Anthemis plutonia


Anthemis plutonia, the Troödos chamomile, is a pilose perennial herb in the sunflower family found only in Cyprus. It often forms intricate mats with prostrate stems 5–20 cm long. Small bipinnatisect leaves. Capitula 15–20 mm in diameter, with pink rarely creamy-white tubular florets. Suborbicular ray-florets white, rarely pink.

Habitat

Very common in dry igneous hillsides with sparse vegetation, vineyards, roadsides in the Troödos Mountains and Stavrovouni, where it grows from 250 m elevation up to the highest peaks at 1950 m.

Distribution

An endemic of Cyprus where it is restricted to the Troödos range: Stavros Psokas, Prodromos, Khionistra, Kryos Potamos, the Troödos forest, Palekhori, Makheras and Stavrovouni. Flowers March–July.

Varieties

Two varieties are accepted.
  • Anthemis plutonia var. artemisioides
  • Anthemis plutonia var. ''plutonia''