Ονόνις ορνιθοποδιοειδές
Etymology of Ononis ornithopodiodes: The term "Ononis" comes from the Ancient Greek "ὄνος" [ónos] meaning "donkey", and "ὀνίς" [onis] meaning "dung", hence "donkey's dung", as the ancient Greeks assumed it could grow where donkeys defecate. It may sound like a weird name to choose but in fact, there are more genuses with a similar name, such as the genus "Onopordum" which means "donkey's fart" and "Onobrychis". The compound word "ornithopodioides" comes from the Ancient Greek words "ὄρνις" [ornis] -> "ὄρνιθος" [ornithos], meaning "hen's", "πόδιον" [podion] meaning "little foot", and the suffix "-οειδές" [-oides], meaning "in the form of", hence "hen's foot-like'', referring to the shape of its leaves.
There are 13 species and subspecies (kinds) of the Ononis genus in the wild Cypriot habitat, of which one is encountered only in occupied Cyprus (Karpasia peninsula). In addition, there is a domesticated Ononis species.
Ononis ornithopodiodes is an uncommon plant in Cypriot nature. It is encountered all around Cyprus but not in the northwestern part, at altitudes between 100-750 metres. Its flowering period is between January and May.
