 19 urban tree inventories. In France, it is present in four cities.
OCEANIA: Australia (Canberra, Willoughby), New Zealand (Christchurch)
AMERICAS: USA (Claremont, Delaware, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco)
EUROPE: Denmark (Aarhus), France (Bordeaux, Grenoble, Montpellier, Paris), Italy (Merano), Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich), United Kingdom (Bristol, London).
ASIA: Turkey (Antalya).
Further Notes (to be completed)
(Balpınar 2023, Chatzinikolaou 2025, EUFORGEN 2018, Johnson 2021, Floriscope n.d., Karetsos 2025, Matziris 2025, Plantfinder n.d., Thymakis 2025)
References on Liquidambar orientalis
Articles
Agrosymbol.gr, Agriculture and Environment News Website
New Research Project by IMFE, ELGO Dimitra and WWF Greece for the restoration of the forests with oriental plane and liquidambar tree species.
Karetsos, Giorgos (2025, December 12).
www.dasarxeio.com, Forestry News Website
An almost unknown legacy of the nature of Rhodes
Botanical Gardens
Missouri Botanical Garden
Plant Finder - Liquidambar orientalis. (n.d.).
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=291500&%22
Papers
Balpınar, Neslihan. (2023).
Contributions to the flora of sweetgum forest nature protection area (Kargı Village/Bucak/Burdur).
Eurasian Journal of Forest Science, 10(3), 116-131.
Plant Species Databases
Trees and Shrubs Online, www.treesandshrubsonline.org
Johnson, Owen. (2021),
'Liquidambar orientalis'
https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/liquidambar/liquidambar-orientalis/
Plante & Cité
Floriscope, n.d.
'Liquidambar orientalis'
Research Projects
EUFORGEN European forest genetic resources programme. (2018).
Euforgen.org.
Liquidambar orientalis
Social Media
Matziris Evangelos, (2025 December 14)
A post on Facebook about the two sweetgum species that are found, Liquidambar orientalis and L. styraciflua, in the urban spaces of Thessaloniki.
"The two species of sweetgum trees that we encounter in Thessaloniki".
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Chatzinikolaou Aris, (2025 December 16)
As a comment on the previous post by Evangelos Matziris regarding the two sweetgum tree species, Liquidambar orientalis and L. styraciflua, that are found in the urban areas of Thessaloniki.
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Thymakis Nikolaos, (2025 December 12)
"The Tree of Prayer"
As a comment on the article by Georgios Karetsos regarding the rare and native (Rhodes island in the Aegean) Liquidambar orientalis.
Pistacia lentiscus
Anacardiaceae
Distribution in Athens A common shrub in the Greek landscape that occasionally becomes a small tree. Single-leader trees of small or medium size in the boroughs of the city of Athens and Hymettos-Dafni. Also in the parks of Ancient Agora and the NTUA Campus.
Biomes subtropical
Countries and regions
Area of origin Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region.
Countries and regions in the area of origin Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye.
Cities worldwide (GUTI database and other sources)
Tree inventories According to GUTI In only 6 urban tree inventories,
AMERICAS:
USA. In San Diego, CA. Occurrence at Balboa Park arboretum (Trees for Health). In gardens and parks of California (CalPoly).
EUROPE:
Portugal. In Lisbon It is present in 6 public gardens.
Spain. Valencia, Barcelona, Costa Brava.
France. Great Lyon metropolis
ASIA:
Turkey. At the city of Karşıyaka near Izmir. Also at the city of Izmir at two major botanic gardens and park, e.g. the Botanical Garden (EGE UNIVERSITY) and Culture Park.
Literature references: It has been assessed as a promising species for the state of California's future climate (SelecTree, UFEI n.d.).
References on Pistacia lentiscus
Plant Species Databases
SelecTree: A Tree Selection Guide, https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
​Small to Medium-Sized Trees for Southern California's Climate Future
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/421
SelecTree. UFEI.
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.
