Cyclamen mirabile

Cyclamen mirabile, sowbread,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. A tufted, tuberous herbaceous perennial growing to 10 cm (3.9 in), it is native to Turkish pine woodland and maquis in southwestern Turkey. It belongs to the Cyclamen cilicium group of the genus Cyclamen (subgenus Gyrophoebe, series Cilicium). The species was identified and named in 1906.

Cyclamen mirabile
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Cyclamen
Subgenus: C. subg. Gyrophoebe
Species:
C. mirabile
Binomial name
Cyclamen mirabile

The Latin specific epithet mirabile means “miraculous”, referring to the blooms which appear as if by magic from the bare earth.[2]

Description

The tuber is round-flattened and roots irregularly from the lower surface.

The leaves, appearing with the flowers or after they have emerged,[3] are broad heart-shaped, and as wide or wider than long. Cyclamen intaminatum is wider than long, but Cyclamen cilicium is longer than wide. The leaf edge is shallowly toothed; in the closely related Cyclamen cilicium and Cyclamen intaminatum, the edge is wavy or smooth. Leaf color is dark green with a variable “”Christmas tree” pattern in lighter green or silver. The silver zone often starts out pink-tinged in young leaves.

The flowers, appearing in Autumn, are often fragrant with a coconut scent.[3] Flower color is white to deep pink, often with a magenta blotch at the base of each petal. Cyclamen cilicium also has a blotch, but Cyclamen intaminatum does not. The petal edges are toothed, particularly near the tip. Cyclamen intaminatum has slight petal toothing as well, but Cyclamen cilicium usually has none.

In cultivation this plant has proved reasonably hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as −10 °C (14 °F) when planted in a suitable setting. It grows best in well-drained soil that dries out in the dormant period (summer). As it dislikes cool wet summers, it may fare better in a pot in an unheated greenhouse.[3] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[1] (confirmed 2017).[4]

Subdivisions

Forms

Cyclamen mirabile has two naturally occurring forms, distinguished by flower color:

  • Cyclamen mirabile f. mirabile — pale to deep pink flowers with dark blotches
  • Cyclamen mirabile f. niveum — all-white flowers

Cultivars

There are several cultivars of Cyclamen mirabile:

  • Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Anne' has silvery leaves with etched veins that are tinged with pink when young, and pink flowers.
  • Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Jan' (named after Jan Ietswaart of the Netherlands, who sent seed to Peter Moore at Tilebarn Nursery) has been selected for white flowers; some seedlings are pure white, while others have a pale pink nose.
  • Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Nicholas' has leaves with a dark green Christmas tree–shaped center surrounded by a broad band of silver. The silver band is deep pink in young leaves.
  • Cyclamen mirabile
    Cyclamen mirabile
  • Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Jan'
    Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Jan'
  • Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Nicholas'
    Cyclamen mirabile 'Tilebarn Nicholas'

References
  • Cyclamen: a guide for gardeners, horticulturists, and botanists. C. Grey-Wilson. 1997
  1. "RHS Plantfinder - Cyclamen mirabile". Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
  3. "Cyclamen mirabile". The Cyclamen Society. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  4. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 27. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
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