Cyclamen L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 25

7. Cyclamen L. 1

Perennial tuberous herbs. Leaves simple, cordate, long-petiolate, glabrous, rather fleshy, usually blotched or marbled above and purple beneath. Flowers axillary, solitary, nodding; pedicel long, usually coiling spirally in fruit. Calyx campanulate, deeply 5- lobed. Corolla with a short, hemispherical basal tube and 5 lobes, the lobes at first contorted, later strongly deflexed. Anthers large, connivent and forming a cone. Capsule globose or broadly ovoid, splitting either irregularly or into 5 teeth. Seeds large, sticky. All the species occur in woods and thickets or on shaded, rocky hillsides, usually on limestone. Literature: R. Knuth in Engler, Pflanzenreich 22 (IV. 237): 246-256 (1905). O. Schwarz, Feddes Reperì. 58: 234-283 (1955); 69: 73-103 (1964). D. E. Saunders, Bull. Alp. Gard. Soc. 27: 18-76 (1959). 1 Corolla-lobes auriculate at base; flowers appearing in late summer or autumn, usually before the leaves

2 Tuber usually rooting from upper surface, without thick retractile roots; fruiting pedicel coiling from apex; leaves often distinctly angled or lobed 1. hederifolium 2 Tuber rooting only from base, with thick retractile roots; fruiting pedicel coiling from middle or base; leaves seldom angled or lobed 2. graecum 1 Corolla-lobes not auriculate at base; flowers appearing in winter, spring or summer when leaves are fully developed

3 Flowers appearing in summer and early autumn, very fragrant; leaves persistent, broadly cordate or reniform, subentire or obscurely denticulate; tuber irregular, often with corky protuberances 3. purpurascens 3 Flowers appearing in winter or spring; leaves not persistent; tubers subglobose or depressed-globose

4 Corolla white or veined pale pink, without a darker zone at the base of the lobes; leaves usually speckled with white above

5 Corolla veined pale pink; corolla-lobes 10-18 mm; leafmargins obtusely toothed or undulate, sometimes almost entire 6. balearicum 5 Corolla white; corolla-lobes 16-25 mm; leaf-margins rather acutely dentate or sometimes lobed, rarely undulate or subentire 5. creticum 4 Corolla pink or purple, or occasionally white with a darker zone or blotch at base of lobes; leaves sometimes marbled above but rarely speckled with white

6 Corolla-lobes 7-15 mm, with a prominent, dark violet,

pale-centred blotch at base; leaves reniform or suborbicular with entire or obscurely undulate-denticulate margins 7. coum 6 Corolla-lobes 15-45 mm, with a darker zone at base but without distinct blotches; leaves cordate, sometimes angular

7 Leaves coarsely dentate or shallowly lobed, often angled;

corolla-lobes 15-30 mm; fruiting pedicel coiled

4. repandum 7 Leaves closely and obtusely denticulate, rarely angled or lobed; corolla-lobes 25-45 mm; fruiting pedicel arcuate but not coiled 8. persicum