Cyclamen
The cyclamens are rhizomateuses hardy perennials of the family of the Primulacées, according to the traditional Classification, or of the Myrsinacées, according to the phylogenetic classification. The cyclamens do not have clear affinity with others primulacées, though they resemble the Dodecatheon of North America by their reversed petals.
There are 22 species of cyclamens. The cyclamens push in the open air in many Mediterranean countries where they grow especially in the fresh and mountainous areas. The greatest concentration of species is in minor Asia. Cyclamen purpurascens goes up as far as Central Europe. Cyclamen somalense pushes in the North-East of Somalia.
Description
The name Cyclamen is derived from the Greek κυκλος (circle or target). The cyclamens are Géophyte S with large round and flattened tuber, in the bread roll shape. In certain areas the popular belief wants that the pigs the deterrent; from where their vernacular name `bread of pourceau'.
The sheets develop in the form of rivet washer of which emergent also gracious flowers on a thin stem. Their higher face is often nicely marbled of white with a reason in `Christmas tree' in his central part. The lower face of the sheets of several species is purple. It is supposed that this color, being used as air-heater, collects the light which crosses the sheet and transforms it into heat, in time when the forests are stripped and free ground of snow. The sheets disappear in summer, except at Cyclamen purpurascens and Cyclamen colchicum .
The flowers are red, pink, white or mixed, and are produced with profusion. They do not have either not odor or, at certain species like the cyclamen of the Alps ( Cyclamen purpurascens ), have a more or less pronounced pleasant odor. The kind Cyclamen is remarkable by the fact that there are species in flower practically each month of the year.
Except at Cyclamen persicum and Cyclamen somalense , the floral stalk twists in corkscrew after fecundation. The fruit-bearing capsule, which matures on the ground, releases with maturity of large seeds covered with a sweetened mucilage, sown by the ants.
History
During the Antiquity, the cyclamen was especially known for its therapeutic virtues (it contains a powerful purgative poison). The Romains also appreciated it for its flowering, its perfume and its discretion.The cyclamen was introduced in Europe at the 16th century, and was cultivated in the botanical gardens of the queen Elisabeth I {{Re}} of England. The Catholic church saw there the symbol of the heart of Marie who bleeds on the ground, symbolic system taken again by the Flemish painters.
Forsaken at the 18th century, during which he is rather regarded as a plant of collection, the cyclamen returned in vogue as from the 19th century, taking part in the romantic current .
Botanical species
The kind Cyclamen is divided into 4 sub-genera:
- Sub-genus Corticata : Cyclamen cyprium and Cyclamen libanoticum
- Sub-genus Cyclamen , with three series:
- Series Cyclamen : Cyclamen hederifolium and Cyclamen africanum
- Series Persicum Cyclamen persicum and Cyclamen somalense , like Cyclamen graecum and Cyclamen rohlfsianum
- Series Purpurascens : Cyclamen purpurascens and Cyclamen colchicum
- Sub-genus 'Gyrophoebe , with two series:
- Series Cilicium : Cyclamen related cilicium and species
- Series Pubipedia : Cyclamen coum and related species
- Sub-genus Psilanthum : Cyclamen repandum and related species
Species with winter and spring flowering
The cyclamen of Cos and related species
- Cyclamen coum Millet. : the cyclamen with round sheets or cyclamen of Cos - incorrect name, because this cyclamen is not indigenous with the island of Cos but inter alia with Coa (Cilicie Orientale), area of Turkey where it is widespread; originating in Balkans and Minor Asia, easy culture; naturalizes itself easily. In the part of his distribution one Is meets the subspecies caucasicum (K. Koch) O. Schwarz with twisted sheets and larger flowers.
- Cyclamen elegans Wood. & Buhse (Syn. Cyclamen coum subsp. elegans ): more in the East still, in Transcaucasia, Cyclamen coum is replaced by Cyclamen elegans , a more delicate species, with larger flowers.
- Cyclamen alpinum hort. Dammann ex Sprenger (Syn. Cyclamen trochopteranthum ): originating in Turkey, with less reversed petals, laid out helical; less rustic.
- Cyclamen pseudibericum Hildebr. : a cyclamen of Turkey, with large slightly scented flowers; unfortunately less rustic.
- Cyclamen parviflorum Pobed. : a minor brother of Cyclamen coum , originating in the high mountains of Turkey; difficult to cultivate.
Breads of pourceau
- Cyclamen repandum Sm. : discreetly scented Mediterranean species; meets of Provence in the north of Greece.
- Cyclamen peloponnesiacum (Grey-Wilson) Tan Kit (Syn. Cyclamen repandum subsp. peloponnesiacum ): very similar, substitute Cyclamen repandum in Greece. The subspecies rhodense (Meikle) Tan Kit (Syn. Cyclamen repandum subsp. rhodense ) pushes in Rhodos and the island of Cos.
- Cyclamen balearicum Willk. : push in the Balearic Islands and in some station of Languedoc - Roussillon.
- Cyclamen creticum (Dörfl.) Hildebr. meets in Crete and in Karpathos.
