Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1231020
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 APRIL 2020 6 CULTURE NATURE An endemic is a plant or animal found in one particular region of the world. Some of these places can be very small, indeed many of them are islands. Islands are good places for endemics. Due to their isolation, island plants and animals often evolve differently from their mainland counterparts and eventually become distinct species. Since Malta is just such an island, our flora and fauna too harbour several species that have the tell- tale melitensis in their scientific name – more often than not, this means they occur here and nowhere else. One such beauty is the Maltese spurge (M. tengħud tax-xagħri), which is quite common in some rocky areas. At this time of year, this small hemispherical shrub turns from green to yellow as flowers take the main stage and the insects zoom in for the feast. Like other endemics, the Maltese spurge is a protected species. Text and photo: Victor Falzon 706. MALTESE SPURGE Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 603 Find out more: www.foemalta.org/maltafarmmap Fort St Angelo and a unique exhibition are now open... virtually FOLLOWING the success of last year's temporary exhibi- tion, Behind Closed Doors: Fort St Angelo and the Royal Navy 1906-1979 at Fort St Angelo, and taking the current situa- tion in stride, Heritage Malta is proud to present the exhibition in full, this time in virtual for- mat, on its website. This tool enables web users to tour the entire Behind Closed Doors exhibition, enabling browsers to explore any par- ticular section within the exhi- bition. "41 years ago, our nation gained its freedom, but we also regained access to a Fort that had always been the coloniser's domain," said Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta's CEO. "Dig- itising this exhibition means we still get to experience this unique site, despite the present circumstances." Behind Closed Doors provides a detailed insight on the roles shouldered by Fort St Angelo during British occupation. The true heart of the exhibi- tion, however, lies in the person- al recollections of those former Maltese and British servicemen who worked at the Fort during this period. Heritage Malta is proud to present the filmed in- terviews of these ex-colleagues, photos and other memorabilia, from which a strong sense of belonging to this important site – and phase in Maltese history – emerged. "This virtual exhibition is a tes- tament to Heritage Malta's goal to bring our historical and cul- tural heritage into the modern, digital age, and ensure greater accessibility for all," José Her- rera, Minister for the National Heritage, said. "The Agency's online presence is crucial, now more than ever." This initiative is available thanks to a collaboration agree- ment between Heritage Malta and Dhalia Properties. Behind Closed Doors is available free of charge at https://heritagemalta. org/bcd/