Following the Society’s successful field studies to Corfu in 2007 and
Zakinthos in 2008. The aim of this field study to Kefaloniá, was to
continue to collect data and samples of Cyclamen hederifolium,
and to establish the distribution and whether subsp. crassifolium
was present on Kefaloniá.
The morphology (appearance) of the plant leaves encountered
met all the criteria as laid out by Hildebrand, confirming
subsp. crassifolium plants are present on Kefaloniá.
Leaf samples from some plants were later sent for flow
cytometry analysis confirming diploid 2n=34 and
tetraploid 2n=68 plants are present on the island.
27 plants were collected from the 8 sites surveyed.
A report of the 2011 field study was published in the
Cyclamen Society Journal Vol. 36 No. 1, June 2012.
Abridged field notes referenced by site number follow this table.
Giving brief locational information and habitat data which may aid cultivation.
CSE Plants Kefaloniá, Greece 2011.
Plant images may be viewed by clicking on the purple CSE plant number.
| CSE Plant No. | Site No. | Species | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11001 | 11/01 | C. hederifolium | Nearest plant to pure white flowers. |
| 11002 | 11/01 | C. hederifolium | Plain grass green leaf. |
| 11003 | 11/01 | C. hederifolium | Very attractive leaf. |
| 11007 | 11/02 | C. hederifolium | Fantastic leaf. |
| 11008 | 11/02 | C. hederifolium | No flowers. |
| 11009 | 11/02 | C. hederifolium | No flowers. |
| 11010 | 11/02 | C. hederifolium | — |
| 11016 | 11/03 | C. hederifolium | No leaves, dark flowers. |
| 11017 | 11/03 | C. hederifolium | No leaves. |
| 11018 | 11/03 | C. hederifolium | No flowers. |
| 11019 | 11/03 | C. hederifolium | No flowers. |
| 11020 | 11/03 | C. hederifolium | No flowers. |
| 11030 | 11/04 | C. hederifolium | — |
| 11031 | 11/04 | C. hederifolium | No flowers. |
| 11036 | 11/05 | C. hederifolium | Dark leaves, no flowers. |
| 11037 | 11/05 | C. hederifolium | Flowers, no leaves. |
| 11042 | 11/06 | C. hederifolium | No flowers. |
| 11043 | 11/06 | C. hederifolium | Shiny leaves, no flowers. |
| 11044 | 11/06 | C. hederifolium | — |
| 11045 | 11/06 | C. hederifolium | For DNA analysis. |
| 11054 | 11/07 | C. hederifolium | No flowers, pewter leaves. |
| 11055 | 11/07 | C. hederifolium | Silver centre leaves. |
| 11056 | 11/07 | C. hederifolium | Pale green/pewter leaves |
| 11057 | 11/07 | C. hederifolium | — |
| 11066 | 11/08 | C. hederifolium | — |
| 11067 | 11/08 | C. hederifolium | — |
| 11068 | 11/08 | C. hederifolium | — |
CSE Sites in Kefaloniá, Greece 2011
Map © 2012 Google – Map data © 2012 Tele Atlas
11/01
12/11/11. Wooded hillside, 400m South of Drápano, on Argostóli to Sámi road.
Altitude: 32m., Shade: 60%, Aspect: West. Slope: 30°, Soil type: Pine needle litter over sandy soil.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Pine woodland, Growing conditions: Well drained, wind swept bank overlooking Argostoli bay.
Associated Plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Crocus boryi, Iris sp., Campanula sp., Oxalis pes-capre, Opuntia sp.
11/02
13/11/11. Gorge running West south-west from the village of Pouláta’
Altitude: 200m., Shade: 50%, Aspect: North north-east facing, Slope: 20°, Soil: Terra rossa and humus.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Mossy bank of dry river-bed. Growing conditions: Moist, stony limestone, terra rossa.
Associated Plants: Tree cover: Quercus coccifera, Cupressus sp., Pinus sp., Olea europaea, Ceratonia 70siliqua. Other plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Crocus boryi, Bellis perennis, Arum sp., Mentha sp.
Notes: Much regeneration in evidence, mostly small tubers, some yet to flower.
