Micromeria acropolitana, a natural miracle grows only on the Athens Acropolis

It was first collected on 30 August 1906 by the French botanists René C.J.E. Maire (1876-1949) and Marcel G.C. Petitmengin (1881-1908), who made a tour during 1904 and 1906 in the Peloponnese and Central Greece in order to collect plants. It was first recorded in 1908 by the Austrian botanist Halacsy called Micromeria Athenae.

After 1908 and especially the post-war period its traces were lost. In 1998, Professor of Botany of the University of Athens, Artemis Giannitsas spoke of "extinct species from Greece and the world flora in general" and in 2003, the botanist Theofanis Konstantinidis in his article refers to Micromeria acropolitana which "for a century nobody has seen it either on the rock of the Acropolis or anywhere else ".

In 2004 it was discovered again by biologist Grigoris Tsounis during his studies on the ecosystem of the Sacred Rock and was identified in 2009 by the botanist Dr. Kitan Tan of the University of Copenhagen. Since then the site of the plant remains secret to protect it.

Stavros Apostolou and Giorgos Stasinopoulos identified the plant a few months ago on the Acropolis. When others looked at the Parthenon, Stavros was bent to the soil.

Apostolou heard of this plant for the first time in 2004 when it was discovered by Mr. Tsunis When he visited the Acropolis, he was looking for it and spotted it. At some point he began to search systematically to find it and so he photographed whatever Micromeria he found in the area of Acropolis, Areios  Pagos and Philopappou. After many visits and "scrutiny" he and his friend Giorgos Stasinopoulos photographed and identified it, carefully examined differences with Micromeria nervosa and Micromeria juliana from a list sent to him by a friend and a good acquaintance of the Erotokritos plant. He then sent the photos to others for confirmation. After all the positive responses he uploaded his photos online.

For Apostolou the plant is a symbol of regeneration and survival. Plants and nature constantly surprise us with their power to withstand time. It is magical how from a tiny seed, often in a minimum of soil or a slit of a rock, a plant grows, blooms and perpetuates its kind. Plants and nature are masters of survival.

Apostolou believes that its protection can be achieved in a variety of ways, but more importantly in concealing its exact location on the Acropolis. Then you could breed the plant and create a small Botanical Garden in the area where visitors to the Acropolis can see the plant and admire it.