Plant of the week: One of the most highly valued products of the ancient world
Name: Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) Otherwise known as: Balsamodendron myrrh Habitat: A member of the Burseraceae family, which grows as a spiny tree to about 5m...
Alexander McCowan
Plant of the Week: Hallucinogenic plant used to combat witchcraft and curses
Name: Sage of the Seers (Salvia divinorum) Otherwise known as: Maria Pastora, Magic Sage Habitat: A perennial member of the family Labiateae growing to about...
Restaurant review: Ocean Basket, Mall of Cyprus
The laws on lockdown might have been written with Ocean Basket in mind. They not only run the most successful fish restaurant in Nicosia, they...
Plant of the Week: Tree produces one of the world’s oldest perfurmes
Name: Sandalwood (Santalum album) Otherwise known as: Sander’s Wood Habitat: A tree member of the Santalaceae family growing to about 18m in well-drained soil in...
Plant of the Week: Queen of flowers traditionally associated with goddess of love
Name: Rose (Rosa damascena) Otherwise known as: Trigintipetala, Damask Rose Habitat: A shrub member of the Rosaceae family native to the Orient now grown throughout...
Plant of the week: Top rated plant for helping stress
Name: Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Otherwise known as: Russian Pips Habitat: A shrub member of the Araliaceae family growing to about 3m in well-drained barren...
Plant of the week: Plant used to expel demons and predict the future
Name: Brugmansia (Brugmansia Suaveolens) Otherwise known as: Angel’s Trumpets, Tree Datura Habitat: A perennial shrub or small tree member of the Solanaceae family growing to...
Plant of the week: Plant used to lessen bruises, sprains and freckles
Name: Solomon’s Seal (Polygonum multiflorum) Otherwise known as: Lady’s seal, St Mary’s seal Habitat: A perennial member of the Liliaceae family growing to about 40cm...
Review: Pandora, Nicosia
Hesiod claimed that after she opened her ‘box’ Pandora, gifted her by Zeus, she left only hope inside, introducing evil of all kinds to the...
Plant of the week: Moss used for centuries to staunch wounds
Name: Sphagnum Moss (Sphagnum cymbifolium) Otherwise known as: Bog Moss Habitat: A true moss of the family Sphagnaceae growing up to 25cm in bogs and...
Plant of the week: Plant used by native Americans to bind couples together
Name: Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) Otherwise known as: Mad Dog Weed, Quaker’s Bonnet Habitat: A perennial herb of the Labiatea family growing to about 1m in...
Plant of the week: Plant increasingly valuable to the pharmaceutical industry
Name: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Otherwise known as: Greek Hay, Bird’s Foot Habitat: An annual member of the Leguminosae family growing to 60cm in dry meadows...
Restaurant review: To Achilleion, Nicosia
Among the ‘knowing ones’, this establishment is also known as Platanos – due to the giant Asian Plane tree beneath which it shelters – the...
Plant of the week: The Asian medical all-rounder
Name: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Otherwise known as: Indian Saffron Habitat: An herbaceous perennial closely related to ginger and a member of the family Zingiberaceae. It...
Plant of the Week: Tree known since biblical times wards off evil spirits
Name: Styrax (Styrax benzoin) Otherwise known as: Gum Benjamin, Benzoin Habitat: A tree member of the Styraceae family growing up to 15m in tropical forests...
Plant of the Week: Cure all of Native Americans used against certain carcinomas
Name: American Mandrake (Podophyllum peltatum) Otherwise known as: Racoonberry, Duck’s Foot, Hog’s Apple Habitat: A perennial member of the Berberidacea family, growing up to 30cm...
Plant of the Week: One of the original medicinal plants of the Mediterranean
Name: Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Otherwise known as: Garden thyme Habitat: An aromatic shrub of the Labiateae family with woody stems, tiny leaves and pink flowers,...
Plant of the week: Plant linked with blood since time of Druids
Name: Bloodwort (Achillea millefolium) Otherwise known as: Milfoil, Achillea, Nose Bleed Habitat: A creeping perennial member of the Asteraceae family growing up to 1m in...
Restaurant review: Akakiko delivery, Nicosia
The town is abuzz with wasps on wheels clasping boxes of food attached to tiny scooters piloted by kamikaze jousters from Asia pledged to reach...
Plant of the week: Root of ‘walking’ plant chewed as aphrodisiac
Name: Screwpine (Pandanus odoratissimus) Otherwise known as: Umbrella tree Habitat: A tree member of the family Pandanaceae, growing to 6m in marshy and coastal areas...