Vicia lathyroides

Βίκος ο λαθυροειδής

Etymology of Vicia lathyroides: The Latin name of the genus, "Vicia", meaning "binder", derives from Proto-Italic "wikia", which in turn originates other from Proto-Indo-European "weyk-", meaning "to curve, bend" or from Proto-Indo-European "wehy- ". The name "lathyroides" means "resembling (the plant of the genus) Lathyrus".

At least 26 Vicia taxa have so far been identified in the wild Cypriot habitat, of which two of them appear exclusively in occupied northern Cyprus.

It is an uncommon, tiny Vicia which is found at higher altitudes between 600-1400 metres, in central mountainous Cyprus only. The specimens in the pictures were found in abundance at Throni (Nicosia district) at an altitude of around 1400 metres. It flowers in March and April.

It is not very abundant and can go unnoticed, as it is so small with stems up to 12-15 cm.

How to identify Vicia lathyroides:

This Vicia has a very small size of a few millimetres and it comes in light lilac color as well as in blue/white. Its standard is less than 8 mm long. The pedicel is shorter than the calyx and the corolla. The seeds bear a papillose testa.