Cyclamens
What are they?
The cyclamens and sowbreads are popular as garden and household plants and are very distinctive in their appearance. They are members of the primrose family (Primulaceae), but look rather different due to the way that the flower nods over and has fully reflexed petals. The plants grow seasonally from a corm (a below-ground, swollen stem that functions as a food storage organ) and typically have pink or white flowers. After flowering, the old flower stalk coils like a watch spring as the seed capsule develops and this has the effect of pulling the capsule down to soil level.
Where are they found?
There are no native Cyclamen species in the UK, but Common Sowbread in particular is very popular as a garden plant as it is hardy and spreads itself readily. It is commonly planted as a rememberance plant in churchyards and cemeteries and regularly becomes established in untended parts of such places, as well as on roadsides and beside footpaths.
Identification
Cyclamen species are all rather similar in overall appearance, but fortunately there are few species that are likely to be found in the wider countryside. Subtle differences in overall flower shape are useful, but flowering time and the difference in leaf shape are the most important things to note.
Common Sowbread Cyclamen hederifolium
Introduced from southern Europe as a garden ornamental and widespread in our region where naturalised from original plantings. Flowers August to October. Leaves very variable in the amount of pale markings and with sharply angled edges. Petals relatively long and pointed.
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Eastern Sowbread Cyclamen coum
Introduced from Asia Minor as a garden ornamental but only rarely found naturalised from original plantings with less than 10 records for the East Anglian region. Flowers February to May. Leaves very variable in the amount of pale markings, rounded and without sharply angled edges. Petals relatively short and rounded, often opening out almost flat when fully mature.
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