Pan porcine Ever path, during the autumn, hiking trails that pass through the woods? Paths that wind between columnar trees and lush ferns, rocky outcrops and between cushions of moss, paths from the sink in the soft thick layer of leaves.
So, you probably came across along the way, one of the most herbaceous graceful of our native flora: the Cyclamen hederifolium.
Cyclamen hederifolium  |
| Cyclamen hederifolium. Fonte: internet |
Famiglia : Primulaceae
Nome volgare: Ciclamino, Ciclamino napoletano, Pan porcino, Pamporcino
Etimologia: il nome generico " Cyclamen " deriva dal greco "Kyklos", cerchio, in allusione alla forma globosa del suo tubero. Altri ritengo derivi dal curioso movimento circolare, in direzione del terreno, che il peduncolo fiorale compie quando si avvolge su sé stesso durante la fruiting stage.
The specific name " hederifolium " comes from the Latin "hederifolius, ivy leaf, to the resemblance of the leaves with those dell'Hedera helix.
The common name "Pan pig" or " Pamporcino " which is also known Cyclamen hederifolium, derives from the habit which the pigs (the luckiest) from eating the tuber, rooting through the undergrowth, led by their highly developed sense of smell.
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| foliage of Cyclamen hederifolium |
Diffused throughout the Mediterranean, from the southern regions of France and Switzerland to the south-western Asia, the Cyclamen hederifolium is present in Italy, especially in central and southern regions. It grows up to 1200 - 1300 m. altitude, preferring forests, shrubs, bushes and cool shade.
The species is visible in the whole area of \u200b\u200bNational Park of Monti Sibillini, the plane to the hilly woodland.
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| Flower Cyclamen hederifolium |
It 's a perennial herb
, characterized by a distinctive body capable of underground storage all the nutrients needed for development: the tuber. The particularity of
tuber of Cyclamen hederifolium be found in its spherical or globular, slightly flattened at the poles, and development of roots only in the upper portion. The lower part of the tuber, in fact, remains completely smooth. The
leaves are all basal, petiolate, lamina cordata - ovata (or heart-shaped and oval), angular and irregularly toothed at the margin, thus revealing a striking resemblance to the leaves of 'ivy, as suggested by the botanical name of species . They are dark green, often irregularly streaked with green and silver-green-green. The leaves appear in autumn, after flowering, and remain until spring, this represents a distinctive and characteristic of the species.
I
flowers, single, supported by long peduncles, appearing before the leaves, starting from the month of August (if there is sufficient moisture), even in very large groups consisting of 40-50 individuals in the larger specimens and old . They are mauve-pink with dark purple spots at the base. The corolla, length about 1.5 to 2 cm., Consists of 5 petals slightly twisted helical and folded back. For the particular curve that shows the flower stalk at the top, the petals are typically aimed at the top. This is without doubt one of the most curious feature that is common throughout the genus Cyclamen.
In this case examined, the petals at the base of the auricles prominent features. The
fruit is a capsule containing many seeds are spherical, range from the stalk that at this stage, it folds down twisting spiral.
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| Fruit of Cyclamen hederifolium |
The Cyclamen hederifolium and all other species, either spontaneous or cultivated, have a high toxicity
. Although in the past is attributed to cyclamen important medicinal properties, which properties purgative and vermifuge properties, today the use for this purpose was fortunately abandoned. Poisoning the use of the plant can cause rash, occurs in very severe. From an initial excessive salivation and a strong feeling of nausea, you can go to the very intense abdominal pain, with dizziness and convulsions, until, in severe cases, even to respiratory paralysis.
The active ingredients that make this plant highly toxic to humans, appear quite harmless to many animals such as pigs, particularly of its tasty tubers.
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| Cyclamen repandum. Source: Internet. | | | | | |
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In Italy the genus Cyclamen has two other wild species: the
Cyclamen repandum Cyclamen purpurascens and
. The
Cyclamen repandum has leaves similar to those of Cyclamen hederifolium, but unlike the latter develop before flowering. The flowers appear in spring, are pinkish-purple and missing orecchiette. Widespread in the National Park of Monti Sibillini.
The Cyclamen purpurascens instead has heart shaped leaves, dark green with silvery green spots on the upper side, reddish on the underside. The flowers appear in autumn, are purple, and lack the orecchiette are pleasantly scented. Absent in the central and southern regions, preferring forest sites in northern Italy.
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| Cyclamen purpurascens. Source: Internet. |
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Trivia: ancient cyclamen era considerato un potente talismano contro gli incantesimi, i malefici; si riteneva possedesse dei poteri magici così forti che divenne abitudine coltivarlo intorno alle abitazioni per proteggerle. Si considerava capace di favorire il concepimento, tanto che si consigliava di portare appeso al collo un sacchetto con i petali essiccati.
Bibliografia
Anzilotti A.,Innocenti A., Rugi R., 2004 - I fiori degli Appennini. Le fioriture negli ambienti rocciosi, nei pascoli, nelle praterie e nei boschi. Edizioni Calderini.
Di Massimo S., 2002 - Piante e veleni. Le principali piante tossiche in natura e in giardino. I Quaderni dell'Ambiente, n° 9. Province of Pesaro and Urbino.
Pizzetti I., 2003 - Encyclopedia of flowers and gardens. Garzanti Editore.
Pedrotti F., 2002 - Flora, vegetation and plant landscape of the National Park of Monti Sibillini. Scientific Papers - informative, No. 3. Collection of Scientific Papers - the popular Silbillini Mountains National Park.
