<P> The research of Olympus' plants started in 1836, when the French botanist Αυcher - Εlογ studied them . According to this and later studies, the National Park of Olympus is considered one of the richest flora regions in Greece, with about 1,700 species and subspecies, that represent some 25% of Greek flora . Of them 187 are characterized as significant, 56 are Greek endemic and of them 23 are local endemic, i.e. they can be found only in Olympus, and 16 are rare in Greece or / and have there the limits of their spread within Northern Greece . </P> <P> An important book about the plants and flowers, from the beach of the agean sea up to the upper regions, of Mount Olympus was written in 1980 by the Swedish botanist Arne Strid . </P> <P> Most of those found in lower altitude are the common Mediterranean and central European species . Jankaea heldreichii, a plant relic of the Ice age, is of particular interest for the botanists . Τhe intense diversity of the landscape, the varying orientation of the slopes and their position in relation to the sea affect locally Olympus' climate and so a local microclimate prevails, combined with the geological background and the soil favor the growth of particular vegetation types and biotopes . Generally Olympus' northeast side is densely forested, as it receives the most rainfall, while the southwest one has significantly sparser vegetation . Moreover, there is a clear sequence of the vegetation zones in accordance to altitude, in Olympus there is no such a regularity . It is due to the great microclimate variety, caused by the region's landscape . </P> <P> In Olympus there are generally four sequent flora zones, but not clearly separated: </P>

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