Cyprus cyclamen named the national plant

The Republic of Cyprus named the the Cyclamen cyprium (Cyprus cyclamen) as the national plant at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday chaired by President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Quercus alnifolia (Golden Oak) was also named as the island’s national tree.

The government took the decision to name the national plants to promote tourism andto protect the environment.

According to www.cyclamen.org, hosted by the Cyclamen Society, the distribution of the cyclamen genus in the wild is centred on the Mediterranean.

(Photo: www.cyclamen.org)

Meanwhile, the www.mediterraneangardensociety.org site reports that the Quercus alnifolia is “ a bushy tree with golden leaf undersides, is native to Cyprus”.