Thymelaea hirsuta

Θυμελαία η τριχώδης

Etymology of  Thymelaea hirsuta: The genus name Thymelaea is a combination of the Ancient Greek name for the herb thyme "θύμος" [thymos] and that for the olive "ἐλαία" [elea or elaea], in reference to its thyme-like foliage and olive-like fruit. "Hirsuta" in Latin means "hairy" because of the plant's indumentum of woolly trichomes.

There are three Thymalaea kinds in Cyprus' nature, of which one is a species and the other two are subspecies.

It is a toxic, xerophytic plant with a root system going as deep as 3.5 metres.

Thymelaea hirsuta is an uncommon desert shrub of the southern, southeastern and northeastern coasts of Cyprus. It grows up to a maximum altitude of only 25 metres. Its flowering period is between January and May.