Remarks on the most Important Plant-Societies of the Island. 223 



cretico, Sonchtis oleraceus, S. te.nerrimus, Galium tricorne, G. Aparine. Sherardia arvensis, Salvia Verbenaca, 

 Lithosjiernmm arvense, L. tenuiflorKni, Nonnea ventricosa (noch spiirlich), Anchusa hybrida, A. italica, 

 As2)eriigo procitmbens, Linaria chalcpcnsis, L. mierantha, Anagallis coerulea (sehr hoch und tippig'), Bnphiirum 

 protractum, Tordijlium upgijptiacum, Caucalis, Scandix Pecten Veneris, Anemone coronaria, Leontice Leon- 

 tupetalum, Papaver Bhoeas, P. hybridum. Hypecouni f/randiflorum, Fumaria, Neslia paniculata, Sinapis 

 alba, Raphanas Raphanisirnm et safirum. Silene inftata, Malta jxirvi flor a, Eaphorbia Sintenisii, E. Peplvs, 

 E. Helioscopia, Erodmm grninum, E. ciennium, E. nialacoides, Geranium tuberosum., Medieago eireinata, 

 M. orbicularis. M. lappacea, M. ciliaris u. a. in., Melilotus messanensis, M. sulcata. Trifolium formosum, 

 T. tomoitosuvi. Tetragonolobus purpureus. Astragalus havwsus, Pisum fuh-um. Lathy rus annuus, L. 

 aphaca u. a. m., Scorjriurus. Hijipocrejiis unisiUquosa. Coronilla scorpioides, ]lcia satira, V. angastifolia, 

 T', narbnnenxis u. a. m."') 



I visited tiie same eoinfields on tiie 12tii and tiie 13th of March and succeeded in refinding the 

 greatest part of the plants observed liere by Sintenis 25 years earlici'; moreovei- I collected some species 

 which he does not mention as seen by him in this place: 



Bromus rubens, Hordeum murinum. Allium orientale, Asphodehis raniosus subsp. micivcarpus, 

 Cerastium glomeratum, Silene coloruta, S. rubella, S. apetala var. grandiflora. Ranunculus muricatus, R. 

 arvensis, Adonis aestivalis subsp. mierocarpa, Fumaria densiflora, F. parviflora. Ononis biflora, Lotus 

 Tetragonolobus subsp. paha^stinus, Tjuthyrus amoenus, L. ochrus, Vicia narbonensis subsp. serratifolia, V. 

 peregrina, Pisum arvense subsp. elatius, Oxalis c.ornua. Euphorbia orguta, E. Helioscopia, Reseda lutea. 

 Linum usitatissimum subsp. humile, Linaria ulbifroiis, Veronica Cymbidaria. Asjierula arreiisis, Vah^rimirlla 

 vesicaria. Calendula persica subsp. gracilis. 



In tiie cultivated fields in the low country of Cyprus a similar vegetation of weeds is everywliere 

 to be found at this season. The composition of this vegetation may, however, differ considerably according 

 to the different places; but on the whole the cornfields near Phaneroraene may be set up as a typical 

 example. Seen from one of the high tops of the Northern mountains, f. inst. from Pentadaktylos or 

 Kantara, the plain of Messaria in March and April looks like an immense many-coloured flower-bed, 

 conspicuous especially by its red and yellow colours (Papaver and Chrysanthemum) Ail this show of 

 flowei's, however, comes soon to an end. In April it is cut with the corn, some part of it having been 

 gathered already eai'lier to be used as heibage. 



(|)uite different from this I'ich vernal vegetation is anothei- vegetation of weeds which occupies the 

 same fields latei' on in the summer. During the spiing and the eai'ly pail of tiie summer the amount of 

 rain quickly diminishes to reach its lowest point in July; during the years 1887 — 1891 the average rainfall 

 in July (all six District-towns) was O.o mm. As a result of the drought the soil gets stifl", the surface 

 growing so hard, that chisels or strong iron pick-axes are necessary to dig out even a small root. In this 

 ground, that seems to be so unfavourable to every higher veg'etation, a vegetation may nevertheless be found 

 in the months of May, June and July. This vegetation is poor as to species, but rich in individuals, 

 mostly consisting of perennial, strongly xerophile plants. One of those which are most widely distributed 

 is a small bush of the family of Rhamnaceae, Paliurus australis, with sharp thorns. Several tliistly 

 composites are also widely distributed making themselves very conspicuous, e. g. the beautiful blue 

 Broteroa corymbosa, a kind of wild artichoke (Cynara carduncuhis) the heads of which are very often 

 gathered and eaten by the villagers before they have come out; then there is Cirsium syriacum, Echinops 

 viscosus, etc. Scolym.us hispanicus with its yellow flowers and thorns sharp like those of a thistle, is 

 very commonly to be seen in all the fields after the corn has been cut. In the plain of Messaria especially 

 the small bushy papilionaceous plant Prosopis Stephaniana grows frequently in the cornfields; often there 

 will occur so great numbers of this plant that it may be said to form a real copse covering large distances. 

 In the same part of the island dense growths of the big Convolvulus Doryoiium may be seen with its 



') Sintenis, Cypeni mid stiiie Flcira. I, p. 193—194. 



