Μαζίν, Αστοίβη, Σαρκοποτήριο το ακανθώδες
Etymology of Sarcopoterium spinosus: Sarcopoterium relates to the Poterium genus; the name Poterium derives from the Ancient Greek "ποτήριον" [potirion], which means "tumbler, drinking-cup", alluding to the shape of its hypanthiums on the seed head. "Sarcopoterium" derives from the Ancient Greek "σάρξ" [sarx] - "σαρκός" [sarkos or sarcos] in the possessive case, meaning "flesh", and "poterium", hence "fleshy drinking-cup" because the hypanthiums on the seed pod of the genus, seed pod that relates to the one of Poterium, become fleshy when the flowers give way to the seeds. "Spinosus" is Latin and means "thorny, prickly" because this species bears thorny branches.
Spinosus is the only Sarcopoterium species in the world, without any subspecies.
Sarcopoterium spinosus is a common plant in Cyprus that grows all around the island primarily on rocky or infertile ground, up to an altitude of 1225 metres. Its flowering period is from February until April.
