Μπισκουτέλλα η δίδυμη υποείδος η αμμοθίνουσα
Etymology of Biscutella didyma subspecies dunensis: 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. The species' epithet "dunensis" comes from the Middle Dutch "dune", meaning "dune" and the Latin adjectival suffix "-ensis" (of the dune), named for its occurrence in biocrusts on sand dune areas.
There are two Biscutella taxa in Cyprus, both subspecies of Biscutella didyma.
Biscutella didyma subspecies dunensis is encountered all-around the island, except for the central-northern and northeastern parts, but is not a common plant. Its flowering period is usually between February and April only.
How to identify Biscutella didyma subspecies dunensis:
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 on the contrary 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.
