Flora

Vegetation plays a significant role in the Las Ramblas residential complex, as it bestows its surroundings with great natural beauty.

The flora consists of:

• Pine forest of Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis)
• And thickets containing Kermes Oaks (Quercus coccifera), Mastics (Pistacia lentiscus), Prickly Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), Buckthorn (Rhamnus lycioides), Esparto Grass (Stipa tenacissima) and Palmettos (Chamaerops humilis), the only palm tree native to the European continent.

In addition, there are a large number of aromatic plants, such as:

• Thyme (Thymus hyemalis)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus oficcinalis)
• Linnaeus (Phlomis lychnitis)
• Germander (Teucrium capitatum)
• Cattails (Sideritis leucantha)
• Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
• The chives (Globularia alypum), blue flowers bloom in the winter while for most of the other flowering species, spring is the best time to appreciate their beauty.

In spring, the countryside is covered with a myriad of colours:

• White-leaved Rockrose (Cistus albidus)
• Montepelier Cistus (Cistus monspelienses)
• Rushrose (Helianthemum spp.)
• French Lavender (Thymus longiflorus)
• Life Everlasting Flower (Helicrysum stoechas)
• And various leguminous plants: Anthyllis (Anthyllis cytisoides), the Genista (Retama sphaerocarpa) and an abundance of Crown Vetch (Coronilla juncea)

In the sandy beds of Las Ramblas one can encounter:

• The star-shaped daisies (Pallenis spinosa)
• Thistles (Cirsium pyrenaicum)
• Oleander (Nerium oleander)
• Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
• Thorn Apple (Datura satramonium)
• Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Along the wet lands, Bull Rush (Scirphus holoschoenus, Juncus maritimus) and Giant Reed (Arundo donax) can be found.

Much of the land at Las Ramblas is covered with:

• Daisies (Asteriscus maritimus), their flowers can be observed most of the year
• Sedum (Sedum sediforme), very common between the rocks
• Umbilicus (Umbiculus horizontalis)
• Ruta (Ruta angustifolia)
• Runner thicket (Eryngium campestris)
• Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola)
• Centaurium (Centaurium quadrifolium), which produces a lot of small pink flowers.

There are an abundance of butterflies in the area, especially around the flowers including the Primrose (Coris monspeliensis), White Southernwood (Doricnium pentaphyllum), Ditrichia (Ditrichia) and Teaselheads (Scabiosa altropurpurea). The following butterflies are noteworthy for their outstanding colours:

• Machaon butterfly (Papilio machaon)
• Vanesa (Vanesa atlanta)
• Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhanmi)

Fauna

Las Ramblas residential complex contains a variety of animals. Among the existing fauna, it is worth mentioning the following species:

• Small, harmless reptiles contribute by consuming many insects and they can be spotted while they bask in the sun in the spring and summer:
  • Iberian Lizard (Pogarcis hispanica)
  • Ash-coloured Lizard (Psammodromus hispanicus)
  • Red-tailed Lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus)
  • Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida)
  • Common Tarente (Tarentola mauritanica)
  • Bastard Snake Malpolon monspessulanus)
  • Spiral Snake (Elaphe scalaris)
• Among the Mammals
  • The most common is the Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), but the following species can also be found: Hares (Lepus granatensis), Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), Common Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), Small Weasels (Mustela nivalis) and several types of mice, such as the Field Mouse (Apodemos sylvaticus) and the Mediterranean Mouse (Mus spreatus). At night, the Bats (Rhinolophus spp.) devour all sorts of insects.
• The Birds are an abundant species at Las Ramblas:
  • Linnet (Carduelos chloris)
  • Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  • Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
  • Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
  • Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
  • Blue Titmouse (Parus ater)
  • Greater Titmouse (Parus caeruleus)
  • Phyllocopus (Phylloscopus)
  • Whitethroat (Silvia)
  • Millclapper (Saxicola torquata)
  • Common Lark (Calandrella brachydacyla)
  • Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
  • Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

On the banks of the dry watercourses, less frequented by people, colourful breeding colonies of Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), have been established, together with small Rooks (Corvus monedula) Swifts (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Sappers (Riparia riparia).

Amongst the birds of prey, one that is noteworthy is the Sparrow Hawk (Falco tinnunculus) Nocturnal birds include the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and the Little Owl (Atene noctua), whose call resounds at dusk during spring and summer nights. Sometimes, Buzzards (Buteo buteo) can also be seen flying high above (Bubo bubo).

The easiest birds to spot all year round, due to their size and behaviour, are the Common Partridges (Alectoris rufa), the Wood Pigeons (Columba palumbus) and the Turtledoves (Streptopelia decaocto), ) as well as Geese and Ducks.