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All images are copyright © Cyclamen Society 1990, and are
digitally watermarked. No
reproduction without permission.
Between Tel Maresha and Bet Guvrin, east of Qiryat Gat. Altitude: 250-300m An area of rough grassland and herbaceous vegetation with occasional shrubs and large boulders of carboniferous type limestone. Aspect West-southwest, slope 1:3 Soil a stiff clay, often waterlogged between boulders and lower on the slopes. Cyclamen persicum occurred most often around the edges of limestone boulders and in crevices and solution holes therein. Higher on the slope, on better drained soil, it became more common amidst grasses and other plants away from the boulders. Very large leaves were often present on plants shaded by grasses and/or shrubs. Other plants noted included Bellevallia, Anemone coronaria, Clematis cirrhosa, Iris palaestinica, Asphodelus microcarpus, Allium neapolitanum and Ornithogalum
On western side of the road south of Bet Shemesh, near Givat Yesha'yahu. Altitude 300m Mixed conifer woodland with a grassy, boulder strewn floor, dappled shade below 60% canopy where trees remained, large areas felled. Aspect East- southeast, slope 1:3 overall. Soil - a thick layer of coarse humus over clay. Cyclamen persicum around boulders, between roots and, more rarely amongst grasses, sedges and bryophytes on the woodland floor. Growing with Colchicum and Arisarum sp
Har Giyyora, the Ktalar Reserve near Bar Giyyora. Altitude: 500m Vegetation of scattered garigue type scrub including Cistus, Phlomis fruticosa, Sarcopoterium spinosum, Pinus, Quercus and Prunus amygdalus, sparse herbs and bulbs including Anenome coronaria Ornithogalum and two sp of Bellevallia. Aspect Southwest, slope 1:1. Soil a gritty calacreous clay with extensive bare patches and outcropping boulders. The whole area appeared as if terraced as result of the naturally outcropping horizontally bedded limestone. Cyclamen persicum growing in open situations, although occasionally shaded by low scrub, usually along the bedding planes of the limestone at the base of outcrops or in crevices and solution hollows. Along the roadside a number of tubers bore yellow leaves, probably the result of herbicides. Many individual tubers were large, up to 8cm diameter, with as many as 5 floral trunks (usually closely packed around the centre of the tuber).
Near Eshta'ol, north of Bet Shemesh where the road (no. 44) to Tel Aviv leaves road no. 38 to Jerusalem. Altitude: 200m Planted pine wood with some glades. Virtually no herb layer in the deeply shaded parts below a 100% closed canopy with a thick layer of decomposing needles which was obviously discouraging seedings. Open glades appeared to be relics of garigue type scrub with a few invading woodland grasses. Aspect south. Slope 1:3. Soil a gritty clay that appeared highly water retentive despite the slope, a few boulders of carboniferous type limestone emerging. Cyclamen persicum most abundant in open areas at the edge of the woodland where grass was thin and where the pines were regenerating, often between and at the base of boulders, especially if there were locally steep slopes of bare clay. In these positions C. persicum was regenerating freely. In the open glades a few persicum survived in herbaceous vegetation but no seedlings were noted. Within the woodland there were scattered tubers bearing large leaves but few flowers. Seedlings of persicum 1 or 2 years old were however abundant often in needle litter up to 9cm deep. One representative colony comprised: 3 adult plants, 2 seedlings near flowering, and 42 other seedlings. Over the woodland floor as a whole, persicum seedlings were widely scattered at about 2 per square metre, away from adult plants. A few plants of Ornithogalum and Anenome coronaria appeared to be relics of pre-afforestation communities. Within the woodland, persicum had large leaves (one with leaves 170 x 152 mm) with greenish yellow marbling.
Just north of Abu Ghosh. Altitude: 625m. Scruffy, litter ridden area of scrub. Cyclamen persicum frequent, seldom in flower, on a northwest facing slope of 1:5.
John G. Diefenbaker Parkway On the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem road west of Abu Ghosh. Altitude: 625m. An area of garigue scrub and adjacent Pinus woodland. Aspect North-northwest, slope 1:7 in scrub, East-southeast and 1:3 in woodland. Soil, clay over limestone with leaf or needle litter. Limestone outcropped in wood. Cyclamen persicum abundant in scrub although only around 33% tubers flowering. Few seedlings could be found. Scattered C. persicum in the woodland.
Quneitra. Near junction of road 808 from Ramat Magshimim and road 87 from Tiberias to road 98 and Quneitra. Altitude: 850m. An open field, cattle grazed, grasses with boulders and stoney patches. Scattered Cyclamen persicum amongst grasses with Asphodelus microcarpus, Ferula commune, Veronica aegyptica and Biarum sp. Aspect southwest, very gentle slope of 1:?30.
