Ephedra nebrodensis subsp. procera (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) K. Richt. - Cyprus

Red Data Book category

Ephedra  is a medicinal preparation from the plant Ephedra sinica. Several additional species belonging to the genus ephedra have traditionally been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, and are a possible candidate for the Soma plant of Indo-Iranian religion. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years. Native Americans and Mormon pioneers drank a tea brewed from other ephedra species, called "Mormon tea" and "Indian tea".


Mormon tea (Ephedra funerea) growing in the wild in the Fiery Furnace area of Arches National Park near Moab, Utah


In recent years, dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloid have been found to be unsafe, with reports of serious side effects and ephedra-related deaths. In response to accumulating evidence of adverse effects and deaths related to ephedra, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids in 2004. The ban was challenged in court by ephedra manufacturers, but ultimately upheld in 2006 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Ephedra extracts not containing ephedrine have not been banned by the FDA and are still sold legally today.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos 11/4/2016 by George Konstantinou

Teucrium kyreniae (P. H. Davis) Hadjik. & Hand - Τεύκριο το κύπριο υποειδ. της Κερύνειας - Endemic to Cyprus

SEE ALSO - ΛΊΣΤΑ ΕΝΔΗΜΙΚΏΝ ΦΥΤΏΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΎΠΡΟΥ - LIST OF ENDEMICS PLANTS OF CYPRUS

Red Data Book category

Endemic to Cyprus

Teucrium is a genus of perennial plants in the family Lamiaceae. The name is believed to refer to King Teucer of Troy. Members of the genus are commonly known as germanders. There are hundreds of species, including herbs, shrubs or subshrubs. They are found all over the world but are most common in Mediterranean climates.

An unusual feature of this genus compared with other members of Lamiaceae is that the flowers completely lack the upper lip of the corolla, although it is somewhat reduced also in other genera (Ajuga among them).

Several species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Coleophora case-bearers Coleophora auricella and Coleophora chamaedriella. The latter is only known from Wall Germander (T. chamaedrys).


Teucrium species are rich in essential oils. They are valued as ornamental plants and a pollen source, and some species have culinary and/or medical value.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos 11/4/2016 by George Konstantinou

Alyssum akamasicum B. L. Burtt - Άλυσσον του ακάµα - Βροµόχορτον - Endemic to Cyprus

See also - Λίστα Ενδημικών Φυτών της Κύπρου - List of Endemics plants of Cyprus

Red Data Book category
Endemic to Cyprus

Alyssum is a genus of over a hundred species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. The genus comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants or (rarely) small shrubs, growing to 10–100 cm tall, with oblong-oval leaves. Alyssum flowers are characteristically small and grouped in terminal clusters; they are often yellow or white colored but can be pink or purple.

The genera Lobularia, Aurinia and Odontarrhena are closely related to Alyssum and were formerly included in it. The widely cultivated species popularly known as "sweet alyssum" (Alyssum maritimum) is Lobularia maritima. The common rockery plant (Alyssum saxatile) is Aurinia saxatilis.

Alyssum foliage is used as food by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera, including the Gem (Orthonama obstipata). However, rabbits will not eat it. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos 11/4/2016 by George Konstantinou

Arum italicum Mill. subsp. italicum - Δρακοντιά - Αγριοκολοκασιά - Cyprus

Red Data Book category

Arum italicum is a species of flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the family Araceae, also known as Italian arum and Italian lords-and-ladies. It is native to the Mediterranean region (southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East) plus Great Britain, the Netherlands, Crimea, Caucasus, Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores. It is also naturalized in Argentina and in scattered locations in the United States.


It grows 30–46 cm (1–1.5 ft) high, with equal spread. It blooms in Spring with white flowers that turn to showy red fruit. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant for traditional and woodland shade gardens. Some gardeners use this arum to underplant with hosta, as they produce foliage sequentially; when the hosta withers away, the arum replaces it, leaving the ground covered. Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which A. italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos 11/4/2016 by George Konstantinou

Jerusalem salvia or Jerusalem sage - Salvia hierosolymitana Boiss. - Cyprus

Red Data Book category

Salvia hierosolymitana, the Jerusalem salvia or Jerusalem sage, is a herbaceous perennial native to the eastern Mediterranean, with populations in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. It typically grows in open fields, rocky soils, and among low-growing native shrubs. It was first described in 1853 by botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier, with the epithet "hierosolymitana" referring to "royal, sacred Jerusalem".


It forms a mound of basal leaves that spreads to 2 ft, and slightly less in height. The ovate mid-green leaves are evergreen, lightly covered with hairs, and with a scalloped margin, growing 8-10 in long with prominent veining underneath. The 1 in or smaller flowers are a wine-red color, growing in widely spaced whorls, with 2-6 flowers per whorl. The lower lip is white, with wine-red spotting. The calyces are pea-green with red veins and bracts edged in red. The square stem of the 1 ft long inflorescences are also edged in red. Unlike many salvias, there is no odor when the leaves are crushed, and there is no known medicinal use of this plant.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos 10/4/2016 by Mike Hadjiconstantis

Astragalus macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis Kirchhoff & Meikle - Αστράγαλος οµακρόκαρπος υποειδ. τωνΛευκάρων - Endemic to Cyprus

See also - Λίστα Ενδημικών Φυτών της Κύπρου - List of Endemics plants of Cyprus

Red Data Book category

Endemic to Cyprus

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

 Photos 10/4/2016 by Mike Hadjiconstantis

Onosma gigantea Lam. - Cyprus

Red Data Book category

Onosma is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. They are native to the Mediterranean and western Asia. They grow in dry, sunny habitats with rocky, sandy substrates. Some are popular as rock garden plants.



Estimates of the number of species in the genus range from about 85 or 88 to 150. The systematics are unclear and the group is in need of study and revision
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Photos Panagra 8/4/2010 by George Konstantinou

Onosma orientalis (L.) L. - Cyprus

Red Data Book category

Onosma is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. They are native to the Mediterranean and western Asia. They grow in dry, sunny habitats with rocky, sandy substrates. Some are popular as rock garden plants.



Estimates of the number of species in the genus range from about 85 or 88 to 150. The systematics are unclear and the group is in need of study and revision
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Cape Pyla 17/2/2010 by George Konstantinou

King's Spear, Yellow Asphodel - Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb. - Cyprus

Red Data Book category

Asphodeline lutea (King's Spear, Yellow Asphodel) is a perennial plant native to southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and Turkey. It is grown as a landscaping plant.


It has been associated with the Asphodel of the underworld, but see also the closely related Asphodelus ramosus.

Asphodeline lutea reaches 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) tall and 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) wide. The grey-green leaves are 1 ft (0.30 m) tall, with the flower stalk growing 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) bearing a dense raceme of bright 1 in (2.5 cm) yellow flowers.

Asphodeline lutea was introduced into the University of Oxford Botanic Garden in 1648, even though it demonstrated no known uses that are typical of a physic garden (plants grown for medicinal use). One of the curators of the garden at the time, John Parkinson, said the plant was “not... used in Physicke for any purpose." The locals in the Mediterranean who were interviewed by Parkinson said that that plant had “no... propertie appropriate unto it but knavery," with no explanation of the particular knavery of which the plant was guilty. The description in the Botanic Garden used the old name of Asphodelus lutea.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos by 4/4/2016 George Konstantinou