Τριφύλλι του λιβαδιού
Etymology of Trifolium pratense: The name of the genus, "Trifolium" derives from the Ancient Greek "τρία" [tria], meaning "three" and the Latin "folium", which means "leaf", hence "three-leafed", referring to the three leaflets that comprise a leaf. This word is a calque of the Ancient Greek "τρίφυλλο" [trifyllo], which actually means the same thing. The name of the species, "pratense", derives from the Latin "pratensis", meaning growing in meadows or pastures.
Around 35 Trifolium taxa (species and subspecies) have been identified in the wild Cypriot habitat so far.
Trifolium pratenese is a very rare plant to encounter in Cyprus and it lacks enough study. It was spotted by Meikle in the 1970s in central mountainous Cyprus between altitudes of 1525–1825 metres, and since then, nobody else recorded it in his books (for instance not R. Hand, G. Alziar, G. Hadjikyriakou or M. Zohary and D. & Heller who recorded Trifoliums into their books). The specimen in the pictures was found in Mandria village (Lemesos district) at an altitude of around 830 metres, on the roadside. According to Meikle, its flowering period, in Cyprus, is between June and August, but this one was spotted blooming in March.
