Plant of the week: Plant that gave Plantagenets name used for brooms
Name: Broom (Spartium scoparium) Also known as: Basam, Besum Habitat: A perennial shrub member of the Leguminosae family, growing to about 3m in dry, stony...
Alexander McCowan
Plant of the week: ‘Friend of the elderly’ was thought to cure plague
Name: Angelica: (Angelica archangelica) Otherwise known as: Angel’s Food Habitat: A biennial member of the Umbelliferae family growing up to 2m in river valleys and...
Plant of the Week: Plant used for American Indian warpaint also useful against mosquitos
Name: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) Otherwise known as: Pucoon, Indian Paint, Redroot Habitat: A creeping perennial member of the Papaveraceae, growing up to 60cm in woodlands...
Restaurant Review: Tocayo, Nicosia
A conundrum: according to the Oxford Shorter, among other things, a puzzling question. What else can we call the current position? We seek a restaurant...
Plant of the week: An impressive little berry
Name: Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Otherwise known as: Quinsy Berries Habitat: A deciduous shrub of the Grossulariaceae family, growing to about 2m in moist hedgerows in...
Plant of the week: Chinese believe plant heightens awareness
Name: Star Anise (Illicium verum) Otherwise known as: Chinese Anise Habitat: An evergreen tree member of the Illiciaceae family growing to about 17metres with shiny...
Plant of the week: Poisonous plant used to protect against lightening
Name: White Bryony (Bryonia alba) Otherwise known as: English Mandrake, Navet du Diable Habitat: A perennial climbing herb of the Cucurbitaceae family. It grows to...
Plant of the week: Poisonous plant used by the ancients to induce sleep
Name: Sedum (Sedum acre) Otherwise known as: Wall Pepper, Stonecrop Habitat: A perennial member of the Crassulaceae family growing to no more than 12cm in...
Restaurant review: Yumi, Nicosia
Beside the dark tower that glowers over Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue nestles an enterprise so successful that it is full by 8.30 on a Tuesday night....
Plant of the week: Popular house plant used to treat arthritis in Mexico
Name: Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) Otherwise known as: Swiss Cheese Plant, Mexican Breadfruit Habitat: A perennial vine member of the Araceae family growing up to 20m...
Plant of the Week: Plant linked to hallucinations now thought combatant of hair loss
Name: Bugle (Ajuga reptans) Otherwise known as: Carpetweed, Blue Bugle, Sicklewort Habitat: A perennial member of the Labiatea family growing up to 15cm in moist...
Plant of the week: Plant that gave rise to burning bush moments
Name: Dittany (Dictamnus albus) Otherwise known as: Burning Bush, Gas plant Habitat: An herbaceous perennial of the Rutaceae family growing to about 80cm at altitude...
Plant of the week: One of the most versatile herbal medicines
Name: Plantain (Plantago major) Otherwise known as: Ripple grass, Waybread Habitat: A perennial member of Plantaginaceae family found in pastureland in Europe and Asia. It...
Plant of the Week: Plant has long history of treating heart
Name: Yellow Pheasant’s Eye (Adonis vernalis) Otherwise known as: Spring Adonis Habitat: A perennial member of the Ranunculaceae family, growing to about 20cm in lime-rich...
Restaurant Review: Kyriakos Ofton Kleftiko, Nicosia
At the foot of ancient Idalion, close by the road to Nissou, was a fiery oven that was being fed with dishes the size of...
Plant of the week: Plant seen as sexual stimulant for centuries piqued interest of drug companies
Name Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe) Otherwise known as: Yohimbinean, Herbal Viagra Habitat: An evergreen rainforest tree of the Rubiaceae family growing to 10m in rich, moist...
Plant of the Week: Poisonous beans were used in Africa to prove witchcraft
Name: Calabar Bean (Physostigma Venenosum) Otherwise known as: Ordeal Nut, Chopnut Habitat: The plant is a climbing perennial member of the Leguminoseae family growing up...
Plant of the week: Highly poisonous plant was popular among ancient herbalists
Name: Mezereon (Daphne mezerem) Otherwise known as: Dwarf Bay, Mezerie Cortex Habitat: A perennial shrub member of the Thymelaeceae family growing up to 2.5m in...
Restaurant Review: Apron, Nicosia
While browsing at the Mouflon book store, the owner Ruth mentioned there is a new enterprise on the street: a small restaurant, close by, that...
Plant of the Week: Plant once popular as asthma treatment almost scavenged to extinction
Name: Great Masterwort (Astrantia Major) Otherwise known as: Mountain Sanicle, Astrantia Habitat: A perennial aromatic shrub member of the Umbelliferae family growing up to 80cm...