One of several species this Cyclamen can be found in the Mountains House.
Belonging to the primrose family, Primulaceae, the genus Cyclamen numbers 23 species of tuberous perennials from mainly rocky habitats of Europe, the Mediterranean to Iran, and north Africa. All have solitary flowers with five reflexed petals, which may also be twisted. Cyclamen cilicium is a native of Turkish mountains, occurring at altitudes up to 2000m in woodlands overlying limestone rocks. Flowering from September to November, it is variable in colour, ranging from white to deep pink, with the lobe at the base of the petal having a dark blotch. The oval to heart-shaped leaves are lightly scalloped with a red lower surface, while the upper surface has a central marking resembling a ‘christmas tree’, surrounded by a paler green marking.