NB: Certains cyclamens of Corsica would be hybrids Cyclamen repandum X Cyclamen balearicum .
Cyclamens of Lebanon and Persia
- Cyclamen libanoticum Hildebr. : a cyclamen with large flower, originating in Lebanon; not very rustic.
- Cyclamen persicum Millet. : the cyclamen of Persia, ancestor of the cyclamen of the florists, originating in the east and the south of the Mediterranean basin. VAr. autumnalis Grey-Wilson of the area of Hebron flowers in autumn. Nonrustic, except for some clones coming the heights of Golan. This species is the ancestor of the cyclamens of the florists.
Species with estival and autumnal flowering
The cyclamen of Naples
- Cyclamen hederifolium Aiton (Syn. Cyclamen neapolitanum ): originating in the north of the Mediterranean basin. The easiest cyclamen of the garden, which is naturalized easily.
Cyclamens of the Alps and Colchide
- Cyclamen purpurascens Millet. : mountains of Central and Eastern Europe. Flowers at the end of the summer, scented (vernacular name Violette of the Alps ).
- Cyclamen colchicum (Albov) Albov, the cyclamen of Colchide: a very similar cyclamen of the south-west of the Caucasus; less rustic.
Cyclamens of Turkey
- Cyclamen cilicium Wood. & Heldr. : an elegant cyclamen of rather easy culture.
- Cyclamen intaminatum (Meikle) Grey-Wilson: a dwarf cyclamen, with immaculate flower; more fragile.
- Cyclamen mirabile Hildebr. : a remarkable cyclamen, less rustic ; red foliage in its youth, then nicely marbled.
The cyclamen of Cyprus
- Cyclamen cyprium Kotschy, with hurled white flowers, scented; unfortunately not very rustic.
The cyclamen of Greece
- Cyclamen graecum Link, not very rustic; with remarkable foliage by its very variable marblings.
African cyclamens
- Cyclamen africanum Wood. & Reut. : resemble Cyclamen hederifolium ; crosses easily with this species.
- Cyclamen rohlfsianum Asch. : endemic in Libya; the least rustic of the cyclamens
- Cyclamen somalense Thulin & Warfa: connected with Cyclamen persicum discovered in 1986 in the North-East of Somalia.
Culture of the botanical species
Planted with the garden, the cyclamens take pleasure in the shade of the trees, and do not need many care, just to remove the faded sheets and to tear off the invaders. The plants can live several decades. Certain specimens centenaries of Cyclamen hederifolium planted at the 19th century still always flower. They can have a tuber 30 cm in diameter, weighing more than 15 kg (field of Montmarin)!The tubers of the rustic species must be planted very superficially; those of the less rustic species more deeply (5 to 10 cm). The nonrustic species must, except in the areas with the very lenient climate, being planted in cold greenhouse.
Cyclamens of the florists
The cyclamens known as of the florists are tri and tetraploid cultivars of Cyclamen persicum . In fact very popular plants of ornament égayent their bright colors the days of winter. New the cultivars treated with the hormones, called “nanifiés cyclamens”, become with the mode.The cyclamen will not support to remain locked up in your living room, you will have to very often leave it (on the edge of a window) without fearing the fresh temperatures, even very fresh (return it to 0°). With regard to watering, be wary not to leave water in the saucer or the cover, it does not appreciate excesses of moisture which support rotting. Lastly, as the flowers fade, remove by drawing them on the stem from a dry blow.
It is possible to preserve the tuber, safe from the direct light, and to make it refleurir several years of continuation. During the period of rest (in July - August) it is possible to carry out a division of the tuber. The two halves will have to be plunged in a Fongicide (flower of Soufre for example) then left dry a few days before being replanted separately. The principal enemy of the cyclamen is a Bactérie, Erwinia will carotovora , which develops at the time of an excessive heat, a too rich fertilization and too much moisture.
Others
cyclamin|cyclamin- the cyclamens contain cyclamin , a triterpenic saponin, whose highest concentration is present in the tuber. The cyclamin ingestion causes an irritation characterized by intense nauseas and vomiting. The cyclamin injection under the skin involves systemic effects similar to curare of the Indians (paralysis).
- the Cyclamen europaeum (old name of the Cyclamen purpurascens ) enters the composition of the anti-migraineux homeopathic Phapax of the Lehning laboratory.
- With the Japan, the cyclamen is the crowned flower of the love.
Sources
- Grey-Wilson C. - Cyclamen: With Guide to Gardeners, Horticulturists and Botanists (New edition), Timber Close Inc., Portland cement, Oregon, 2003
- The Cyclamen Society
- John D. Thompson, Sebastien Lavergne, Laurence Affre, Myriam Gaudeul & max Debussche, Ecological differentiation off Mediterranean endemic seedlings
- Réginald Hulhoven, Of Primulacées Remarkable
External bonds
- Canadian System of information on the toxic plants: '' Cyclamen persicum ''
- Repertory of pharmacy - On the cyclamen
| Random links: | Rock | Saldae | Louny | Paulette Braxton | Philippe Pierlot | Anduin |