cyclamen

cyclamen (SAI-kluh-muhn, SIK-luh-men) - n., any of two dozen species of plants (genus Cyclamen) with showy, variously colored flowers with reflexed petals and tuberous rootstocks, especially C. persicum widely cultivated as a houseplant.


Native to Europe, the Middle East, and north Africa -- so circum-Mediterranean. The name is (via Latin) from Greek kyklámīnos, where it literally meant bulbous plant, probably related to kýklos, cycle/circle/wheel from its bulbous roots. Some Cyclamen persicum:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.