Cyclamen cyprium

Cyclamen cyprium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Myrsinaceae
Genus:	Cyclamen
Subgenus:	Corticata
Binomial name
Cyclamen cyprium Kotschy

Cyclamen cyprium (Cyprus cyclamen) is a perennial growing from a tuber, native to woodland at 300–1,200 m (980–3,900 ft) elevation in the mountains of Cyprus. It is the national flower.^[1][2] Cyclamen persicum and Cyclamen graecum are also found on Cyprus, but are not endemic.

Description

Leaves are heart-shaped with coarsely toothed edges, green variegated with blotches of silver above and purple beneath.

Flowers bloom in autumn to winter, and have 5 upswept petals, white to pale pink with a magenta blotch near the nose. The bases of the petals curve outwards into auricles.

After pollination, flower stems curl, and seeds are borne in round pods, opening by 5 flaps when mature.

Cyclamen ×wellensiekii Iets. is a hybrid obtained in 1969 in the Netherlands between this species and Cyclamen libanoticum – the other species of sub-genus Corticata. This fertile hybrid has pink flowers from Novembre till March.

Gallery

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  leaves

References

1. ^ Leonidou, Leo (February 3, 2006). "A flower for Cyprus". Cyprus Mail. http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=24156&archive=1. Retrieved 2008-01-10. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ Κυκλάμινο το κυπριακό

External links

• Cyclamen Society
• Pacific Bulb Society
• photos — Mark Griffiths