Μπισκουτέλλα η δίδυμη υποείδος η δίδυμη
Etymology of Biscutella didyma subspecies didyma: The Latin name of the genus, "Biscutella", comes from the Latin prefix "bi-", meaning "twice, two", and "scutella", meaning "dish, pan", alluding to the peculiar and twin fruit resembling a pair of spectacles. The Ancient Greek epithet "didyma" comes from "δίδυμος" [didymos], meaning "twin", referring to the appearance of its fruits.
There are two Biscutella taxa in Cyprus, both subspecies of Biscutella didyma.
Biscutella didyma is encountered all-around the island but is not a common plant. It appears up to an altitude of 950 metres. Its flowering period is usually between February and May.
How to identify Biscutella didyma subsp. didyma:
Ssp didyma is a robust plant, mostly 20-50 cm high; its petals are light yellow; its valves are 4-6 mm in diametre, and its discs (sub)glabrous or scabridulous, without distinctly thickened margins. Ssp dunensis is a slender plant, 5-15 mm high; its petals are dark yellow; its valves are 2.5-3.5 mm in diam., its discs are shortly hairy, with margins and center with somewhat longer hairs, with slightly thickened margins.