11/03
15/11/11. Roadside site, 600m from village of Chavriáta on road to Vouni. Paliki peninsula.
Altitude: 27m., Shade: 30%, Slope: 20°, Soil: Heavy marl loam with limestone stones.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Grassy bank on edge of woodland slope. Growing Conditions: Long thick grass and brambles, moist over whole site (clay).
Associated Plants: Tree cover: Cupressus sp., Olea europaea. Other plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Allium sp., Oxalis pes-capre, Asphodelis sp., Solanum sp., Foeniculum vugare, Rubus sp., Genista sp., Arundo donax.
11/04
16/11/11. Gorge to West of Fiscárdo, beside stony track.
Altitude: 16m., Shade: 50%, Aspect: North, Slope: 15°, Soil: Sparse leaf mould amongst many limestone stones.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Beside woodland track, very stony ground. Growing conditions: Moist but extremely well drained, many tubers deeply buried under rocks with multiple long floral trunks.
Associated Plants: Tree cover: Quercus coccifera, Pinus sp., Olea europaea, Pistacea lentiscus. Other plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Crocus boryi, Rubus sp., Mentha sp.
Note: Only two plants collected due to deeply sited tubers of most plants.
11/05
17/11/08. Road leading to the Castle of St. George, (off the Argostóli to Skála road).
Altitude: 178m., Shade: 50%, Aspect: North-west, Slope: 30°, Soil: Pine needle litter on terra rossa, limestone stones.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Woodland, mainly pine. Growing Conditions: Dry, stony with deeply sited tubers, much regeneration.
Associated Plants: Tree cover: Quercus coccifera, Pinus sp., Enkianthus sp., Pistacea lentiscus. Other plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Crocus boryi, Rubus sp., Thymus capitata.
11/06
18/11/11. Around church west of Old Skála, on the road between Skála and Faniés.
Altitude: 202m., Shade: 30%, Aspect: South-west, Slope: 30°, Soil: Terra rossa under Quercus coccifera leaf mould, limestone and flint stones.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Sparsely wooded hillside, much loss of pine trees. Disease/fire? Growing Conditions: Dry, stony (limestone and flint) nearby natural spring. Compromised shade.
Associated Plants: Tree cover: Quercus coccifera, Pinus sp., Quercus sp., Pistacea lentiscus, Ficus carica. Other plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Crocus boryi, Phlomis sp., Salvia sp., Ornithogalum sp.
11/07
19/11/11. Opposite Mycaenian tholos tomb, east of Tzanáta on the road to Póros.
Altitude: 35m., Shade: Dappled 60%, Aspect: South, Slope: 30°, Soil: Terra rossa loam.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Dry wooded slope, predominantly dense Quercus coccifera. Growing Conditions: Dappled shade good regeneration.
Associated Plants: Tree cover: Quercus coccifera, Laurus nobilis, Lonicera sp., Pistacea lentiscus. Other plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Bellis sp., Rubus sp.
Note: Very good site.
11/08
21/11/11. On Sámi to Póros road 2km east of the village of Koulouráta. Path marked ‘Walking route Pyrqi – Ainos’.
Altitude: 231m., Shade: Dappled shade 60%, Aspect: North north-west, Slope: 20°, Soil: Moist humus rich terra rossa loam.
Species: Cyclamen hederifolium.
Habitat: Deciduous woodland bank near water course, ancient terraces with much limestone rubble. Growing Conditions: Sheltered moist bank, many tubers deeply located and inaccessible.
Associated Plants: Tree cover: Quercus coccifera, Quercus sp., Fraxinus sp., Olea europaea, Crataegus sp. Other plants: Arisarum vulgaris, Arum sp., Allium sp., Phlomis sp., Mentha sp., Grasses and Mosses.
Note: Very good site, best site surveyed on trip.
Acknowledgements. We would like to thank Mr George Handrinós in Athens for his help with obtaining the necessary research permits. We would also like to thank Mrs Popi Papahristodíma and Mrs Peny Chronopoúlou from the CITES office in Pátra for their assistance with the CITES documentation.