Ficaria chrysocephala

Φικάρια η χρυσοκέφαλη

Etymology of Ficaria chrysocephala: The name of the genus, "Ficaria", derives from the Latin "ficus", meaning fig + the New Latin suffix "-aria", meaning "related to the fig", referring to the appearance of the roots. The epithet "chrysocephala" derives from the Ancient Greek "χρυσός" [chrysos], meaning "gold, golden" and "κεφαλή" [kefali or cephali], meaning "head", hence "golden-headed", referring to the flower.

Ficaria chrysocephala is the one and only Ficaria species that exists in Cyprus. A second species, Ficaria ficarioides was recorded by R. Hand in 2006 in the Troodos Mountains range, at an altitude of 1350 metres, but it has not been seen by anyone else ever since, hence it may have been recorded in error or extinct.

F. chrysocephala is found in several regions except for the ones of Morfou and Paralimni. It grows at an altitude of up to 1225 metres. It grows up to 25 cm only, but because it prefers to grow in width (on moist ground), it is usually seen reaching 5-10 centimetres high. In Cyprus, it usually blooms between February and April.