Cyclamen africanum

Cyclamen africanum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Myrsinaceae
Genus:	Cyclamen
Subgenus:	Cyclamen
Series:	Cyclamen
Binomial name
Cyclamen africanum Boiss. & Reut.

Cyclamen africanum (African cyclamen) is a perennial growing from a tuber, native to northern Algeria and Tunisia. It is similar to Cyclamen hederifolium, but not frost-hardy.

Description

tuber

The tuber produces roots from the top, sides, and bottom, unlike Cyclamen hederifolium, which produces roots from the top and sides, but not the bottom.

Both the leaves and flowers are similar to Cyclamen hederifolium, but are larger on average.

Leaf and flower stalks extend straight up from the tuber; in Cyclamen hederifolium the leaf stalks extend outwards before bending up, forming an "elbow".

Cyclamen africanum crosses easily with Cyclamen hederifolium. Plants sold by nurseries are often hybrids between the two species (Cyclamen ×hildebrandii O. Schwarz). This robust hybrid is more hardy than Cyclamen africanum and can be planted outside in a sheltered place.

• Cyclamen Society
• Pacific Bulb Society
• Cyclamen: a guide for gardeners, horticulturists, and botanists by C. Grey-Wilson — Google Books
• CalPhotos
• Bulb Log, 30th July 2008 (photos of tuber)
• photos — Mark Griffiths
• photos — Flickr search