SYRIAN THISTLE
(Notobasis syriaca) Cyprus native. flowers March-May. Grows in poor arid soil. Attractive to insects. Propogates by seeds carried by the wind. Leaves edible.
WILD CHAMOMILE (Matricaria chamomila) Very common native species. Flowers March-May . Fragrant. Prolific bloomer. Seeds scattered on the wind, sprouting, growing quickly, outcompeting other plants for sunlight. Scource of nectar for bees and other insects. Can grow on infertile sandy soil. Used as insecticide, skincare and to make yellow dye .Herbal drink. Oil helps to combat allergies, infections and sore t
SAGE LEAVED ROCK ROSE (Cistus salvifolius) Grows in rocky environments, Tolerating heat and poor soil. Acts as a first coloniser in ecological restoration of infertile ground. Its hardy seeds regenerate quickly after natural setbacks like forest fires. Its oils used in perfumery.
CARMEL DAISY
(Scabosia prolifera). Native species. Flowers February-May. Adaptable to poor a rid soil. Pollinator magnet. Used to treat skin conditions.The Scabosia family of plants very important in recent medical research into medical properties of plants.
CROWN DAISY (Chrysanthemum coronarium) Flowers end Feb-early June. Very common native plant. Strongly aromatic. Stems can be eaten as vegetables. Rich in fragrant oil, olio tanaceti, containing camphor. Flower heads used to kill internal parasites. Oil good for the skin and counters rheumatism.
COTTON LAVENDER Everlasting sun gold. (Helichrysum stoechas) Common native species. Flowers February to April. Aromatic.
MALLOW LEAVED BINDWEED (Convolvulus althaeoides) Common. Flowers March to May. Flowers have a sweet taste and used to ease constipation. Also cultivated in gardens, flowering through hedges.
PHEASANTS EYE (Adonis annua) Flowers early Spring, growing each year from seed. Seeds shed in June, lying on the soil surface until they split under the heat of the sun and germinate in the soil over Winter.Fragrant. Insect magnet. Leaves rich in salicine. used as a cardiant and against soriasis. also used as rat poison.
STAR CLOVER
(Trifolium stellatum) Flowers late Spring-Early Summer, pollinated by bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Can self pllinate in the absense of insects garanteeing annual reproduction. Seeds mature and disperse before the Summer drought, up to 100 seeds per plant, and germinate with the Winter rainfall. Drought tolerant. Grows in poor soil. Nitrogen fixing helping with soil fertility. . Used to treat skin infections such as ezema and psoriasis
SPINY BURNETT (Sarcopterium spinosum) Widespread iin Mediterrannean..Small flowers emerge Febuary-April dries up over Summer, fruits mature in the autumn, falling to the grouds to germinate with Winter rains. Drought tolerant. Fruits used as a tonic and diuretic.Helps combat diabetes.
FIELD GLADIOLUS (Gladiolus italicus) Flowers March-April, long flowering. Common native plant. Indicates metals such as copper in the soil. Tolerant of heat, drought and cold as its underground corm stores nutrients to feed growth the nest year. Corms thought to help with sterility. Toxic.
NAPLES GARLIC
(Allium neapolitanum)
Early flowering, Febuary-May. Very prolific invasive, dominant plant taking over space in a carpet of white flowers. Reproduces through seeds and pushing young plants up from its rootes. Pungent smell of garlic. A powerful disinfectant and antiseptic. Toxic. Indicates lead in the soil.
FALSE SAWORT (Crupina crupiastrum) Flowers April-June. Not common in Cyprus. Drought resistant. Grows in poor soil