Environment
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Royal urges action on environment
The Prince of Wales has spoken about how the prospect of becoming a grandfather is spurring his environmental beliefs, saying he does not want to “hand on an increasingly dysfunctional world”. Prince Charles, an outspoken campaigner on...
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It’s a growing bug’s world
Birds, plants, fish and molluscs are well studied in Malta but new information keeps flowing in from the diverse world of insects. Last year’s bulletin (Volume 4) from the Entomological Society of Malta opened another fascinating window on local...
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The harestail grass
The harestail grass or denb il-fenek in Maltese is probably native to steppes, garigues and sand dune grasslands, but has become weedy, and essentially grows in most habitats. This plant grows as grass with one or few erect stems and an unmistakable...
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Toothed medick – in-nefel il-komuni
The toothed medick or in-nefel il-komuni in Maltese is a very common plant and it is frequently found in various habitats. Its leaves are divided in three with yellow flowers and they appear between January and June. Upon pollination, these develop...
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A moth that ‘measures earth’
The small dusty wave is a very common moth. It does not have bright colours, unusual patterns or features and is easily overlooked. I recently found a small dusty wave resting on a window pane, which gave me the opportunity to look at it closely...
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Maltese Stocks – il-ġiżi ta’ Malta
The Maltese Stocks, know as il-ġiżi ta’ Malta is confined to cliffs and maritime valley-sides, but quite widespread along the southern to north-western cliffs of Gozo. The Maltese stocks are perennial and its leaves are fleshy and wavy-edged. The...
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Pushing Attard towards Rabat
PA 02153/10 was recently submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, proposing to develop a 1,000-grave cemetery, crematorium, service room, 75 parking spaces and other ancillary facilities on a site of staggering proportions (17,000...
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Free energy – fact or fiction?
In a world where energy consumption is always rising, the cost of generating energy is becoming ever more expensive. So it is not surprising that in many countries, including Malta, this subject always features as an election issue. This is because...
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Sea holly – ix-xewk tar-ramel – Eryngium maritimum
Darrin Stevens The sea holly, known as ix-xewk tar- ramel in Maltese, is very rare habitat and is confined to sand dune communities. It is a perennial plant with a tough greyish-blue herb of 20-60cm height, appearing as a shrub rather than a herb...
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Sea Rocket – kromb il-baħar – Cakile maritima
The sea rocket also known as il-Kromb il-Baħar is frequent found in coastal areas, particularly on sandy beaches and similar substrates, in both exposed and shaded conditions. The sea rocket is a hairless herbaceous plant with succulent leaves,...
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Where we must go sustainably
Land, air and sea transport around urban areas have been well studied globally yet there is still very little literature that deals with these concerns in small islands. Putting research on transport into practice was the theme at the first...
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Giant fennel – il-ferla – Ferula communis
The giant fennel, or il-ferla in Maltese, is frequently found in Maquis, garigue and phrygana, steppes, country lanes and road verges, abandoned fields and disturbed ground. The plant is perennial; stem stout, smooth, cylindrical, hollow and it...
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Spiny asparagus – l-ispraġġ xewwieki/ iċ-ċaqċieqa – Asparagus aphyllus
The Spiny asparagus or iċ-ċaqċieqa is frequently found in most habitats, including maquis, garrigue, fallow fields, valleys, along rubble walls and sand dunes. This plant grows as a highly variable shrub with rigid, spiny, branched stems with...
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A plant that loves the sea
The European searocket is indigenous to Malta. Known in Maltese as kromb il-baħar, the plant grows mainly on sandy beaches. It starts flowering in December and remains in flower until August. This weekend I found it flowering at Għadira and Golden...
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The Maltese hyoseris
The Maltese Hyoseris, sometimes referred to as the Gozo Hyoseris, is a small shrublet belonging to the daisy family, bearing the scientific name Hyoseris frutescens. The name Hyoseris is composed of the words hyo, meaning swine or pig (derived from...
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No more fireworks factories
I am an avid aficionado of fireworks and parish feasts in general and I strongly believe fireworks have an intrinsic role to play in our feasts. But having said this, the Labour Party’s pledge, made by Michael Falzon, to tweak existing planning...
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The Mock Privet
The Mock Privet, sometimes referred to as the Mediterranean Jasmine Box, is a tree belonging to the olive family, bearing the scientific name Phillyrea latifolia. The name Phillyrea is derived from Greek name Philyra, a sea nymph who, according...
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Wied ta’ Għajn Żejtuna
Wied ta’ Għajn Żejtuna is located within the settlement boundary of Santa Marija Estate in Mellieħa, flanked by villa development along most of its length. Formerly part of a much wider system, the valley is now limited to the valley-bed proper...
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The very wary starling
The starling is one of the best-known birds in Europe and is a common wintering bird in Malta. The first birds start to arrive in September but the majority visit us from October to early spring. In most of Europe, starlings are tame and confiding.
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Rohan Gate, Żebbuġ
The de Rohan Gate marked the entrance to the village of Żebbuġ. Emmanuel de Rohan de Polduc, the 70th Grand Master of the Order, accorded to Żebbuġ the title of Citta’ Rohan in 1777. In return, the people of Żebbuġ were obliged to erect two...
