Ηλιάνθεμο το συριακό
Etymology of Helianthemum syriacum: The name of the genus, "Helianthemum" comes from Greek "ήλιος" [elios] and "άνθος" [anthos], which combined together mean "sunflower", because its yellow flowers, each with five touching or overlapping crinkled petals, open in the sunshine and close up at night. Its epithet is ''syriacum", meaning "of Syria" because it was believed to originate from Syria.
Helianthemum syriacum is one of at least eight Helianthemum kinds (species and subspecies) that have been identified in the Cypriot habitat. The existence of a ninth kind in southeastern Cyprus is questionable, as it was last recorded in 1862 by Kotschy (he may have either recorded Helianthemum nummularium in error or it has extinct).
It is indeed a very eye-catching plant with beautiful vivid yellow flowers that resemble ribbons. Helianthemum syriacum appears all-around Cyprus at a maximum altitude of 750 metres. It primarily grows on rocky shrublands and open woodlands. It is an uncommon plant to encounter and its flowering period is between April and June.
