Cyclamen or dryakva is a perennial herbaceous plant of the subfamily Mirsinovye, families of Primula. The birthplace of the flower is considered to be the Mediterranean coast, Asia Minor and Northeast Africa. Types of cyclamens have different names, which depend on the place where the flower grows. We will tell about some of them in more detail.
Persian
Cyclamen persian (Cyclamen persicum) - a widespread plant in some countries of Asia, Africa and Western Europe (Sudan, Ethiopia, Italy, Cyprus, Iran).
This type of cyclamen grows comfortably in countries with moderately cold winters, for example, in northern Italy, even blooms in winter.
Did you know? Ancient healers used Persian dryaku to treat sinusitis, rheumatism, and central nervous system diseases. Also, this flower was used as an antidote for snake bites.The plant blooms almost the entire vegetation period. Some species shed their leaves for the summer. Here are just the growing season of dry Persian lasts 3-4 monthsand the rest of the time the flower is in an inactive growth phase.
The leaves of Persian dryak are heart-shaped, the color is dark green, and there is a marble-white pattern on the surface. Petals come in different colors: purple, white, red and pink.The plant stores many organic and mineral substances in its tuber. During the inactive phase, it feeds on these substances. In the wild, if it blooms in the winter, organic matter is especially needed.
Dutch breeders brought a lot of hybrids of Persian cyclamen. Hybrids have a longer flowering period.
A long flowering period is also observed in plants such as: Zinia, Viola, Clematis, Airchizon, Pyrethrum, Opuntia.Also, scientists have taken care of the colors of dryakva. For example, the Cyclamen Persian macro series has 18 colors. At the same time, the flower is larger and blooms longer.
European
Plant European cyclamen (blushing) is widespread in Central European countries (northern Italy, Slovenia, Macedonia). 
It is a herbaceous evergreen plant with a flat-tuber (it is slightly flattened with a single point of growth). With age, the tuber of a flower is deformed and gives thick processes that have their points of growth.
The leaves of this species are dry basal with silver-green color. They have a heart-shaped shape with a pointed tip and a slightly jagged edge.
The underside of the leaves is purple-green. Five-petalled flowers, solitary, with very long peduncles. Petals are oval in shape and slightly twisted into a spiral. The peculiarity of the European dryakva is its sharp and delicate aroma.
Did you know? One of the varieties of European dryak - purpurascens, has a very beautiful purple or purple-pink flowers. Translated from Latin, the word "purpurascens" means "to turn purple".
Flowering continues throughout the growing season - from spring to autumn. Coloring of flowers is different: light purple, pale pink, bright purple, pink and purple. 
Breeders have deduced several forms of European cyclamen, which differ in the flowering period and color of flowers.
In many gardeners, such varieties are popular: purpurascens (purple-pink flowers), carmineolineatum (white flowers), lake garda (pink flowers), album (white flowers).
African
Cyclamen is divided into different species and subspecies (varieties), but one of the most common and popular species isAfrican.
The shrub thickets of Tunisia and Algeria are considered the birthplace of African dryas. According to the botanical description, this plant species is similar to ivy cyclamen. There are two forms of African cyclamen: diploid and tetraploid. 
The diploid form of African dryak has smaller leaves with different forms of petioles and more fragrant flowers. For decorative purposes, it is customary to use the diploid form of the African cyclamen.
The leaves of this plant are heart-shaped. Color is silver-green. African dryak leaves grow straight from the tuber, reaching length 15 cm.
This is one of the main differences of this plant species from ivy cyclamen. The plant blooms from spring to autumn, and young leaves begin to appear only in September-November.
The color of the African cyclamen flowers varies from pale pink to deep pink.
Important! Dryakva contains substances that are toxic to dogs and cats.
This type of plant is afraid of frosty winters, therefore, requires a special shelter. The hot sun flower is also poorly tolerated (not in vain in North Africa, it is found only in the bush, where there is a lot of shade).
Plants that do not tolerate heat: begonia, streptokarpus, heather, muraya, ampelous petunia, room fern, cypress.African dryak is characterized by very rapid growth and development compared to other members of the subfamily Mirsinovye. During the period when the plant sheds leaves, it needs a cool (about 15ºС) and dry place.
Alpine
Alpine Cyclamen has a very vague history. At the end of the nineteenth century, Cyclamen alpinum was discovered and listed as a plant of the subfamily Mirsinovye. 
But over time, some plants in the culture disappeared, until 1956 Alpine Dryakva was considered an extinct species. The epithet "alpinum" has been used for a long time against the cyclamen intaminatium.
There was a certain confusion in terms, the botanists decided to introduce a new name for alpine dryakva - cyclamen trochotherapy. This term is still used today by many scientists, although at the beginning of the 60s Davis confirmed that Cyclamen alpinum did not disappear.
In the beginning of 2000, 3 expeditions were sent to study this type of dryak. Expedition members confirmed that alpine cyclamen is growing in the wild to this day.
Did you know? In the Middle Ages, it was believed that for a successful birth a pregnant woman had to wear cyclamen flower as an ornament.
The main difference of this type of plant is the angle of the flower petals (90º instead of the usual 180º). The petals are slightly twisted and look like a propeller. 
