Cyclamen hederifolium

It can be found everywhere on Mount Paggaio, as it is a very common species in shrublands and forests of low and medium altitudes. It is also present in gaps, in shady places of rocks or under individual shrubs and trees.

With a large number of individuals, as it forms large-sized colonies. Dwarf herbaceous plant, with black tuber, fibrous in its lower part. Due to the similarity of its shape with the tortoise it was known to the ancient Greeks as “χελώνιο” (tortoise). Its leaves, which look like ivy leaves, are heart-shaped, have a long stem and serrated edges. They are deep green, often with light greenish-white spots along their veins. The lower surface may be reddish. The flowers are solitary on long peduncles, browning with a deep purple color at the point where the petals are joined. It flowers in autumn until early winter. Cyclamen grows in shady and relatively humid environments. The fresh tubers are toxic, although they are attributed medicinal properties, such as the treatment of sinusitis and otitis. Theophrastus mentions the root as a good amulet for a quick birth and as an erotic filter. Pliny attributes to the root properties that make it an antidote to snake bites but also a repellent …to evil spells. It is also used as a homeopathic medicine for vision problems of various types, often related to vertigo and headaches. It has a special aesthetic value due to its flower.

Due to its relatively wide distribution on Mount Paggaio, no particular threats and pressures were observed or reported, which could lead to a significant reduction in its population.

LC-Least Concern.

Cyclamen is assigned to the “LC-Least Concern” category by IUCN, which does not necessarily mean that the species is safe or should not be protected. It rather means that the species “is not in immediate danger of extinction if the current conditions are maintained”. It is included in Annex II of the CITES Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.