Αθάνατο, Κλάματα της Παναγίας, Ελίχρυσο το στοιχάς υποείδος του Μπαρρελιέρ
Etymology of Helichrysum stoechas subspecies barrelieri: The genus's name "helichrysum" derives from Ancient Greek, from the combination of the words "ἥλιος" [hēlios or ilios], meaning "sun" and "χρυσός" [chrysos], meaning "gold, golden", hence "golden sun", a reference to the bright yellow colour of the flowerheads of some species such as the "stoechas", persistent even when the plant dries up. Its epithet "stoechas", derives from Ancient Greek "στοιχάς" [stichas], meaning "in a row, one behind another", referring to the plants' appearance in nature, which is actually its ancient Greek name mentioned by Dioscorides (since the plant always existed in Greece, I consider it baseless that "Greek sailors" gave this epithet to the plant after the Stoichades islands of France where "they saw them grow aligned"). The epithet "barrielieri" is a tribute to the Frech botanist Jacques Barrelier (1606-1673).
There are three Helichrysum species and subspecies in the wild Cypriot habitat.
Helichrysum stoechas subsp. barrelieri is a common plant in Cyprus. It grows at an altitude of up to 1000 metres, all around the island. Someone may keep it in a vase without water for months, that's why in Cyprus it is called "αθάνατο", meaning "immortal" because as mentioned earlier, the flowers maintain their bright yellow colour even when the plant dries up. Its pretty long flowering period is between March and May.
How to identify Helichrysum stoechas subspecies barrelieri:
The stoechas subsp. barrelieri has long, narrow phyllaries that differ from the other two species, the italicum, has very short, narrow phyllaries and the shorter luteoalbum has broad phyllaries and whiter flowers.
The stoechas subsp. barrelieri's flowering period is between March and May (in Cyprus), for italicum it is from June until September, and for luteoalbum between April and June.
