Αγριοράδικο, Πικραλίδα, Ταραξάκο το κυπριακό
Etymology of Taraxacum cyprium: The name of the genus "Taraxacum" derives from the Arabic word "tarakhshaqūn" for a "bitter herb". It is called ''cyprium" because it was initially discovered in Cyprus.
Four Taraxacum species are said to exist in the Cypriot habitat. Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia, additionally, was allegedly recorded in one Cypriot location in 2015 by R. Hand (elevation of 1200 metres).
Taraxacum cyprium is an indigenous but not endemic species, as it also exists at least in Israel. Taraxacum cyprium is not encountered in Central (Nicosia and eastern), Southern, and South-Eastern Cyprus. It grows at an altitude of up to 1375 metres and its flowering period is normally between September and November.
How to identify Taraxacum cyprium:
Taraxacum cyprium's outer phyllaries around the flower are erect, subadpressed, forming a calyculus (not patent or reflexed as for Taraxacum holmboei and Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia), and its flowering period is from September until November (unlike with the other two).
Taraxacum cyprium's leaves are runcinate-pinnatifid with broad, deltoid, entire or toothed lateral lobes, occasionally subentire or broadly and irregularly lobed (not pinnatisect almost to the midrib, with numerous small, oblong-acuminate or suborbicular lateral lobes, separated by smaller lobules as for Taraxacum hellenicum and Taraxacum aphrogenes).
One difference that distinguishes cyprium from hellenicum is the fact that even though both bloom in autumn, cyprium's flowers appear before its leaves, whilst this does not happen with hellenicum. Also, cyprium can be found at an altitude lower than 600 metres, hellenicum can't. In general, cyprium bears more flowers than the hellenicum.
