The flora of Cyprus is amazing. It dazzles us with its shapes, colors, and scents. Plus, the names of some plants can make you smile. These names often hide healing abilities and special uses and properties that show the wisdom of nature. Here are 2+1 plants from Cyprus that you won’t forget – first for their names and then for their charm.
Koukkoullochorton
Also called klein, this plant is a wild, native treasure of Cypriot nature. It’s heather, known as reiki, and scientifically named Erica verticillata. It belongs to the Ericaceae family and is called Heath in English.
This plant is tough and thrives in the Cypriot landscape. It’s also important for beekeeping because it provides valuable food for bees. The name koukkoullochorton comes from its past use: people breeding silkworms used its thin branches in breeding houses for silkworms to find support and weave their cocoons.
Arkosifounaro
In Cyprus, there’s a small “wild cousin” of our familiar oat. Locals call it arkosifonarin or arkosifounarka. Its scientific name is Avena, and in English, it’s simply “Wild oat.” It belongs to the large Poaceae family.
This plant grows on its own and loves cereal fields.
Tziogkos
The Tziogkos, also known as galatouna or galohorton (Sonchus oleraceus), is an upright plant from the Compositae family. It can live as either an annual or biennial plant. In Cyprus, you can find it at all heights, from lowlands to mountains, usually near riverbanks, gardens, orchards, vineyards, orange groves, and olive groves.
This plant can stay small at around 20 centimeters but can grow over one meter tall under perfect conditions. Its stems are greenish and smooth. When cut, they release a milky juice – the same goes for its leaves. The leaves of galatouna are long, smooth, and shaped like a triangle with deep cuts and sharp-toothed edges, giving it a distinctive lively look.
It’s both edible and medicinal, a little gem of nature often missed in our fields and yards.
The flowers of galatouna are bright yellow and form uneven clusters that stand out. It blooms from February to July, and its fruit is a small achene with pappus — a soft tuft that helps spread seeds.
In the past, people enjoyed its tender stems and leaves on their family tables. They were usually boiled with olive oil and lemon juice, served alongside other greens like lapsana and mallow for a fresh taste in traditional dishes.
The unique flora of Cyprus will always impress
Our beloved Cyprus amazes us not just with its natural beauty but also with its unique plants. The unusual names remind us that exploring nature is worthwhile!
Written by Christina Georgiou with information from the Great Cypriot Encyclopedia
