Darnel, a type of weed that resembles wheat.
Name - Origin
Cypriot name of food
Κουντούρα. Kountoúra.
Greek name - description
A type of weed that resembles wheat (Pharmakidou XP, 1983, p. 167).
Language remarks
Scientific name: Lolium temulentum. Common name: Darnel, poison darnel, darnel ryegrass, cockle.
Functional and symbolic role
Nutritional Value and Importance in the Diet of Cypriots
It has intoxicating properties. It was often mixed with wheat. If it was ground together with wheat, bread made from this flour would cause dizziness to the person consuming it, an effect similar to that which is caused by the ingestion of wine. (Pharmakidou XP, 1983, p.167).
Additional information and bibliography
Time period
19th - 20th c.
Bibliography
Pharmakidou XP (1983). Γλωσσάριον Ξενοφώντος Π. Φαρμακίδου, [Υλικά διά την σύνταξιν Ιστορικού Λεξικού της Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου, μέρος Β', έκδ. Θεοφανώς Δ. Κυπρή], Centre for Scientific Research, Nicosia, 2nd ed., 2003.
Researcher/Recorder
Stalo Lazarou
