Ονόνις η σικελή
Etymology of Ononis sicula: 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 Latin epithet "sicula" means "originating from Sicily", because obviously it was initially recorded there.
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 sicula is an uncommon plant in Cypriot nature. It is not encountered all around Cyprus, because it is absent from the western and eastern parts, and at altitudes exceeding 300 metres. Its flowering period is between February and May.
