The species of September 2014

Name: Soapwort
Scientific name: Saponaria cypria – Boiss
Family: Caryophyllaceae                                                                                                                                                                                                           

© Σάββας Τρύφωνος –Τρόοδος – 6 Αυγούστου 2013

Description
Endemic erect or spreading posture, height 8 cm -30cm. Leaves opposite, simple, and fleshy. The upper part of the shoot is covered with glandular hairs. The flowers are purple and are reported to open in the afternoon and tilt around noon the next day, while the sticky red calyx remains intensely colored and attractive weeks after the petals fall. It blooms July – September but is kept green throughout the winter.

Habitat
It is found in rocky areas with pines and near ravines from 1350m – 1950m altitude. They are locally common in the Troodos area.

Sources:
[1] Βιβλίο «Αγριολούλουδα και άλλα φυτά της Κυπριακής γης» – Υπουργείο Γεωργίας, Φυσικών Πόρων και Περιβάλλοντος – Τμήμα Δασών
[2] https://www.nargs.org
[3] http://www.plantbuzz.com
[4] http://www.treknature.com

Image source:
© Σάββας Τρύφωνος – [email protected]