Αραβίς η μωβ, Κλάματα της Παναγίας
Etymology of Arabis purpurea: "Aravis" derives from Ancient Greek "ἀραβίς" [aravis] which literally means "arabic" and at that time it was a synonym of "draba". Draba in Ancient Greek is "δράβη" [dravi] and it was a name used for Lepidium draba. The name Arabis may refer to Arabia where both Arabis species and Lepidium draba are found. Latin "purpurea" means "purple, dark red" but this Latin word also included other colourations such as reddish. Purpurea in Latin also means "beautiful, brilliant". The epithet clearly refers to its flowers.
There are 4 Arabis species/taxa in Cyprus.
A beautiful flower that exists in Central Western Cyprus but mostly on the Troodos high mountain range on which it is a common plant. It's a Cyprus indigenous and endemic plant that adores rocky ground, very often seen grown on pure rock, at an altitude of 400-1375 metres. Its flowering period is mostly between February and April.
How to identify Arabis purpurea:
Arabis purpurea is similar to cypria. Purpurea has leaves 0.8-2(-4) cm long, densely tomentose with short hairs, indumentum less than 0.2 mm thick; its petals can be pink, lilac or purplish, and rarely white. Cypria has leaves 2-8 cm long, softly tomentose with long hairs, indumentum more than 0.3 mm, often up to 0.5 mm thick; its petals can be white or pale pink or pink-tinged.