Har Odem, Between Mas'ada and Quneitra, in 'woods' west of road. Altitude: 1050m. Heavily grazed scrubby woodlands of Quercus callyprinos and Q. boisseri. Aspect overall north-northwest with a gentle slope of some 1:20/30. Soil a coarse terra rossa clay with outcrops of basaltic lavas and extensive areas strewn with loose stones of varying sizes. Extensive grazing by sheep, goats and cattle. Cyclamen coum mostly found around tree boles, in between stones and within heavily browsed clumps of dense Quercus scrub. Other plants included: Allium, Ornithogalum lanceolatum, Arum, Iris histrioides, Muscari, Clematis. C. coum was not occurring in dense stands - typically between 3 and 8 plants per sq. m. giving perhaps 10% cover - and appeared not to be giving rise to many seedlings. A single stand containing 30 flowering tubers contained only 15 non-flowering seedlings. Nonetheless, large populations were present, one large stand, approx. 70m x 30m., contained an estimated 600 adult plants and 250 seedlings. Within this stand some small areas had as much as 25% cover byC. coum.
Mas'ada. An extension of site 90/08Is to a distance of 4km from Mas'ada along the same road. Altitude: 1050m. An area exactly comparable in terms of vegetation, soil and geology to site 90/08Is and continuous with it.
El Rom, Mas'ada. An extension of the same forest as sites 90/08Is and 90/09Is, north of road connecting roads 98 and 978, near El Rom. An area of the same forest as sites 90/08Is and 90/09Is, investigated only to determine the extent of Cyclamen coum in the forest. Evidence of slightly higher soil nutrient and slightly less intensive grazing. A fine stand of Iris histrioides was noted, but no Cyclamen.
An extension of sites 90/08Is, 90/09Is and 90/10Is From Mas'ada along the road to Odem and El Rom. Altitude: 1125m. An area exactly comparable to the three preceding sites in vegetation, soil and geology. Aspect north-northwest. Level. Cyclamen coum occurring in comparable situations to those described for site 90/08Is. Slightly better regeneration of C. coum from seed - one stand of 48 adult plants held 27 seedlings.
On the road from Newe-Ativ to Mezudat Nimrod (Nimrod's Castle) and Banyas. Altitude: 1025m. Scrub dominated by Sarcopoterium spinosum. Aspect south-southwest, slope 1:3 overall. Soil calareous, terra rossa clay over limestone with substantial boulders outcropping. Other vegetation sparse. Cyclamen persicum not abundant but widely, if sparsely, scattered over the hillside principally in clefts and holes in the boulders, although a number of tubers were founbd buried beneath scrub and in well trodden areas beside paths. A fair proportion of pink flowered plants, one stand contained 6 pink and 12 white (with a purple nose) flowered plants.
On slopes across the main road opposite Mezudat Nimrod. Altitude: 800m. Dense scrub of Quercus callypinos, Sarcopoterium spinosum and sundry spiny leguminous shrubs but with small open patches. Aspect west, slope up to 1:2, soil calacreous terra rossa clay over limestone with substantial boulders outcropping. Scattered specimens of Cyclamen persicum throughout the area around boulders, at the edge of scrub and, occasionally in deep shade below Quercus. Some tubers of substantial size (up to 77mm diameter) and with long floral trunks (one reaching 87mm, another 51mm). One tuber noted carried 4 seperate floral trunks.
Quibbutz Snir. Near the Israel Society for the Protection of Nature Field Station, on the road to Quibbutz Snir, east of Qiryat Shemona. Altitude: 250m. Dense meadow-like vegetation with hazel scrub. Aspect west-northwest, slope 1:3 (a roadside bank and extension into flatter neighbouring fields). Soil a terra rossa clay with an overlying layer of closer to a brown earth, outcropping limestone on the steeper parts. Cyclamen persicum very abundant, up to 20 tubers per square metre, giving up to 35% cover, especially in the shadier parts.
Mount Meron. Altitide: 1200m. Dense evergreen oak, very overgrown. C. coum growing in more open parts. Only about 30 plants of C. coum, growing with Iris histriodes, Sternbergia sp., Helleborus orientalis, Gagea sp., Colchicum sp. Population considered very vulnerable.
Mount Meron Near site 90/15I. Altitude: 1200m. C. persicum growing in dense evergreen oak forest. Extensive population, plants flowering with snow & hail on ground. Growing with Ornithogalum lanceolatum, Iris histrio, Sternbergia clusiana, Hyacinthus orientalis, Gagea sp., Colchicum sp.
Mount Meron. Altitude: 1200m. Plants growing in rock formations. Bare rocky site with C. coum & C. persicum growing within 0.5 metres of each other
Karmel Mountain Range, East of Me-if Shefeye, in roadside gulley. Altitude: 25m. Roadside gully, to north side of road, and slope above. C. persicum growing with Gynandriris sisyrinchium.
North-northeast of Jericho Altitude: 550m. Plants growing inside rocks. Small colony of autumn flowering plants surrounded by 'normal' spring flowering C. persicum.
Har Gilou, East Face Altitude: 800m.