Florist's Cyclamen

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Florist's Cyclamen
• Common Cyclamen
• Cyclamen
• Persian Cyclamen
• tangara rastrojera

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cyclaminus persica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, it is a member of the Primulaceae family. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Cyclamen.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within the Mediterranean basin. In Southeastern Europe, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Greece and Italy. Its presence also extends to the island of Kriti within the same European region. Moving toward Northern Africa, the species is established in the territories of Algeria. Finally, the geographical range includes the coastal areas of Tunisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cyclamen persicum is characterized by its specific adaptation to high-altitude environments, where it thrives within a defined montane niche. This species is specifically found at significant elevations, occupying an ecological belt that begins at a minimum of 2000 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. Within this altitudinal range, the plant must contend with the unique environmental pressures of mountain ecosystems, including varying temperature fluctuations, intense solar radiation, and specific soil moisture requirements typical of such high-elevation habitats.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cyclamen persicum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it can persist through multiple growing seasons, though its development can exhibit variable patterns across different environmental conditions. As a geophyte, the plant relies on a specialized underground storage organ, typically a tuber, to survive periods of dormancy and unfavorable environmental stress. This evolutionary strategy classifies it as a cryptophyte, as its vital regenerative parts are concealed beneath the soil surface, protecting them from desiccation and temperature extremes. This life cycle allows the plant to emerge seasonally, utilizing its stored energy to support rapid growth and flowering before retreating back into its underground state.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cyclamen persicum is characterized by a growth form classified as a herb, specifically presenting as a non-woody, herbaceous plant. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it lacks aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies and does not function as an epiphyte, remaining firmly rooted in the soil. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, functioning entirely on its own biological resources. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking any climbing, vine, or liana-like habits, and maintains a consistent non-woody composition throughout its vegetative development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cyclamen persicum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. The vegetative growth and light interception capabilities of the plant are closely tied to its leaf morphology, which exhibits significant dimensional variability. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 8.5 cm and a mean width of 8.5 cm, though individual specimens can vary widely, with minimum dimensions reaching as low as 3 cm for both length and width. At its maximum developmental stage, the leaf architecture can expand substantially, reaching a maximum length of 14 cm and a maximum width of 14 cm, facilitating an optimized surface area for gas exchange and solar energy absorption.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

14 cm

Leaf width mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cyclamen persicum is characterized by a flexible flowering schedule and the production of very small seeds. The plant exhibits a highly variable flowering period, with blooms capable of appearing at any time of the year, including December, though specific onset and duration can fluctuate significantly depending on environmental conditions. When the plant undergoes sexual reproduction, it produces seeds that are remarkably consistent in size; the seed mass is measured at a uniform 0.00975 g, with the mean, maximum, and minimum values all aligning at this specific weight.

Flowering time :

Dec

Seed mass mean:

0.00975 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cyclamen persicum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include GA3.

GA3

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cyclamen persicum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include heat stress.

Heat stress

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)