Σκουτελλάρια η κυπρία υποείδος η κυπρία
Etymology of cypria subspecies cypria: "Scutellaria" derives from Latin "scutella", which means "a small dish, tray or platter" that describes the shape of the calyx of the flowers in this genus. "Cypria" is the female Latin for "Cypriot" as Scutellaria cypria is a Cyprus indigenous and endemic plant.
There are three kinds of Scutellaria in the Cypriot habitat, one species (growing exclusively in occupied Cyprus north) and two subspecies.
Scutellaria cypria subsp. cypria is an indigenous and endemic plant in the Cypriot habitat. It is a perennial plant reaching 20-30 cm high. It has hairy, square, dark brown shoots. It blooms between May and July and gives flowers in corymbs, zygomorphic, with a two-tiered crown, lilac, dark lilac or yellow. It autophytes on rocky igneous slopes and in pine areas, at an altitude of between 525 and 1,950 meters. It is found in several areas of the Troodos Mountain range such as Chionistra, Prodromos, Trooditissa (Limassol district), Stavros of Psokas (Pafos district), Tripylos, Kakopetria etc (Nicosia district).
How to identify Scutellaria cypria subspecies cypria:
Scutellaria sibthorpii is encountered only in northern Cyprus and Scutellaria cypria subspecies cypria only in southern-central Cyprus. Hence, it could only be confused with Scutellaria cypria subsp. elatior. Subspecies elatior has its stems pubescent with recurved, crispate hairs, and its leaves are 2-3.5 cm long, and densely pubescent. Subspecies cypria has its stems villose with long, patent hairs, and its leaves are small, less than 2 cm long, villose. In a few words, Scutellaria cypria subspecies cypria is a "hairy" plant with leaves less than 2 cm long.
