Lamium moschatum subspecies micranthum

Λάμιο το μοσχάτο υποείδος το μικρανθές

Etymology of Lamium moschatum subsp. micranthum: There are two assumptions for the etymology of the name of the genus. Considering Lamium has a Latin origin, "lamium" in Latin means "dead nettle". The explanation for this is that Lamium's leaves resemble stinging nettles with no ability to sting. If the name derives from Ancient Greek, then it derives from "Λαμία" [Lamia] which means "monster" because of its open mouth-like flower resembling a monster. (In Greek mythology, Lamia was a beautiful queen from Libya who transformed into a monster and devoured young children). Neutral epithet "moschatum" derives from the neutral Ancient Greek "μοσχάτον" [moschaton], meaning "pleasantly smelling, fragrant, aromatic", obviously because it smells pleasant. The name "micranthum" derives from the Ancient Greek words "μικρόν" [mikron] meaning "small" and "ἄνθος" [anthos] meaning "flower", hence "μικρανθές" [mikranthes] meaning "with small flowers'', referring to the size of the flowers.

There have been three kinds (1 species and 2 other subspecies) of the Lamium genus identified so far in Cyprus.

Lamium moschatum subsp. micranthum is not a common plant in Cyprus. It is encountered all around Cyprus except in the Karpasia peninsula, at an altitude of up to 600 metres. It prefers to grow on roadsides, phrygana and waste ground.