Μεσαιωνικό κάστρο Λα Κάβα στο οροπέδιο του Μικρού Άρωνα (Βουνό Λεοντάρι ή Λιονταρόβουνος) - The medieval La Cava castle at trapezoid hill Aromas - Cyprus

The trapezoid hill  is called Aronas of Athalassa or Mount Lion or Liontarovounos, on which the remains of the medieval La Cava castle stand.

Στην περιοχή της Αγλαντζιάς βρισκόταν, κατά τα μεσαιωνικά χρόνια, ο οικισμός Λευκομιάτης. Η περιοχή φαίνεται ότι είχε κατοικηθεί κατά τα τέλη της Φραγκοκρατίας, επί Ιακώβου Β’ (1468-1 1473) και το όνομά της πιστεύεται ότι προέρχεται από το επίθετο φραγκικής οικογένειας στην οποία ανήκε ολόκληρη η περιοχή. Στον Λιονταρόβουνο εξάλλου βρίσκονται τα ερείπια του Μεσαιωνικού κάστρου Λα Κάβα, που χτίστηκε γύρω στα 1385 από τον Βασιλιά Ιάκωβο Α’. Το 1426 το κάστρο καταλήφθηκε από τους Μαμελούκους, ενώ αργότερα οι Οθωμανοί το χρησιμοποίησαν ως πυριτιδαποθήκη. Τον 19ο αιώνα το κάστρο κατεδαφίστηκε και οι λίθοι του χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ως οικοδομικό υλικό για την ανέγερση του ναού της Φανερωμένης στη Λευκωσία. Πηγή http://aglantzia.org.cy/archiki-selida/i-aglantzia-mas/istoria-tis-aglantzias/

Photos 11/4/2016 by George Konstantinou

See also

List of Cyprus archaeological sites on this blog

Ironwort, Mountain tea and Shepherd's tea - Sideritis perfoliata L. - Cyprus

Sideritis, also known as ironwort, mountain tea and shepherd's tea, is a genus of flowering plants well known for their use as herbal medicine, commonly as an herbal tea. They are abundant in Mediterranean regions, the Balkans, the Iberian Peninsula and Macaronesia, but can also be found in Central Europe and temperate Asia

In Greek "Sideritis" can be literally translated as "he who is made of or has iron". The plant was known to ancient Greeks, specifically Pedanius Dioscorides and Theophrastus. Although Dioscorides describes three species, only one (probably S. scordioides) is thought to belong to Sideritis. In ancient times Sideritis was a generic reference for plants capable of healing wounds caused by iron weapons during battles. However others hold that the name stems from the shape of the sepal which resembles the tip of a spear.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos 10/4/2016 by Mike Hadjiconstantis

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

Phlomis lunariifolia Sm. - Cyprus

Near-endemic to Cyprus, also in Turkey (Anatolia)

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. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos 10/4/2016 by Mike Hadjiconstantis

Origanum dubium Boiss. - Ρίγανη - Ορίγανον - Cyprus

Near-endemic to Cyprus, also in Turkey (Anatolia), possibly in Greece

Origanum is a genus of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and much of temperate Asia, where they are found in open or mountainous habitats. A few species also naturalized in scattered locations in North America and other regions.

The plants have strongly aromatic leaves and abundant tubular flowers with long-lasting coloured bracts. The genus includes the important group of culinary herbs: marjoram and oregano.

Origanum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Coleophora albitarsella.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

Brachycerus argillaceus Reiche 1857 - Cyprus

Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Brachycerinae

Many thanks to Christos Zoumides, for his help in finding the species.

Photos at Athalassa 9/02/2016, by Michael Hadjiconstantis 

Playing dead, defense mechanism

Chalcoscirtus infimus (Simon, 1868) - Jumping spider - Cyprus

Family: Salticidae

Chalcoscirtus is a spider genus of the Salticidae family (jumping spiders). Almost all species occur in Palearctic, with a few species found in North America.

Photos at Cape Apostolos Andreas 12/03/2016, by Michael Hadjiconstantis 

Female

Male

 

Micromeria microphylla (d'Urv.) Benth. - Cyprus

Micromeria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, widespread across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, with a center of diversity in the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands. It is sometimes placed within the genus Satureja. The name is derived from the Greek words μῑκρος (mīkros), meaning "small," and μερίς (meris), meaning "portion," referring to the leaves and flowers.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Chaleuka 4/6/2015 by George Konstantinou

Erucaria hispanica (L.) Druce - Κοτσινολαψάνα - Cyprus

Family Brassicaceae

The native range of this species is E. Medit. to Iran and Arabian Peninsula. It is an annual or biennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Photos Geri 7/1/2012 by George Konstantinou