Cyclamen cyprium | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Primulaceae |
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 (980–3,940 ft) elevation in the mountains of Cyprus. It is the national flower.Cyclamen persicum and Cyclamen graecum are also found on Cyprus, but are not endemic.
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 November until March.
leaves