Ruscus aculeatus

Ruscus aculeatus
Butcher's broom, Knee holly
Fragon

Rhizomatous, evergreen, subshrub, native to central and southern Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. Grows slowly to  2' - 3' high and wide, preferring shade to deep shade. The common name 'butcher's broom' refers to the tradition of European butchers binding the stiff twigs together and using the bundle to clean their cutting boards. "Aculeatus" means prickly or spiney.

What appear to be leaves are actually modified stem structures called cladophylls. They are ovate, thick, spiney-tipped, and twisted at the base. The flowers are six-petaled, star shaped greenish, white blossoms emerging from the middle of the cladophyll Jan. through April, followed by bright red berries. 
Butcher's broom has been used as a medicinal agent for a variety of purposes, particularly for circulatory problems. The root was used as a substitute for asparagus. 
Ruscus aculeatus should not be confused with cytisus scoparius (broom) or spartium junceum (spanish broom).

Form, along a path in Lacoste, 9.22.14

In the woods by a stone wall in Lacoste, 9.22.14

Stem showing cladophylls or leaf-like structures with their twisted bases, 9.22.14

 

Blossom in center of cladophyll

Berry

Berries on plants in Lacoste woods, 10.7.14

Illustration by Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé, 1885

Hieracium umbellatum

Hieracium umbellatum 
Narrow Hawkweed
Épervière de Savoie

Native to Europe and Asia. 
The name is derived from the Greek 'hierakion' and the ancient Greek word 'hierax' for hawk. 'Umbellatum' means like umbels or umbrella-like flower heads. The Roman naturalist, Pliny, believed that hawks fed on this plant to strengthen their eyesight, thus the common name, hawkweed.
Hawkweeds are a large group with 10,000 recorded species and subspecies.
H. umbellatum have yellow ray flowers in long-stalked, loose branched clusters from July to Sept. or Oct. The stems are very leafy with fairly narrow leaves and are covered with fine, stiff hairs. 
The leaves are lanceolate-linear with a tapering tip and base, bristle hairs on the underside, and an entire or sparsely toothed margin.

Bloom

Budding

Form in bloom

In situ in fall, Lacoste, 9.16.14

In Situ, seed heads, 9.16.14

Leaves, 9.16.14

Illustration, Dr. Otto Wilhelm. 1885

Sedum sediforme

Sedum sediforme
Stonecrop Sedum
L'Orpin de Nice

Native to Europe and the Mediterranean region.
Thermophilic - heat loving - species growing on very dry, rocky, calcareous soils.
It grows as mats of erect reddish stems with blue-green fleshy sessile leaves which are glaucous and hairless. The inflorescence is a panicle of yellow flowers June through August.

Leaf Detail

Near the castle ruins at Saint Saturnin-lès-Apt, Luberon,9.16.14 

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Illustration by PJ Redouté; published in Plantarum Historia Succlentarum, 1799 - 1837

Before flowering

Flower detail

Helianthus x laetiflorus

Helianthus x laetiflorus
Hybrid Sunflower
Hélianthe vivace

Hybridized plant of 2 species, H. pauciflorus and H. tuberosus, which are native to North America and have naturalized in Europe. All Helianthus are native to North America.
The leaves are alternate, ovate lanceolate, and serrate.
Blossom August through October.

Blossom, edge of a vineyard, Lacoste, 9.27.14

Edge of a vineyard looking toward le Lubéron range,
Lacoste, 9.27.14

Leaf arrangement, 9.27.14