Cypress
On small stretches we find other species, such as cypress trees (Cupressus sempervirens). It is a tree that reaches a height of 30 meters and is a shape of an obelisk.
The bark of the tree is divided into stripes that fall apart and fall. Its leaves are needle-like, and as they get older in age, they get scales. The cypress cones are spherical in shape and have pairs of wood-tipped pins coming out of the axis of each cone. These scales when fertilized carry several seeds that mature every second year. The cone opens 2 years later.
The name of the tree comes from a reference from the composite of the Greek words Kyo = produces and the parissos = isometric and is due to the fact that the growth of the Cypress is symmetrical. Others claim that the tree was worshiped in Cyprus, hence its name (Cuprus> Cupresus).
This tree is the emblem of melancholy. It was dedicated to Pluto, the god of Hades. Mythology says that a young man from Kea called Kyparissos, died of sorrow for the loss of his beloved deer, pleaded to Apollo to keep his memory alive and make him immortal, so the god transformed him into a cypress tree. The tree is considered mournful and adorns temples and monuments. Egyptian sarcophagi, doors of ancient churches, sacred boxes and cases, as well as the doors of royal palaces of the ancients, numerous idols and many representations were also made of cypress wood. Plato’s laws were engraved on plates of this wood.
Location
Flora - Fauna
Alnus Orientalis (Oriental Alder)
In large river areas, another predominant species is the Alnus orientalis. It is a deciduous tree, short-lived, with a narrow crown and a height of 20 m. Its trunk is covered with a grayish bark with vertical slits. The leaves are simple, ovate or elon
Arbutus Andrachne (Greek strawberry tree)
A very common shrub of the forests of Cyprus. Also called Koumaria. English-speaking people call it the Greek Strawberry Tree, because its fruit look like small strawberries. These red fruits are an attractive food for birds living in the forest. It’s
Berberis Cretica (Cretan Barberry)
Berberis cretica is a deciduous shrub that reaches a height of 1 m. It is found in the Troodos Mountains at quite large altitudes. It carries obovate leaves and yellow pleasantly smelling flowers. Its fruits are dark berries that mature at the end of s
Ceratonia Silique (Carob Tree)
At the lower altitudes of Troodos prevails the Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua). The carob tree is a medium-sized tree, which can grow up to 10 meters tall, with mostly sparse vegetation, spherical and strong shoots with a rough bark. The leaves are comp