Odontites cyprius

Οδοντίτης ο κυπραίος

Etymology of Odontites cyprius: The name of the genus, "Odontites", is Ancient Greek, from the possessive case of "(του) ὀδόντος" [odontos], meaning "tooth's", hence "ὀδοντίτης" [odontites] is "related to the tooth", referring to the ancient usage of the plant for the treatment of toothaches (it is mentioned by Pliny). Its epithet is ''cyprius" as it is an endemic plant of Cyprus only.

This is the one and only Odontites species in the wild Cypriot habitat.

Odontites cyprius is a relatively common plant at medium to high altitudes in Cyprus. It is encountered all around the island except for the southeastern part, between an altitude of 25-1675 metres. Its flowering period comes late, between July and December.

A characteristic of this plant is that during the summer and autumn the plant's leaves are green and they turn to purple in the winter and in the spring.