Cyclamen

 Myrsinaceae family. Homeland Iran and Eastern Mediterranean. There are about 20 species in nature.

 Previously, cyclamen belonged to the primrose family, which, in turn, belonged to the order Primulales. 

 Now this order of primroses does not exist, the revised taxonomic classification is as follows: Cyclamen belongs to the Myrsin family (based on genetic analysis "Generic realignment in primuloid families of the Ericales s.l.: a phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences from three chloroplast genes and morphology" Mari Källersjö, Gullevi Bergqvist and Arne A. Anderberg). In turn, the Myrsinaceae family belongs to the order Ericales.

 Of the existing species on sale you can find Persian cyclamen, less often European cyclamen, Kos, Neapolitan and some others.

 Cyclamen is a perennial tuberous plant. The tuber is round, flattened, about 10 cm in diameter. During the growth period, a lush rosette of leaves and peduncles up to 20 cm long with single flowers are formed on the tuber. The height of the bush is on average about 30 cm. But among the hybrids of Persian cyclamen there are also low-growing varieties, no higher than 15 cm in height. Cyclamen leaves are round-heart-shaped, on long reddish petioles, leaf sizes are from 10 to 15 cm in diameter, the leaf surface is green or dark green with a silver-marbled pattern. Breeders continue to work on developing brighter and more colorful varieties of cyclamen and, among other things, changing the color of the leaves. There are varieties whose leaves are almost entirely silver-gray with a dark green center ('Picasso'). Cyclamen flowers are bisexual, radial, five-petaled. The petals are usually large 5-6 cm, folded so that they are very similar to a butterfly, some varieties have lacy edges of the petals ('Friller', 'Red Partisan', 'Kyle', 'Lilu', 'Masha'), there are simple flowers ( 'Kiss', 'Violet Cattleya', 'Fleur en Vogue') and terry; single-color ('Halios Frange', 'Gabi') and two-color ('Carousel' Fantasia, Victoria), a completely unique variety 'Bellissima' - with lacy wavy petals, but not in the shape of a butterfly, but in the form of bells.