Κενταύριο το ομορφούλι υποείδος το ομορφούλι
Etymology of Centaurium pulchellum subspecies pulchellum: The name Centaurium derives from the ancient Greek centaur Chiron. The naming of the plant is attributed to Dioscoridis (ancient Greek doctor/pharmacist/herbalist/botanist). According to Pliny, the centaur Chiron used this plant to heal an arrow wound in his foot. "Pulchellus" is the Latin diminutive of "pulcher", meaning "beautiful".
There are around 7 Centaurium species and subspecies/kinds in the wild Cypriot habitat.
Centaurium pulchellum subsp. pulchellum is a common plant in Cyprus, but it is absent from most of northern and eastern Cyprus. It primarily grows in phrygana and grassland. Its flowering period is from March until May.
How to identify Centaurium pulchellum subsp. pulchellum:
Its corolla lobes are shorter than 5 mm, as happens with the two tenuiflorum species which are found in Cyprus.
The plant is often branched from near the base, which is the opposite of the tenuiflorum subspecies.
Also, in tenuiflorum, the inflorescences are repeatedly branched, something that does not occur with pulchellum.