The color of the petals varies from carmine-pink to pale pink with a purple-purple spot at the base of each petal.
The aroma of flowers is very pleasant and gentle, reminiscent of the smell of fresh honey. The leaves of the alpine dryak oval in shape with a characteristic gray-green color.
Colchis (Pontic)
The Caucasus Mountains are considered to be the birthplace of this plant species. Colchis dryas also called pontic, caucasian or abkhazian.
At home, it blooms from July to late October, in the wild - from early September to mid-October. Often found in the mountains at an altitude of 300-800 m among the roots of trees. 
The flowers of Pontic dryak appear together with leaves. Petals are painted in dark pink color (darker at the edges), have an elliptical shape, slightly curved, 10-16 mm in length.
Tuber over the entire surface is covered with roots. The plant loves shady terrain with moist soil. The flower grows very slowly, but has a sharp and pleasant smell. Seed ripening takes a whole year.
Orchid, geranium, primula, arrowroot, indoor ivy, asplenium, chervil prefers shady terrain.Due to the massive collection of Colchian cyclamen as bouquets and medical raw materials, it has recently been listed in the Red Book.
At the moment, the number of this species is still quite large, but botanists claim that it is noticeably decreasing every year.
Greek
Greek Dryakva is found on the mainland of Greece, the islands of Rhodes, Cyprus, Crete and on the coasts of Turkey. It is observed at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level. It grows in shady and wet places.
Important! Historical data states that cyclamen first appeared in France at the end of the XVI century, and then spread to many countries in Western and Central Europe.
The leaves of this plant have the most diverse forms: ranging from heart-shaped and ending with oval.
The leaf color varies from dark green to light lime with characteristic contrasting spots of cream or light gray. 
The flowers of Greek cyclamen appear either before the leaves, or with them. Flower color varies from pale pink to carmine-pink. At their base you can see bright purple spots.
In 1980, a rare subspecies of Greek dryak with white flowers was found on the Peloponnese peninsula; it was listed in the Red Book.
Kossky
In the Aegean Sea there is a certain island of Kos, in whose honor this species of cyclamen is named. The plant is found in the mountainous and coastal regions of Bulgaria, Georgia, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and Iran.
Did you know? Cyclamen rollsianum is considered the most beautiful and delicate plant of this species. It was first discovered in the Lebanese mountains in 1895.
Blooms Koska dryakva late winter or early spring. Foliage appears in the late fall, and sometimes in winter. 
Depending on the cultivar, the foliage can be either green or dark silver. The color of the flowers is different: pink, purple, red, white.
The bases of the petals are always brightly colored. This type of flower is characterized by tubers with roots that grow only from the bottom.
There are certain patterns in the size of the flowers, changes in the color of the petals and the shape of the leaves: light pink flowers and bud-like leaves in plants from southern Lebanon and Syria, bright pink flowers characteristic of cyclamen from the northern coast of Turkey, further east the leaves are becoming and the flowers are larger.
Heart-shaped leaves with large flowers are observed in the southern regions of Iran and Azerbaijan.
Cypriot
Cyclamen Cypriot - One of the three plant species of the subfamily Mirsinovye, which are found on the island of Cyprus. Most often observed in the mountains of Kyrenia and Troodos at an altitude of 100-1100 m above sea level.
It grows on stone soils in bushy areas or under trees. Perennial plant, height 8-16 cm. 
The flowers of Cypriot dryakva pale pink or white color with a characteristic honey aroma. Purple or purple spots are observed at the base of the petals.
Important! Indoor cyclamen likes clean air, tobacco smoke will destroy the plant.
Leaves are heart-shaped. The color varies from dark green to olive. Cyclamen Cyclamen blooms from late September to mid-late winter. This flower is a symbol of Cyprus. As an ornamental plant is grown in many countries of the world.
Neapolitan (ile)
Neapolitan Cyclamen - One of the most common species of this plant in our country. Many gardeners call this flower "Neapolitan", and in scientific circles it is commonly called "ivy". 
The first name (cyclamen hederifolium) was obtained in 1789, and the second (cyclamen neapolitanum) in 1813. In some garden centers under the guise of Neapolitan cyclamen you can sell a European one, referring to the fact that it is a subspecies cyclamen neapolitanum.
In order not to fall for the trick of the seller, you need to know the botanical description of the ivy blisters.
The birthplace of the flower is considered to be the coast of the Mediterranean (from France to Turkey). Dryakva Neapolitan is considered the most frost-resistant type of cyclamen.
In southern European countries, this flower is used to decorate parks. On the territory of our country, ileum leafy dryers are used as indoor culture.
Did you know? In one of the books of the XVIII century there is the odious name of cyclamen - "pork bread". This is due to the fact that at that time pigs were fed with wood stump.
The name "Cyclamen Ivy" plant was obtained because of the shape of the leaf: rounded, green, with small grooves, like ivy. 
The shape of the flower is very similar to the European cyclamen flower, but there is a major difference: Neapolitan dryakva differs in small spectacular horns at the base.
The root system of the plant is superficial, and the flowers are only one color - pink. However, for decorative purposes, breeders have deduced many subspecies of this flower.
Some plants have a very small size (dwarf), flowering period in December-March, a very sharp and pleasant smell of flowers and color of petals.
