Etymology of Cachrys crassiloba
The genus name, "cachrys" derives from Ancient Greek word "κάχρυς" [kachrys], which according to Theophrastus means "τά ἐξωτερικά περιβλήματα ἢ τά ἄνθη καρύων καί ἄλλων τοιούτων καρπῶν", meaning "the outer coverings or flowers of nuts and other such fruits". "Crassiloba" derives from Latin "crassus" meaning "to weave, twist together" and "lobus" meaning "lobe".
How to identify Cachrys crassiloba
Cachrys crassiloba's leaves are coarsely dissected, and the ultimate segments are few, thick, rigid, 15-80 mm long, 3-8 mm wide; its fruits are broadly oblong, about 10 mm long, 9 mm wide. On the contrary, Cachrys scabra' s leaves are finely dissected, their ultimate segments are very numerous, 2-50 mm long, 0.2-2 mm wide; its fruits are suborbicular, about 5 mm in diameter.
Additionally, Cachrys scabra grows only in southeastern Cyprus and Cachrys crassiloba in southwestern, plus on the Troodos Mountains range.
The plant in Cyprus
There are two Cachrys species in the wild Cypriot habitat.
It is the first of the two Cachrys species found in Cyprus and it is extremely popular, much more than the other one, Cachrys scabra. It is an indigenous and near-endemic (it also exists in Anatolia, Turkey) plant. Cachrys crassiloba is encountered in southwestern Cyprus at an altitude of 25-1225 metres. It is very commonly noticed growing on roadsides, as well as in uncultivated fields. It grows up to 1.5 metres and blooms mostly in June and July. Cachrys crassiloba has very characteristic leaves, coarsely dissected and thick, 15-80 mm long and 3-8 mm wide, that make it stand out from the other Apiaceae.
Cypriot names of Cachrys crassiloba:
Τουμπαρίνα, Κάχρυς η υφαινομενόλοβη
What are the medicinal uses of Cachrys crassiloba?
