Trifolium striatum

Τριφύλλι το ριγωτό

Etymology of Trifolium striatum: 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. "Striatum" comes from Latin and means "striated, having parallel lines or grooves on the surface", which is a reference to the reddish lines appearing on the calyxes (10-nerved) of the flower head.

Around 36 Trifolium taxa have been identified in the wild Cypriot habitat so far.

Trifolium striatum is an uncommon plant in the Cypriot nature. It is encountered only in central mountainous Cyprus and the Kyrenia region between altitudes of 125-1350 metres. The specimens in the pictures come from Arsos village (Lemesos district) at an altitude of 900 metres. Its flowering period is between March and May.