The rich and rare biodiversity in Cyprus. The Cyprus biodiversity includes 1908 plants, 780 seashells, 250 fishes, more than 7.000 insects, 410 birds including migratory, 31 mammals, 9 snakes, 11 lizards,three amphibians, 120 land snails, fungi estimated 5-8 thousandand and three turtles.These numbers continually increase as a result of researc. Also see All about Cyprus.
From George Konstantinou. Email -
fanigeorge@hotmail.com -
Το υλικό της ιστοσελίδας αποτελεί πνευματική ιδιοκτησία.
Astragalus is a large genus of about 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae and the subfamily Faboideae. It is the largest genus of plants in terms of described species. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milkvetch (most species), locoweed (in North America, some species) and goat's-thorn (A. gummifer, A. tragacanthus). Some pale-flowered vetches are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine-like. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arabis cypria is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, endemic to mountainous areas of northern Cyprus.
Arabis cypria is a tufted perennial to 25 cm, the basal leaves softly hairy, in dense rosettes, spoon-shaped with wavy or bluntly toothed edges; flowering stems (alongside leafy shoots) carry a few smaller leaves and a lengthening raceme of white-to-pink flowers 12 mm across. Pods straight or curved, 2–4 cm long, often all spreading in one direction. Flowers from Mars to April. On shady limestone rocks at high altitudes. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Photos Chaleuka 9/4/2006 by George Konstantinou
Photos Agios Ilarionas 16/3/2018 by George Konstantinou
Photos Agios Ilarionas 2/4/2023 by Fani Konstantinou
Red Data Book category Endemic to Cyprus Phlomis is a genus of over 100 species of herbaceous plants, subshrubs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native from the Mediterranean region east across central Asia to China. Common names include Jerusalem sage and lampwick plant.
The overall size varies between species from 30 cm tall up to 2 m tall. The leaves are entire, opposite and decussate (each leaf pair at right angles to the next) and rugose or reticulate veined. The bracts (floral leaves) are similar or different from the lower leaves. All parts are frequently covered with hairs. The bracteoles are ovate, lanceolate or linear. The flowers are arranged in whorls called verticillasters which encircle the stems. The stems are usually square in section with rounded corners, although tomentum on the stems can make them appear circular. The colour of the flowers varies from yellow to pink, purple and white. The calyx is tubular or campanulate with five or ten veins visible. Five teeth, either all equal or with the outer two longer than the others. The upper lip is hood shaped and laterally compressed (P. tuberosa, however, has an uncompressed lip with a dense bearded edge). The lower lip is trifid, the central lobe being larger than the lateral ones. There are four stamens ascending under the upper lip. Anther with forked end, the upper fork being shorter than the lower. The fruits are four three-sided, nutlets, and sometimes topped with hair, sometimes glabrous. The root system can be very extensive; roots of 6-week-old seedlings have been measured at 0.7 m.
The name Phlomis derives from a Greek word for "flame", and may refer to the leaves' use in ancient times as lamp wicks.
Phlomis species are the only host plants of the moths Coleophora phlomidella and C. phlomidis. Photos Vasilia 4/4/2016 by George Konstantinou
Red Data Book category Taraxacum holmboei, Troödos dandelion is a rosulate perennial herb, up to 10 cm high. Leaves simple, all in rosette, deeply divided (pinnatifid), with deltoid-acute lobes, glabrous, oblong in outline, 3.5-10 x 8-2.5 cm. Flowers in capitula, with yellow, ligulate florets, flowering May-June (hysteranthous, flowers appearing after leaf development). Fruit a pappose achene.
Open pine forests, roadsides, dry hillsides with open vegetation on igneous rocks at 1100-1950 m altitude.
Endemic to Cyprus where it is confined to the Troödos Mountains where it is locally common: Platania, Karvounas, Troodos Square, Almyrolivadho, Khionistra and Prodromos.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tulipa cypria, the Cyprus tulip is an erect perennial bulbous herb, 15–40 cm high (in blossom), with glabrous, glaucous Leaves. The four leaves are alternate, simple, entire, fleshy, the two lower ones larger, laceolate, 10-20 x 2–6 cm, with conspicuously undulate margins, the two higher much smaller, nearly linear. One terminal showy flower, perianth cup shaped, of six free, petaloid segments, 2.5-9 x 1-3.5 cm, with dark blood-red colour, internally with a black blotch bordered by a yellow zone. It flowers March-April. The Fruit is a capsule.
The Cyprian tulip Grows in Juniperus phoenicea maquis, pastures and cereal fields, on limestone at 150–300 m altitude.
The plant is endemic to Cyprus, on Akamas, Kormakitis, Mammari, Agios Simeon and some areas of the Pentadaktylos Range. It is very rare and strictly protected. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Photos 19/3/2016 by George Konstantinou
Endemic to Cyprus Helianthemum known as rock rose, sunrose, rushrose, or frostweed, is a genus of about 110 species of flowering plants in the family Cistaceae. They are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the Mediterranean. There are New World species, but it has been proposed that these be transferred to genus Crocanthemum
These are usually shrubs or subshrubs, and some are annual or perennial herbs. The leaves are oppositely arranged, but some plants may have alternately arranged leaves along the upper stems. The flowers are solitary or borne in an array of inflorescence types, such as panicles, racemes, or headlike clusters. The flower has three inner sepals and two smaller outer sepals. It has five petals usually in shades of yellow, orange, or pink. The style at the center is tipped with a large stigma. The fruit is a capsule containing many seeds
Helianthemum are known to form symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi. In the Mediterranean they are associated with Terfeziaceae, the desert truffles. Together, plant and fungus may have a beneficial effect on the arid local landscapes, preventing soil erosion and desertification. Some symbiotic pairs include Helianthemum salicifolium and the truffle Tirmania nivea, and H. guttatum and T. pinoyi.
One of the most commonly observed mycorrhizae on Helianthemum is a member of a different family, Cenococcum geophilum. This fungus is not host-specific, and it often associates with oaks, as well. Some studies suggest that Helianthemum and oaks growing together in a habitat may "share" their mycorrhizae.
Helianthemum are food plants for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, such as the large grizzled skipper. The leaf miners Bucculatrix helianthemi and B. regaella both feed exclusively on Helianthemum sessiliflorum, as does Coleophora eupreta. C. ochrea is limited to Helianthemum, and C. bilineella and C. potentillae have been observed on the genus.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scilla morrisii (also called Morris squill or pallid squill) is a species of plant in the Hyacinthaceae family. It is endemic to Cyprus. Its natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. It is threatened by habitat loss.. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photos Lapithos 4/3/2016 by George Konstantinou Thanks to Andreas Chimonides for his help to find the plant.
Astragalus is a large genus of about 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae and the subfamily Faboideae. It is the largest genus of plants in terms of described species. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milkvetch (most species), locoweed (in North America, some species) and goat's-thorn (A. gummifer, A. tragacanthus). Some pale-flowered vetches are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine-like. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