'Pistacia lentiscus'
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/1790​
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Plante & Cité, Floriscope
'Pistacia lentiscus'
https://www.floriscope.io/plantes/pistacia-lentiscus
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Additional sources on distribution
Tree Plotter | Tree San Diego. (n.d.).
https://www.treesandiego.org/tree-plotter
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Trees for Health Garden | Balboa Park ~ San Diego. (n.d.).
https://treesforhealthgarden.org/
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floranatolica. (n.d.). Florꜳnatolica
https://floranatolica.com/index.php
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Kültürpark İzmir
https://www.kulturparkizmir.org/
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BaÅŸkanlığı, E. Ü. B. Ä°. D. (n.d.). E.Ü. Botanik Bahçesi ve Herbaryum AraÅŸtırma ve Uygulama Merkezi. https://botanik.ege.edu.tr/
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Datos.gob.es. (n.d.). Catálogo de datos - Datos.gob.es. Catálogo De Datos - Datos.gob.es. https://datos.gob.es/es/catalogo/conjuntos-datos
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Soares, Ana Luísa. (2021).
"O arvoredo, os jardins e Parques Públicos de Lisboa (1755-1965)-três séculos de património botânico, paisagístico e cultural."
https://repositorio.ulisboa.pt/bitstreams/d94f3ba7-2ec0-431c-a89c-ec04d9a5e407/download (pdf file)​​​​​​​​​​
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Acer sempervirens
Sapindaceae
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Distribution in Athens As tree rows in an avenue island at the borough of Vironas. Also as small tree rows near the road at the NTUA Campus. Specimens at the collection of the Diomedes Botanic Garden.
Biomes subtropical
Countries and regions
Area of origin Eastern Mediterranean, East Aegean Islands, South Greece, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria and South Turkey.
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories Only at two tree inventories in the GUTI database. In Paris, France and Geneva, Switzerland.
Performance. It attains the size of a small tree. At the NTUA campus, it is performing rather well in adverse drought conditions.
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Literature on trees for the future. Expeditions have been organized by Westonbirt National Arboretum for seed collection of Acer species in Greece. Seeds for A. sempervirens were collected by researcher scientists in Mt. Parnon. Some Acer species populations in Greece have been targeted for seed sourcing as they may prove valuable for studying response to future climate change (Forestry England n.d.).
References on Acer sempervirens
Botanical Gardens and Arboreta
​Forestry England (n.d.).
Expedition to Greece - Westonbirt Arboretum.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/expedition-greece
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Plant Species Databases
Trees and Shrubs Online
https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org
Crowley, D. (2020),
'Acer sempervirens'
https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acer/acer-sempervirens/​
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Plante & Cité, Floriscope
'Acer sempervirens'
https://www.floriscope.io/plantes/acer-sempervirens
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Papers
Kösa, S., & Karagüzel, O. (2020).
Journal of Agricultural Faculty of Bursa Uludag University
Acer sempervirens’in Görsel ve Morfolojik Özellikleri ve Bu Özelliklere Ekolojik Faktörlerin Etkileri.
Kösa, Selma & Karaguzel, Osman. (2015).
The Investigation of Populations of Acer monspessulanum L. subsp. monspessulanum in Different Localities in the Flora of Antalya in Terms of Landscape Value.
PhD Dissertations
Kösa, Selma (2015)​
Evaluation of Acer monspressulanum subsp. monspressulanum and Acer sempervirens in terms of landscape genetics in intensive distribution in Antalya and it's propagation possibilities by cuttings.
Akdeniz University, Institute of Science
https://tezara.org/theses/395429​
Books
Turland, N. J., L. Chilton, and John R. Press. 1995.
Flora of the Cretan Area : Annotated Checklist & Atlas. 2. impr.
London: H.M.S.O.
Rackham, Oliver, and Jennifer Alice Moody. 2007.
The Making of the Cretan Landscape. 5[th pr.].
Manchester: Manchester University Press.​
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Municipality and Metropolis Guidelines
Ville de Rennes
Les arbres d'accompagnement de voirie à préconiser [2021-2022]
Plante & Cité
Viburnum tinus
Adoxaceae
Distribution in Athens. A very common species as an ornamental shrubs. In gardens or in parks, old plants have developed to small trees. However in the borough of Dafni-Hymettos,it has been utilized as a street tree in fairly new plantings.
Biomes subtropical
Countries and regions
Area of origin Mediterranean.
Countries and regions in the area of origin Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkey
Global Distribution (Introduced).
OCEANIA: Tasmania
AMERICAS: California, Mexico Central, Oregon, Washington
EUROPE: Great Britain, Ireland, Madeira.
Cities around the world
Tree inventories around the world. It is present at 44 urban tree inventories in the countries:
OCEANIA: Australia
EUROPE: France (Paris), Italy (Bologna, Florence), Portugal (Lisbon), Spain (Barcelona, Costa Brava, Valencia), Switzerland (Geneva), United Kingdom (Bristol, London).
