CYPRUS FLORA AND FAUNA

CYPRIOT DONKEY THISTLE Onopordum cyprium Onopordum cyprium , commonly known as the Cypriot Donkey Thistle, is an endemic plant of Cyprus. It a perennial or biennial plant that occurs across the island on sunny rocky sites. Its height can reach 1 meter and it flowers between May and July. It has elegant upright stems crowned by showy pale purple to dark rose flower heads above silvery-green, spiny leaves. SAPONARIA CYPRIA Saponaria cypria, endemic Saponaria cypria is an endemic perennial plant, with a height of 10-20 cm. It is found in rocky areas with pine trees and in riparian zones from 1,100 meters up to the peak of Troodos Mountains at an altitude of 1,952 meters. The flowers of this plant have magenta-pink colour. The flowers open in the afternoon and close around midday of the following day. Their sticky red cap remains brightly coloured and attractive for weeks after the fall of the petals. It flowers between July and September but is kept green throughout the winter.