Αυλακόχορτο, Κυμβαλόμορφη Βερόνικα
Etymology of Veronica cymbalaria: The genus's name "Veronica" derives from Saint Veronica, the woman who gave Jesus a cloth to wipe his face while carrying the cross on the way to Calvary, and so named because the markings on some species supposedly resemble those on her sacred handkerchief. The epithet "cymbalaria" comes from the Latin word "cymbalum", which means "a cymbal", hence "cymbal-shaped", referring to the similarity of Veronica cymbalaria's round leaves to the shape of a musical cymbal.
There are nine Veronica species/kinds growing on their own in the Cypriot habitat.
Veronica cymbalaria is one of the most popular Veronica species in Cyprus, it actually appears in all the island's districts up to an altitude of 1375 metres. Veronica cymbalaria mostly grows on moist areas and rocky slopes. Its long flowering period usually begins in December and concludes in June, but this does not mean of course that its flowers last through this period.
How to identify Veronica cymbalaria:
Veronica cymbalaria is similar to Veronica ixodes. The first one's floral leaves (or bracts) are similar to the opposite basal leaves; its flowers are apparently solitary, axillary. Ixodes's floral leaves are much reduced, distinct from the opposite cauline leaves; its flowers are in lateral or terminal racemes (important difference).
Additionally, a clear difference, cymbalaria has leaves toothed or shortly lobed, ixodes clearly not. Finally, cymbalaria has pedicels 8-35 mm long, ixodes has pedicels 3-15 mm long.
