Αρκογλασμαρίν, Αρκολασμαρής, Τεύκριο το κρητικό
Etymology of Teucrium creticum: The Ancient Greek name "Teucrium" [Τεύκριον] was used by Dioscorides for several species in this genus and is assumed to refer to King Teucer [Τεῦκρος] of Troy who used the plant in his medicine; assumed, because there was also another famous Teucer, son of King Telamon of the Island of Salamis, today in Greece. Teucer was a great archer who fought alongside his half-brother, Ajax, in the Trojan War and is the legendary founder of the ancient city of Salamis in Cyprus. The epithet "creticum" refers to the Greek island of Creta, where this species was initially discovered.
At least 10 kinds of Teucrium plants (species and subspecies) have been discovered in the Cypriot habitat so far, of which three of them appear exclusively in occupied Cyprus north.
Teucrium creticum is possibly the most popular of the Teucrium species and subspecies in the Cypriot habitat. It can be encountered all-around Cyprus, excluding the Central/Central-Easter Mesaoria region (Nicosia and surrounding villages), at an altitude of up to 925 metres. It is mostly seen grown on roadsides and especially on the sloping ground. Teucrium creticum's flowering period in Cyprus is only during May and June.
