22. Bear's Breeches

Its leaves have inspired the motif on the capitals of Corinthian pillars, and Greek mythology tells us that Apollo once loved the nymph Acantha whom he later transformed into this flower. That a plant with such classical pedigree should be reduced to a name as comical as Bear's Breeches verges on the offensive! But thankfully plants don't put much weight in names, and so every year the Bear's Breeches (M: Hannewija) cheerfully spreads its thick shock of leaves, and now is also pushing out its tall cylindrical spikes of eye-catching flowers. This plant grows in sheltered, shady place, like underneath trees and along stretches of wayside lined with less sunny rubble walls. Take a walk down most valley at this time, and you will very probably experience the uncanny splendour of the Bear's Breeches.

Text by Victor Falzon, photo Desirée Falzon. Copyright to Birdlife Malta.