Kea is an island that does not reveal immediately and easily the wealth of its flora. The summer visitors that enjoy mainly its breathtaking beaches, possibly will not notice the forests with the majestic oaks (Quercus ithaburensis, ssb. macrolepis) that cover big areas in the interior of the island, or the wonderful “Lilly of the sea” (Pancratium maritimum), that still embellishes its sandy beaches, although it is threatened with extinction by touristic exploitation of the beaches. Also, campanula reiseri is one of the rarest and most threatened plants of Greece. Kea is the home of 16 of the 1300 plants that grow only in Greece. From the 16 endemic plants of Kea, 5 have been characterized as rare. The Fritillaria graeca is included in the strictly protected plants of the Convention of Bern of the European Council, signed for the maintenance of European wild life and natural ecotopes. The south-eastern part of Kea has included itself in the network of NATURA 2000. The prevailing vegetation in the island are the thickets and the genista in many varieties (Sarcopoterium spinosum, Centaurea spinosa). The main rock found is the slate. The rivers have periodical flow. The sea bottom is embellished by large extents of vegetation (Posidoniases). In Kea you can find forests of Royal Oak, which are among the few that have remained in the Aegean. The oak sprouts in all central and Eastern Kea and in the old days its fruit provided the residents with jobs since they were tanners. The “hamada” - fruit of the oak tree - was gathered in July up to September. The workers, after gathering the fruits, stretched it out on stone surfaces horses in order to dry. In all the regions where oaks grew, large coal ovens were set up for the tanning. Everything was done according to the indications of Forest inspection: the building of ovens, the control of combustion, the manufacturing of the final product and the transport. Then the tradesmen sold the products to factories of tannage in Europe. This activity had as a result the destruction of a big parts of oak forests. Today, oak forests are protected with very strict measures. After the war, chemical products began to replace natural raw material for the treatment of skins and as a result the only thing that the oaks offer today is their shade. Furthermore, during the same period the production and the trade of charcoal blossomed in Kea. Myriads of wild flowers, in an incredible chromatic variety, cover the slopes of the hills, the banks of streams and the small, carved in rock lakes, the shaded gorges, the sides of the streets, even the slots of rocks. Endemic plants of Cyclades and Greece, wild orchids, abundant pharmaceutical herbs, aromatic bushes, rare mushrooms, multicoloured lichens, centenarian chestnut trees, maples and "fides" (Juniperus phoenicea), "kokoretsies" (Pistacia terebinthus) and "koutsoupies" (Cercis siliquastrum), crocuses, water flags, bellflowers, wild roses, wild cornflags, daffodils, compose a painting of splendid beauty, that will certainly capture and keep the visitor for always prisoner to the charm of this "other", unknown Kea.