Fungus Rock – Gozo

Fungus Rock, known in Maltese as il-Gebla tal-Gvernal, is a 60-metre-high limestone islet at the entrance to the Dwejra lagoon on the western coast of Gozo. The rock takes its common name from the parasitic plant Cynomorium coccineum, known as the Maltese Fungus, which grew on its steep sides. The Knights of St John valued this plant for its believed medicinal properties and established strict penalties for unauthorised collection. The rock lies within the Dwejra nature protection zone and cannot be accessed.