Wild flower identification in North Cyprus

captainjohn


Joined: 08/06/2008
Posts: 201

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 16:13

Whilst taking a stroll to day I came across a small group of flowers that i have not seen before, they look like freesias, dark pink with 5 petals two the top and 3 at the bottom 2 of the 3have 2 pale lines through the centre of the petal, and the stem bears several fowers ?



Cpt John

Warbabies


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 165

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 17:51

Could be Wild Gladiolus,- there are a lot in the fields at present, particularly near the old coast road beyond Kaplica, but also in many other places.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 18:46

Sounds like gladioli - loads up in the Karpaz and a few near us in Esentepe.

Another flower I came across last week is dark red wine coloured, several flowers on same stem, each flower above and about 90 degrees right from the previous flower. I would describe the flowers as velvety and bearded with a striped hood. Any ideas? Might be another type of gladioli.

Kambylikid


Joined: 31/10/2009
Posts: 148

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 19:19

re msg 3

They are of the serapias family, an orchidae.

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 19:31

Was it this?



http://www.thedanielboys.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Image013.jpg

Earlybird


Joined: 28/04/2009
Posts: 816

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 19:32

Msg 5...that is a Ploughshare Orchid, seen lots of them lately.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 19:35

Thanks. Every day seems to bring a new wild flower at the moment, current favourite is the muscari comosum (tassel grape hyacinth) . One even popped up in the garden.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
27/03/2010 19:41

Msg 5 that is the flower that I was describing and if you google images using serapias as Kambylikid identified it then you will find lots of photos.

roblyn


Joined: 21/11/2008
Posts: 144

Message Posted:
28/03/2010 10:35

Called into the garden centre to buy basil.Whilst there I saw growing on the wasteland a plant similar to the wild garlic in the UK but without the pong Clusters of small white star like blooms.

I asked the chap if I could have some. He looked at me as if I was insane wanting these wild flowers when he had so many exotic blooms on offer,but gave me a handful anyway.

Took them home and put them in a vase,the blooms are dying off but look as if they may be forming little seeds. I hope I'll be able to replant them in a pot and reproduce them next year

littleme


Joined: 04/07/2009
Posts: 299

Message Posted:
28/03/2010 21:04

Anyone know of any sites that identify the wild flowers of cyprus. Think it would be nice to know what we are looking at or a good book please.

Earlybird


Joined: 28/04/2009
Posts: 816

Message Posted:
28/03/2010 22:05

A Photographers View of the Flowers of Northen Cyprus by Sonia Halliday and Laura Lushington is a good one to start with.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
29/03/2010 17:45

I believe that you can buy several books about Cyprus fauna & flora in the Round Tower in Girne. Most of these have been written by British expats living in the South; for instance, I edited 'Sea Shells of Cyprus' by John Orr. I seem to remember that one book is devoted to Cypriot wild orchids.