go I Remarks on the most Important Plant-Societies of the Island. 



Grasses: Bromus squarrosus var. villosus and B. madritensis, numerous, Briza maxima, sparse, Triticum 

 ovatuni (several forms), in quantities, Dactylis glomernta subsp. hisimnica, rather numerous, Melica minnta 

 var. saxatilis, in quantities, Foa bulbosa var. vivipara, sparse, Oryzvpsis miUaeea, sparse (among- the shrubs). 



The tall banks of the river of Vassili-potamos, quite near to the village of Kala v as o, are 

 covered by tightly entangled shrub-growths. Besides Pistacia Lentiscns the following shrubs grow here: 

 P. Terehinthus, in quantities, Styrax officinalis (in very great quantities, and in the very state of blossoming 

 at my first visit in the early days of May, 1905), Euhus idmifolius subsp. anatolieus, in great quantities, 

 Bosea cypria, numerous. Polygonum equisdiforme, in quantities. The shrubs are densely entangled by various 

 climbing plants, among which the following are the most conspicuous : Aristolochia altissima, Smi la x asper a, 

 Vicia palacstina, Ruhia tinctoram, Convolvulus althaeoides and (run astray) Titis vinifera. 



The low hill-slopes, on the coast between Pom os and Karavostasi are largely covered by dry 

 maquis-copses; the most prominent shrubs here are the following: Pistacia Lentiscus, in quantities, Genista 

 sphacelata var. Bovilliana, in great quantities, Calycotome villosa, in quantities, Cistus villosus var. creticus, in 

 great quantities, C. salviifolius, numerous, Lithospermum hisjndulum, s-parse. Thymus capitatus, numerous, a. o. 



Of a similar character is, according to Sintenis' account, the maquis-vegetation in the tracts 

 between Lefkoniko and Ardana, where the peninsula of Karpas begins: "Hugel weehselte mit Hugel. 

 nach dem auch hier grotesk und felsig sich erhebenden Gebirgsstocke hin innner hoher werdeud. Der 

 Gestriippwald breitet sich weit aus; vorzilglich besteht er aus: Pistacia Lentiscus, Myrtus communis, 

 Quevcus calliprinos, Crataegus Azarolus, Jiiniperus pJioenicea und der hier 10 — 12' hohen Calycotome villosa, 

 die in der Fulle ihrer goldgelben Bliithen die grosste Zierde ist und priichtig von dem dunklen Wachholder 

 absticht. — — Gleich unter den ersten Strauchern iiberraschte uns das liebliche Cyclamen latifolium zwar 

 sparsam, aber in schonster Entfaltung. Der Boden war aufs bunteste rait Bliithen geschmiickt, meist alte 

 Bekannte, nur Nigella fumariaefolia, deren Knospen erst einzeln im Aufbrechen begriffen, Specularia falcata, 

 Pterocephalus j^luvtosus, Scahiosa sicula, Rodigia commutata waren uns neu. — — Oft war das Gestriipp 

 so dicht, dass wir Miihe hatten hindurch zu kommen; dazu brannte die Sonne nieht wenig."') These 

 notes were taken in the middle of April 1880. 



In connection with the "Shinia-maquis" it will be uatui-al also in a few words to mention the 

 vegetation of the vineyards. The vine is one of the most important cultivated plants of Cyprus, and 

 the greatest part of the numerous vineyards occupy stretches of land, which would, if left alone, doubtless 

 within a short time be invaded by Pistacia Lentiscus and other maquis-shrubs, usually growing with it. 

 Before being utilized as vineyards, these stretches have also surely to a great extent been covered by such 

 a xerophile shrub-vegetation. Scattered maquis-shrubs are often seen between the cultivated vines. The 

 working of the soil, which is in most cases rather deficient, does not alter the fact, that it is chiefly the 

 ordinary herbs and grasses of the maquis-societies which form the vegetation of the field between the vines. 

 In the looser soil of the vineyards they are often seen to be more vigorously developed than in the unculti- 

 vated maquis. 



Among plants of specially frequent occurrence in the vineyards of the island may be mentioned 

 the little sumach-shrub (Rhus Coriaria); further the luxuriant Phytolacca pruinosa, a herb up to 1 m. high, 

 which is very conspicuous by its red berries; it is eagerly desired for by hares and is therefore called 

 by the villagers by the name of XaYO'jSu'xopxo'i ; I have heard the proprietors of vineyards say that the 

 hares, when this plant grows in the vineyards, usually prefer eating it instead of injuring the vines. The 

 two large umbellifers Hippomarathrum crassilohum and Siler cordifolium are often found in the vine- 

 yards of the district of Limassol; furthermore may be mentioned: Cleome ornithoiwdioides snhs^. cypria, 

 Chenopodium foliosum, Andropogun Sorghum subsp. halepensis. Inula viscosa, Jurinea cypria, Odontites 

 cypria, Carlina corymhosa subsp. involucrata, Lactuca Scariola, Hypericum crispum, Serratula cerinthe folia, 

 Medicago sativa, Ammi mnjus. Allium Ampeloprasum, A. sphaerocejjhalum. Ononis puhescens, Carthamus 



Sintenis, Cyijern n. seine Flora, 11, inj. 12.S-124. 



