Subgenus Corticata | Genus Cyclamen Scientific name Cyclamen cyprium Rank Species | |
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Similar Cyclamen, Cyclamen libanoticum, Cyclamen graecum, Cyclamen cilicium, Cyclamen africanum | ||
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.
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 November until March.
