Cyclamen is a genus in the Myrsinaceae family although in the past had been placed in the Primulaceae family. There are about 20 species from central and southern Europe, the Mediterranean region, western Asia and Somalia. Some flower in autumn before their leaves. Others flower throughout the year. Their flowers are white, pink or carmine with scented or unscented flowers and many of their leaves are beautifully marked. The references for this genus are books written by Christopher Grey-Wilson, 1997 and 2003, found listed in References. The Journal of the Cyclamen Society contains a wealth of information, including the latest reports from some of the nomenclatural battles in genus Cyclamen. For more information about this genus, consult The Cyclamen Society’s website. Nomenclature in genus Cyclamen is by no means settled, with the correct classification of Cyclamen repandum and its cousins still a matter of dispute. As is so often the case, the battle boils down to one between “lumpers” and “splitters”.
For more information about and to see images of the species and sometimes varieties, subspecies, and cultivars of these species click on the names in the table below.