ASIA: Iran, Turkey (Trabzon).
Performance. They appear to grow well. It is considered a very hardy shrub species.
Arbutus unedo
Ericaceae
Distribution in Athens. As an ornamental shrub or a small tree in gardens or in parks (Ancient Agora). It is used more often than A. andrachne. Rarely to be found as a small tree in the street. Occurrences in the suburb Thrakomakedones.
Like A. andrachne, it is one of the main species in some mountainous areas of Attica.
Biomes It grows mainly in the temperate biome.
Countries and regions
Area of origin Mediterranean.
Countries in the area of origin Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe
Global Distribution (Introduced).
OCEANIA: New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Tasmania
EUROPE: Canary Is., Great Britain, Ireland, Madeira.
Cities around the world
Tree inventories around the world. It is present at 73 urban tree inventories in the countries:
OCEANIA: Australia (Albury, Ballarat, Banyule, Bathurst, Brimbank, Burnside, Campbelltown, Corangamite Shire, Darebin, Greater Geelong, Greater Bendigo, Hobart, Hobson Bay, Knox, Launceston, Leichhardt, Manningham, Marrickville, Mildura, Mitcham, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Nedlands, Parramatta, Perth, Port Phillip, Shepparton, South Grampians Shire, South Perth, Stirling, Stonnington, Sydney, Waverley, Whittlesea, Willoughby, Wyndham), New Zealand (Christchurch)
AMERICAS: Canada (Vancouver), Chile (Santiago), USA (Alameda County, Berkeley, Claremont, East Palo Alto, El Sobrante, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Richmond, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Monica, Seattle, South El Monte)
EUROPE: France (Bordeaux, Paris), Greece (Ioannina), Ireland (Dublin), Italy (Bologna, Florence, Merano, Prato, Turin), Spain (Barcelona, Costa Brava, Valencia), Sweden (Malmö), Switzerland (Geneva), United Kingdom (Bristol, Camden, London).
Performance. They appear to grow well. It is considered a hardy shrub species.
Literature references: It has been assessed as a promising species for the cities in the Mediterranean region (ARDEM project, INRAE). Also for the state of Oregon (SelecTree, UFEI n.d.).
References on Arbutus unedo
Plant Species databases
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UFEI, Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute.
SelecTree: A Tree Selection Guide, https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
Oregon Tree List. Select Tree, a Tree Selection Guide. Updated 2025.
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/536
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SelecTree. UFEI.
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.
'Arbutus unedo'
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/177
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Research Projects
INRAE, Jardin Botanique Villa Thuret 2022
“Arbres de demain - Fiches espèces.” Modified on March 25, 2024.
Fiche espèce "Arbutus unedo"
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/content/download/6685/54819 (pdf file)​
Phillyrea latifolia
Oleaceae
Distribution in Athens. Extremely rare in the urban areas. In the borough of Philothei - Psychiko and the park of Ancient Agora.
Biomes primarily in the subtropical biome
Countries and areas
Area of origin Mediterranean.
Countries and regions in the area of origin Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe.
Global Distribution (Introduced).
Canary Islands.
Tree inventories around the world. It is present at only 13 urban tree inventories, mostly in its native range, the Mediterranean. In the countries:
OCEANIA: Australia (Greater Bend, Port Phillip)
EUROPE: France (Bordeaux, Grenoble, Montpellier, Paris), Italy (Florence), Portugal (Lisbon), Spain (Barcelona, Costa Brava), Switzerland (Geneva)
ASIA: Israel (Tel Aviv).
Literature references: It has been assessed as a promising species for the cities in the Mediterranean region (ARDEM project, INRAE).
REFERENCES
BOOKS
Sjöman, Henrik, and Anderson, Arit 2023.
The Essential Tree Selection Guide: For Climate Resilience, Carbon Storage, Species Diversity and Other Ecosystem Benefits.
London: Filbert Press
PLANT SPECIES DATABASES
SelecTree: A Tree Selection Guide, https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
Best Medium to Large-Sized Trees for Southern California's Climate Future
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/67
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​Small to Medium-Sized Trees for Southern California's Climate Future
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/421
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Oregon Tree List.
RESEARCH PROJECTS​
INRAE, Jardin Botanique Villa Thuret 2022
“Arbres de demain - Fiches espèces.” Modified on March 25, 2024.
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/actualites/presentation-des-fiches-especes​