The plant known as the cyclamen got its name from the Greek word cyclos meaning ‘circle’. This is a word that can be seen in ‘bicycle’ and ‘tricycle’ and its suits the cyclamen because, when the plant has finished flowering, the stalks tend to wind round in circles to resemble small springs, drawing the fruit down to the soil. They can be seen growing like this is woods and mountains of central Europe and the Mediterranean region.

The cyclamen belongs to the Primulaceae family and has about twenty species. Varieties include Cyclamen neapolitanum which has small pink flowers. Another variety the Cyclamen persicum, is a well known florists’ plant whose shredded and greatly enlarged flowers of varying shades

The cyclamen has broad, long-stalked leaves, usually heart- or kidney-shaped which in cultivated forms are often splashed or lined with white.