Κούκουνος, Κοκόνιν, Κυκλάμινο το περσικό
Etymology of Cyclamen persicum: The name of the genus, "Cyclamen", derives from the Ancient Greek word "κυκλάμινος" [kyklaminos], which comes from "κύκλος" [kyklos], meaning "circle", thus κυκλάμινος means "circular", and refers either to the round tuber or possibly the circular twisting of the fruiting peduncle (the flower stalk circles upon itself as the fruit develops). It is called "persicum" as it is supposed to originate from Persia, present-day Iran, but in fact, it never did (Cyclamen persicum originates from Algeria, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey)!
Three kinds of the Cyclamen genus are considered to exist in the Cypriot nature of which the one grows exclusively in occupied Cyprus (Morfou region).
Cyclamen persicum is an uncommon plant in Cyprus. It appears up to an altitude of 925 metres in the districts of Limassol, Pafos, Kyrenia and the Karpasia peninsula. Cyclamen persicum's flowering time is between December and April.
How to identify Cyclamen persicum:
- Its flowers appear after December, after the leaves, contrary to the other two species that bloom from October till January and their leaves appear after the flowers.
- The leaves of Cyclamen persicum are very different from the ones of Cyclamen cyprium. Cyclamen graecum subsp. anatolicum which has similar leaves with persicum appears only in the Morfou region.
- The base of its corolla-lobes have a darker zone, but they are not blotched; auricles are absent; the pedicels are not coiling after anthesis.
