Research in Context
Urban Tree canopy in Athens.
Description and common species
The tree canopy cover in Greek cities tends to rely on a relatively small number of species. In Athens, the main species that cover a high percentage of the urban canopy are:
Citrus aurantium, Morus alba, Oliva europaea, Cupressus sempervirens and Pinus halepensis.
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Based on personal evaluation and previous tree surveys, the main tree species used in the boroughs of Athens:
Tree species that comprise >50% of the canopy cover
BROADLEAF
Species Family
Olea europaea Oleaceae
Citrus × aurantium Rutaceae
Morus alba Moraceae
Laurus nobilis Lauraceae
Brachychiton acerifolius Malvaceae
Robinia pseudocacia Fabaceae
Ceratonia siliqua Fabaceae
CONIFERS
Species Family
Pinus halepensis Pinaceae
Cupressus sempervirens Cupressaceae
Other common tree species of the canopy cover
BROADLEAF
Species Family
Platanus occidentalis Platanaceae
Platanus orientalis Platanaceae
Schinus mole Anacardiaceae
Populus alba Salicaceae
Ligustrum japonicum Oleaceae
Prunus pissardii Rosaceae
Robinia pseudocacia Fabaceae
Sophora japonica Fabaceae
CONIFERS
Species Family
Pinus pinea Pinaceae
Hesperocyparis arizonica
syn. Cupressus arizonica Cupressaceae
REFERENCES
​​Databases
The Global Urban Tree Inventory: A database of the diverse tree flora that inhabits the world’s cities. Global Ecol Biogeography 29:1907-1914. (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13169.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants of the World Online | Kew Science. [online] Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/.
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Trees and Shrubs Online - A modern reference to temperate woody plants.