History

30 Apr 1787

Dr J Sibthorp, who travelled to Cyprus from England on a botanical tour, reached Troodos

Dr J Sibthorp, who travelled to Cyprus from England on a botanical tour, reached Troodos:

At seven we set off from the convent of the Holy Cross for Troados. Our road led us through a steep tract of country, well wooded. The Pinus pinea, the Quercus ilex, and Arbutus andrachne covered the higher part of the mountain; in the vales below grew the plane, the Cretan Maple, the black poplar, the white willow, and the alder. After two hours of very difficult road we arrived at the convent of Troados; a Greek Papas, whom we had taken as a guide to conduct us to the snow on the summit of the mountain, brought us to this miserable cloister. As we were now told it was impossible to reach the snow, and return, we passed our day with much disappointment at the convent. I picked up but few plants: Smyrnium perfoliatum, Imperatoria ostruthium, Alyssum campestre, Cheiranthus cyprius; and among the rocks, Euphorbia myrsinites, and Turritis glabra.